RIP: Heath Ledger (1979-2008)

[D-Dogg]

OMG...holy crap.

I thought this was a BS post at first.

 

[Shane]

Hmm, not sure about the Olsen thing;



edit: other reports are calling it Olsen's pad

I found that interesting. But either way I dont really care one way or the other.

He was talented. But now hes just another dead actor.

 

[Chaplin]

Rumor is that Olsen owns the apartment but Ledger was renting it from her temporarily.

 

[Renz]

If Ledger felt that suicide was his only alternative, then to me that's sad. If he died using recreational drugs he's just an idiot.

 

[dodie53]

sad.

will Joker die in the Dark Knight?

 

[MigratingOsprey]

why fawn over a self induced death? - one way or the other he got what he ultimately wanted (based on the information at hand)

kind of sad - but unfortunately not that unique

 

[PDXChris]

RIP Heath Ledge.


Didn't Michelle Williams leave him a few months back and take the kids with here.

 

[PDXChris]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/22/heath.ledger.dead/index.html

""Pills were found in the vicinity of the bed," police spokesman Paul Browne told CNN.

"This is being looked at as a possible overdose, but that is not confirmed yet."

The pills appeared to be over-the-counter sleeping medication, said police spokeswoman Barbara Chen."

 

[Covert Rain]

OMG. What a freaking tragedy.

 

[azsouthendzone]

It is sad when anyone dies, unless they are a murderer on death row. However I can see why someone wouldn't necessarily feel sympathetic for an extremely wealthy actor who left his child fatherless by committing suicide or by being stupid enough to OD. We'll see how this all plays out.

 

[mjb21aztd]

R.I.P such a great young actor best of wishes to his family

 

[thirty-two]

I am gutted at this news. I loved him in 10 Things I Hate About You.

I honestly don't believe it was an intentional death. He loved his daughter too much to do something like that. Rest in peace, Heath!

 

[PDXChris]

Heath Had Pneumonia

For what it is worth coming from TMZ.com.

http://www.tmz.com/

If this is true and that was a major contributor to the death, I hope that some will not rush to judgment in the future about someone they know nothing about just because some overzealous news outlets are jumping on any bit of info, in this case, over the counter sleep aids.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

crazy news.

 

[mjb21aztd]

No doubt my favorite movies from here was the The Patriot and A Knight's Tale

 

[RON_IN_OC]

I saw where Heath did an interview back in November and talked about his trouble sleeping after filming Dark Knight. I guess the part of the Joker really messed with him, because he went all out to make the character dark and demented. He mentioned something like taking 2 Ambien and still only sleeping for 2 hours a night.

 

[Renz]

Last night, sources told Mail Online that Ledger had been battling substance abuse problems - including an addiction to heroin - for some time.

"He had a stint in rehab late last year when he was treated for heroin," a source told The Daily Mail, adding that Ledger was increasingly introverted at the time of his death...

...An insider disclosed that the Brokeback Mountain star had been battling substance abuse problems for some time.

Perth-born Ledger took his break-up with Williams last September very badly, according to the source.

"Heath was shattered by his split from Michelle," the source told Mail Online, adding: "He became a recluse. He barely slept he was dealing with terrible mood swings."

Ledger spent the past several months mourning the loss of his relationship with Williams and friends say he had become an introvert, who was headed in a downward spiral.

"Heath totally wanted to be on his own these past few months since he and Michelle split in September," says a source. "She was very much in love with him, but the fact he continued to dabble in drugs kept their relationship from being one she could rely on.

"He adored his daughter Matilda, and when Michelle called it quits, he missed Matilda so much that he was thrown into a deep dark depression.

"Heath was living in New York to be close to his daughter. But he hardly ever ventured out anymore.

"His close friend and Brokeback co-star, Jake Gyllenhaal has been worried about him for months. And he knew Heath was sinking further into a depression. Jake is Matilda's godfather, and he and Heath had become really close since they did the film Brokeback together.

"Jake wanted Heath to get help, but he refused, and now it looks as though he may have died of a drug overdose.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...ews.html?in_article_id=509837&in_page_id=1773

 

[Chaplin]

Also read that the Joker role was such an exhausting character for him because he was so dark and demented. I suppose it's possible that the acting translated a little to real life.

 

[Gee!]

Also read that the Joker role was such an exhausting character for him because he was so dark and demented. I suppose it's possible that the acting translated a little to real life.

This is the second time someone alluded to this in this thread.. I sit here and think "Really? It was a frickin cartoon character, how demented and dark is the Joker? I never saw him that way".. I guess I dont get it.. Now maybe if he was playing Charles Manson or something I might believe it, otherwise no way..

 

[Dback Jon]

Very Tragic and sad. Heath bravely took on a controversial role, one that resonated with many people with his stunning portrail of Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain. He will be missed.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

This is the second time someone alluded to this in this thread.. I sit here and think "Really? It was a frickin cartoon character, how demented and dark is the Joker? I never saw him that way".. I guess I dont get it.. Now maybe if he was playing Charles Manson or something I might believe it, otherwise no way..

This is not the "cartoon" Joker...

From Wikipedia:

Heath Ledger plays the Joker, whom the actor described as a "psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy". Nolan had wanted to work with Ledger on a number of projects in the past, but had been unable to do so. When Ledger saw Batman Begins, he realized a way to make the character work in that film's tone, and Nolan agreed upon his anarchic interpretation. To prepare for the role he lived alone in a hotel room for a month, formulating the character's posture, voice and psychology. While he initially found it difficult, Ledger was eventually able to generate a voice which did not sound like Jack Nicholson's take on the character in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film. He started a diary, in which he wrote the Joker's thoughts and feelings to guide himself during his performance. He was also given Batman: The Killing Joke and Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth to read, which he "really tried to read [...] and put it down". Ledger also cited inspiration in A Clockwork Orange and Sid Vicious. Ultimately, "there’s nothing that [is] consistent", as his main objective was to frighten the audience. The challenge of the role put a strain on Ledger's sleep patterns, finding himself unable to rest for more than a few hours each night.

 

[SunDevilDon]

Wow, I just to have happened to watch "The Patriot" last night. Not a HUGE fan of his, but a shame nonetheless. Also I recently saw him in "Cassanova", a pretty funny movie if you ever get a chance, worth checking out.

 

[joeshmo]

Even if he was clean, after having drug problems just once especially herion your heart is messed up. Had a cousin (who was 28 as well) who died of heart failure even though he was clean and sober for 2 years straight. Autopsy showed that it was due to the damage that was done to his heart becuase of drug history. I would wager a guess that, that will end up being the case in this situation as well if it isnt the sleeping pills thing.

 

[former user 1]

People.com is reporting that the initial autopsy is proved inconclusive. They have to do more testing with toxicology and tissues.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I absolutely loved the Patriot, and have not sat through Brokeback Mountain yet, but I am sure that I will now.

Truly sad.