Heath Ledger Dead At 28

[Mark]

Actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday of a possible drug overdose in a Lower Manhattan apartment, the New York Police Department said.

The Academy Award nominated actor was 28.
"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.


Ledger was unresponsive when he was found by a housekeeper who had gone to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse in the Soho apartment, Browne said.


He was declared dead at about 3:30 p.m., Browne said.


In 2005, the actor played Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain," about two cowboys who had a secret relationship.


The role earned him the Oscar nomination.


Ledger (http://topics.cnn.com/topics/heath_ledger) was born in Perth, Australia. He has a young daughter with actress Michelle Williams, his co-star in "Brokeback Mountain."


"He was just so respected in the industry," said Kim Serafin, senior editor of In Touch Weekly. "It's just horribly tragic. He was just a fine actor and a good person, so this is horribly sad and very unexpected."

Wow. That's crazy. My condolences to his family.

I guess this puts the new Batman film in a bit of a pickle.

[Andrea]

One of my favorite actors just...gone. I don't even have the words. I am too shocked over this. Just....god.

May he rest in peace.

[Dean]

RIP. My sympathy to his friends and family, especially his daughter.

[Messy Marj]

RIP Heath Ledger.

My condolences go to his loved ones.

[Friskey™]

RIP. Condolences go out to everyone in his family, friends included.

He was a fine actor. And I sure hope TDK proves he can go out with a bang.

[Timothy]

RIP. I truly feel for his family, especially his daughter. 28 is just too
young to go at.

[Vdalem]

Shame to lose such a great actor. RIP Ledger!

[Anya]

Wow, I was so shocked when I read this, as I'm sure everyone was.

He was so young. =\ And such an amazing actor too. RIP Heath. <3

[The Doctor]

This is just terrible. He's one of my favorite actors and now he's gone. Just getting into his prime. I'm still in shock.

[Twizted]

Just heard about this from someone a little while ago... wow. He may have been "just an actor" to the majority of us but it is still really sad news.

Obviously none of the people outside of his family and friends would truly know how his life was, but I sure hope it turns up to be accidental if it does indeed turn out to be an overdose. He had so much more life to live and as if it isn't awful news already, that would be terrible to hear.

My condolences go out to his family and friends. Rest in Peace.

[Friskey™]

The very frightening thing about it. Remember the term "Everything happens in threes"?

Brad Renfro, died last week, 25, possible OD
Heath Ledger, died today, 28, possible OD

I'm afraid of who could be next. I hope nobody.

[Foreshadowed_LP]

I was shocked to hear this when I got home from my girlfriends. She phoned me to inform me of the news. I couldn't believe it. He was truly, a great actor. And passing at such a young age is saddening to hear.

My condolences go out to his family.

RIP Heath.

[Derek The Infamous]

Absolutely terrible news. I am moved to tears by this. He was such a promising actor with an incredible resume and prominent career ahead of him, and I absolutely loved him in A Knight's Tale.

It's a shame when the good die so young, He will be missed.

R.I.P.

[Rachel]

The very frightening thing about it. Remember the term "Everything happens in threes"?

Brad Renfro, died last week, 25, possible OD
Heath Ledger, died today, 28, possible OD

I'm afraid of who could be next. I hope nobody.

The Law of Three.

Or, in this case, it could be the Batman thing. Didn't a crew member die on set during filming?

[Louis]

That is just terrible. He was so young.

May he rest in peace.

[Omar]

Horrible news. I'm not sure how this will affect The Dark Knight, as filming wrapped last year.

My thoughts go out to this family and friends.

[Friskey™]

The Law of Three.

Or, in this case, it could be the Batman thing. Didn't a crew member die on set during filming?

While planning a stunt with the Batmobile in a special effects facility near Chertsey, England in September 2007, a technician was killed when his car crashed. None of the actors was on set.

That's what I found on the Wiki.

I'm sure nothing will change though. Just...treat this like Brandon Lee did. Although it's 2 entirely different suitations.

Still...wow.

[Andrea]

I am willing to bet that due to him playing The Joker that his role drove him to this. I remember reading sometime ago he was taking sleeping pills because the role strained on his sleeping patterns.

[Derek The Infamous]

I am willing to bet that due to him playing The Joker that his role drove him to this. I remember reading sometime ago he was taking sleeping pills because the role strained on his sleeping patterns.

Not to forget that he was playing a very mentally unstable character, and that if he was not having much sleep/mentally unstable himself...it could've led to him losing it.

I'm not saying this was deliberate or a suicide, but if it turned out to be, the reason about is my best guess as to why unfortunately.

Again, this couldn't have happened to a greater actor and he will be sorely missed.

[Debus]

I heard about this earlier tonight. I was shocked into silence. I was never a big fan of Heath Ledger, but he was a brilliant actor, and I am genuinely devastated to hear this. Dying like that at 28, it's just wrong.

RIP

[lachina128]

anyone here still in shock over this news? I'm so sad that such a great actor died at such a young age. This is like when Phil Hartman or River Phoenix died, I seriously couldn't believe it.
RIP Heath Ledger "THE" Joker

[Rachel]

He was taking both prescription sleeping pills and over the counter, which could have led to the accidental overdose, as it's pretty much impossible to accidentally overdose on prescription sleeping pills.

[Nikki]

The very frightening thing about it. Remember the term "Everything happens in threes"?

Brad Renfro, died last week, 25, possible OD
Heath Ledger, died today, 28, possible OD



...

I do believe that's utter buggery. In my opinion, of course. But hm.

Such a shame that an actor with such talent has had the lights switched out already. Especially with such a buzz surrounding TDK.

So yes. RIP. There's nothing more I can say which could make anyone feel any better.

[Joe]

Holy shit, just got back from Alter Bridge & this is the first thing I find out. This is so upsetting. :( He was a great actor, I've been anticipating his Joker performance for as long as it's been mentioned and this is such a shock.

[Will]

My mom told me about Ledger's passing when I woke up. It's so weird, since I'd just watched Brokeback Mountain last night. I hope his performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight really gives people something to remember him by.

May he rest in peace.

[Luke]

This is a terrible shock. He was a great actor and had the potential to have a continuously outstanding career. It's such a shame.

RIP

[+ / –]

I just found out about it. Wow. I'm still shocked.

RIP

[Chris.]

He was apparently taking the sleeping pills to fall asleep because he got so into the part of The Joker that it actually caused him to lose sleep.

I'm still excited for the film, maybe even more so now because if it caused him to lose sleep then it's gonna be amazing. The length that he went to fufil the role.

RIP Heath Ledger.

[Rachel]

He also had pneumonia.

So the mix of prescription sleeping pills, over the counter sleeping pills (still no verification on the OTC ones), and pneumonia could have affected his breathing or heart rate, thus causing his death.

This is still speculation, but his family has confirmed the pneumonia.

[Misfit Jay]

He also had pneumonia.

So the mix of prescription sleeping pills, over the counter sleeping pills (still no verification on the OTC ones), and pneumonia could have affected his breathing or heart rate, thus causing his death.

This is still speculation, but his family has confirmed the pneumonia.

They're doing the autopsy tomorrow so it should shine some light onto what happened.

[Snail]

I was really shocked to hear about this today. May Heath Ledger rest in peace.

On a side note, with no disrespect or anything, I feel as if his performance as 'The Joker' in the upcoming Batman film really does freak me out now after this whole ordeal.

[Harlz]

Far too young... RIP

[F-ck Casey]

I assume everyone remembers the church that runs the website, godhatesf*gs.com?

Yeah... they're picketing his funeral because of his role in Brokeback Mountain.

[Arashi]

This was so sad. Saw it on CNN before going to school. I really was in disbelief.

Weirdly, it reminds me of how Anna Nicole Smith died.

This is truly a tragedy.

[Will]

I assume everyone remembers the church that runs the website, godhatesf*gs.com?

Yeah... they're picketing his funeral because of his role in Brokeback Mountain.

Man, that's not bigotry at all.

[Daniel]

I assume everyone remembers the church that runs the website, godhatesf*gs.com?

Yeah... they're picketing his funeral because of his role in Brokeback Mountain.

Fuck me, that's despicable.

====

Scary thing is, his next role was supposedly to play Michael Hutchence, and we all know how he went...

RIP Heath. :(

[Arashi]

Scary thing is, his next role was supposedly to play Michael Hutchence, and we all know how he went...

RIP Heath. :(


Really? That's another sad story.

[Messy Marj]

I assume everyone remembers the church that runs the website, godhatesf*gs.com?

Yeah... they're picketing his funeral because of his role in Brokeback Mountain.
Wth, how low can you go, seriously.

[Arhaz]

SHIT. this is just sad. i try and sleep over it and get up with the thought that another really talented person just died.
R.I.P. HEATH LEDGER.
he didn't need this.

[+ / –]

I woke up today and the first thing I did was check online to see if it was just some really bad dream.

And it is, I'm just not waking up, apparently.

[Rachel]

What makes this tragedy even worse is that, according to Perez Hilton, friends of Owen Wilson have been keeping an eye on him since he apparently is relapsing into addiction (which fueled his suicide attempt this past year), and apparently Heath's death has caused the pain in Wilson to supposedly come back.

We can't lose another good actor. We really can't.


I woke up today and the first thing I did was check online to see if it was just some really bad dream.

And it is, I'm just not waking up, apparently.

Here here. I woke up going "Wow, what a shitty dream", open my door, and there's a white board on my door and someone wrote RIP Heath Ledger on it.

I think when someone you care about, whether its family, friends, or even favorite actors or musicians die, it feels like a really shitty nightmare. If that was true, then the whole world would be sleeping right now.

[Messy Marj]

I woke up today and the first thing I did was check online to see if it was just some really bad dream.

And it is, I'm just not waking up, apparently.
I had exactly the same. It feels weird and I don't really want to believe it.

[Andrea]

I assume everyone remembers the church that runs the website, godhatesf*gs.com?

Yeah... they're picketing his funeral because of his role in Brokeback Mountain.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b46/hanagumori/heath.jpg

This makes me sick. It was just a fucking movie!

[Luke]

The people who are responsable for that notice deserve to go to hell themselves. Fuck them and their stupid hatefilled views. That kind of intolerant garbage is just what's wrong with the world today.

How dare they insult the name of a great actor who has just passed away.

[Will]

That's absolutely disgusting.

I'd love to uncover all the sick shit those bastards do on a daily basis and expose them.

I realize it's going to fall on deaf ears but I sent this to them through their site:


You're the most despicable "group" of which I've ever heard. I don't consider you're "group" a church at all. Even the church of Satan isn't as bigoted as your so-called "church." Heath Ledger is a man like any other, and for you to NOT respect his death is a sin in itself. If people like you are in Heaven, I'd rather be down in Hell with people like Heath, good people, wholehearted people who care about others and aren't going to preach HATE. I'd love to say "I'll see you in Hell" to close this email, but since you apparently don't do anything wrong, that means you're going to Heaven. But I'd rather go to Hell anyway if it means staying the fuck away from you sick bastards.

I also included my full name. So if you go to their site and see this, it's from me.

[Christopher]

This is just so terrible, such a great actor, one of my favourites. His role in The Dark Knight is going to prove to the world how good an actor he is, I really don't understand why these things happen...

May he rest in peace.

I will now watch Lords of Dog Town again in his remembrance.



edit: Wow, I just read those last comments. That's absolutely disgusting, indeed. They don't have the write to ever do such a thing.
Fuck them, I hope they go to hell themselves.

[Derek The Infamous]

Does godhates**** have a contact section?

I say we all write them hate mail. All at once.

*EDIT* Yes, Will sent them an email. Will what is their email? I say everyone flood their inbox.

[Will]

Does godhates**** have a contact section?

I say we all write them hate mail. All at once.

*EDIT* Yes, Will sent them an email. Will what is their email? I say everyone flood their inbox.

I'm not sure what their contact email address is but they've got a contact section on their website. If you can deal with the unbearably long load time (I'd assume their site is getting bombarded with traffic because of this) you can contact them via a form on the site.

[Andrea]

From CNN.com:


An autopsy on actor Heath Ledger was inconclusive, and a cause-of-death determination will take about 10 days, a medical examiner's spokeswoman said today.

[Derek The Infamous]

I'm not sure what their contact email address is but they've got a contact section on their website. If you can deal with the unbearably long load time (I'd assume their site is getting bombarded with traffic because of this) you can contact them via a form on the site.

Someone with HTML skills should figure out what email the form directs to.

Also, I encourage anyone here who will be near where the funeral happens to show up with signs that say "I Support Heath Ledger, Not GodHatesF*gs.com" or "God Hates GodHatesF*gs.com" and stand in front of the protesters.

[Will]

I wouldn't at all be sad if someone just shot their reverend or whatever he is. Right in the heart, if he has one.

[Derek The Infamous]

Looking at their site, it's almost impossible to believe it's actually real.

For those of you who follow Christianity, isn't it god's way to love another and treat everyone as you would want yourself to be treated? I don't recall any mention in the bible, WHATSOEVER stating that god is against homosexuals or those who support them. All the bible teaches people (despite it not being anything close to the original scriptures and being rewritten so many times over the last few centuries) is to love mankind, bring peace to the world, and to treat others and 'god' with respect.

I see nothing like that on this website. Just pure hate and bigotry which means they are not true Christians at all.

[Timothy]

I wouldn't at all be sad if someone just shot their reverend or whatever he is. Right in the heart, if he has one.

QFT. Aren't these the same assholes who picket the funerals of dead soldiers?
Yeah, I'm sure that's what Jesus intended, the heartless fucks.

[Derek The Infamous]

Since I consider picketing funerals to be a crime, and such actions to be influenced by hate: I propose that every founding member of this church be arrested, tried and convicted of hate crimes.

I also propose they are locked up for a life sentence so that their filth can no longer pollute the world.

Same goes to the KKK.

[Luke]

I find it astonishing that these people are being allowed to say such hatefilled, intolerant and downright disrespectful things. It's abusing democracy if you use your freedom of speech to persecute others simply because you have narrow-minded beliefs on something you don't understand whatsoever.

Each and every one of these people who are associated with that church and/or website should be thrown in Jail.

[Joe]

It really is disgusting, and it's sad that a thread in remembrance to a great person has to be turned away from that, into a thread filled with disgust & hate against people who can't possibly be considered sane. People who think like that do not deserve to be alive.

[Messy Marj]

There are so many hateful things I want to blurt out, but it's just too much and I don't know where to start.

[Chris.]

That's so ridiculous. I wish I could go to the funeral just to beat the living shit out of anyone protesting it. It's a shame that we have people in this country who hate others so much they'd protest their funeral based on a fucking movie role.

EDIT: The site doesn't even load for me.

[Andrea]

Breaking away from the well deserved hatred above, I had to share this link. I remember this episode fully:

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2008/01/heath_ledger.php

I laughed just as much when I first saw it in 2006 but this time around there was laughter and tears of sadness.

[Rachel]

In regards to GodHatesF-gs.

Don't feed the trolls. This is what they want, they want the attention. By flooding their email, they are only winning.

:\

Anyways. Jack Nicholson had a strange reaction to Heath's death. "I warned him."

Hmmm.

[Dean]

Looking at their site, it's almost impossible to believe it's actually real.

For those of you who follow Christianity, isn't it god's way to love another and treat everyone as you would want yourself to be treated? I don't recall any mention in the bible, WHATSOEVER stating that god is against homosexuals or those who support them. All the bible teaches people (despite it not being anything close to the original scriptures and being rewritten so many times over the last few centuries) is to love mankind, bring peace to the world, and to treat others and 'god' with respect.

I see nothing like that on this website. Just pure hate and bigotry which means they are not true Christians at all.
Fred Phelps is essentially just a hateful old man who unfortunately has two or three families worth of people wrapped around his little finger.

[Andrea]

Anyways. Jack Nicholson had a strange reaction to Heath's death. "I warned him."

Hmmm.

I read that in an article just now. *sigh*

[Linja]

I'm in shock about this. I respected him. I'll post again when some thoughts have formed.

[Rachel]

I read that in an article just now. *sigh*

Perhaps a warning in regards to playing the Joker?

[Messy Marj]

Uhm, I read in an interview not so long ago that Jack Nicholson is furious about him not getting the Joker role.

Maybe this is also why he is reacting so cold on Heath's death?

[Rachel]

Uhm, I read in an interview not so long ago that Jack Nicholson is furious about him not getting the Joker role.

Maybe this is also why he is reacting so cold on Heath's death?

I wouldn't say cold, it was more distant if anything. I've never seen Nicholson be emotional about anything. It's more his "I warned him" thing that strikes me as odd. I really do think it might have something to do with the role of the Joker.

[Andrea]

Perhaps a warning in regards to playing the Joker?

Obviously yes, since the role is dark and psychotic. I've read that some actors get so into their characters in a movie that they often find it hard to separate themselves from it to get back into reality. It's logical since you have to mentally and physically prepare for a role. Perhaps portraying the Joker got to him. That's what I truly believe and I'm sticking to that.




Uhm, I read in an interview not so long ago that Jack Nicholson is furious about him not getting the Joker role.

Maybe this is also why he is reacting so cold on Heath's death?

I remember that interview and I think it said that Nicholson was furious because he wasn't contacted to see if he wanted to come back as the Joker.

[Chris.]

That's creepy but I don't at all doubt that the role caused him to slightly lose his mind.

[Rachel]

Obviously yes, since the role is dark and psychotic. I've read that some actors get so into their characters in a movie that they often find it hard to separate themselves from it to get back into reality. It's logical since you have to mentally and physically prepare for a role. Perhaps portraying the Joker got to him. That's what I truly believe and I'm sticking to that.


Exactly. And they interviewed him somewhere about the shooting of the film, and he said that it was causing him to not sleep and to panic and stuff.

And of course they found Zoloft, Ambien, and I can't remember the other one (I want to say Valium, but I'm not positive) at the apartment.

I saw the trailers and stuff again, and you can just see that there's no barrier in that performance. He totally got sucked into the role. Such a pity :(

[Messy Marj]

I remember that interview and I think it said that Nicholson was furious because he wasn't contacted to see if he wanted to come back as the Joker.
Yes! That was it, thanks.

[Nikki]

The bloke who is head of this so-called "church" is actually senile. It's just his followers are too far up their own arses to actually realise.

Watch Louis Theroux's program with them. Rather insightful actually.

[Nick]

He was Fantastic in "The Patriot" And "A Knights Tale"

RIP Heath Ledger. He was an amazing Actor

[Omar]

I'm going to try and dispell the belief that his death was caused indirectly by his performance in The Dark Knight.

Foremost is the fact that production wrapped over two months ago, which would have given him plenty of time to recuperate from filming (aside from the 2 days off per week given to casts in most big-budget pictures) (see "Production Notes/Status" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/)). Further, Ledger was already filming another picture (see IMDb), so for TDK to have been so taxing as to have lead to his death he probably would not have began work on a new film. In fact, several news publications are reporting a quote from Ledger that his role in I'm Not There was equally exhausting as TDK (Yahoo!/AP (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_en_ce/obit_ledger)). Perhaps he shot both pictures at the same time.

I think the honest truth, though, is that he died from leading a hyper-active lifestyle. Oftentimes actors will work like crazy for several months on end, then travel the world over and hit up the trendy spots in their off time. 18 hour work days and 18 hour nights can bring an enourmous toll on the body, not to mention the personal tribulations he had been going through (accoding to media reports). Hence, I don't think we should blame the movie for his death, as he's played several intense roles for the past few years.

On another note, however, don't be too quick to trust the media, especially when it comes to things like this Nicholson quote (anybody have a source?). These are the same people who reported that his apartment was owned by Mary-Kate/Ashley Oslen, when they had absolutely nothing to do with the event.

[Rachel]

I'm going to try and dispell the belief that his death was caused indirectly by his performance in The Dark Knight.

Foremost is the fact that production wrapped over two months ago, which would have given him plenty of time to recuperate from filming (aside from the 2 days off per week given to casts in most big-budget pictures) (see "Production Notes/Status" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/)). Further, Ledger was already filming another picture (see IMDb), so for TDK to have been so taxing as to have lead to his death he probably would not have began work on a new film. In fact, several news publications are reporting a quote from Ledger that his role in I'm Not There was equally exhausting as TDK (Yahoo!/AP (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_en_ce/obit_ledger)). Perhaps he shot both pictures at the same time.

I think the honest truth, though, is that he died from leading a hyper-active lifestyle. Oftentimes actors will work like crazy for several months on end, then travel the world over and hit up the trendy spots in their off time. 18 hour work days and 18 hour nights can bring an enourmous toll on the body, not to mention the personal tribulations he had been going through (accoding to media reports). Hence, I don't think we should blame the movie for his death, as he's played several intense roles for the past few years.

On another note, however, don't be too quick to trust the media, especially when it comes to things like this Nicholson quote (anybody have a source?). These are the same people who reported that his apartment was owned by Mary-Kate/Ashley Oslen, when they had absolutely nothing to do with the event.

TMZ has the video of him being told by a paparazzo. To which you hear him clearly say "I warned him", he chuckles, and lights up a cigarette.

[+ / –]

TMZ has the video of him being told by a paparazzo. To which you hear him clearly say "I warned him", he chuckles, and lights up a cigarette.

Well, to his credit, his cigarette was already lit.

Apparently he warned him about the Ambien, not the role.

[Rachel]

Well, to his credit, his cigarette was already lit.

Apparently he warned him about the Ambien, not the role.

Thanks for the clarification.

[minuteforce]

This was so sad. Saw it on CNN before going to school. I really was in disbelief.

Weirdly, it reminds me of how Anna Nicole Smith died.i was, like, "didn't this happen before?"