Heath Ledger Dead at 28!

[BrooklynRider]

Wow!

January 22, 2008, 4:42 pm Actor Heath Ledger Is Found Dead

By Sewell Chan (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/author/schan/)

The actor Heath Ledger (http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=heath+ledger&srchst=nyt) was found dead this afternoon in an apartment building at 421 Broome Street in SoHo, according to the New York City police. Mr. Ledger was 28.

At 3:31 p.m., a masseuse arrived at Apartment 5A in the building for an appointment with Mr. Ledger, the police said. The masseuse was let in to the home by a housekeeper, who then knocked on the door of Mr. Ledger’s bedroom. When no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger unconscious. They shook him, but he did not respond. They immediately called the authorities. The police said they did not suspect foul play and said they found pills near body.

Mr. Ledger, a native of Perth, Australia, won acclaim for his role as a co-star in “Brokeback Mountain” (http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/301840/Brokeback-Mountain/overview), a 2005 film. The film, based on a short story by Annie Proulx about two cowboys who fall in love, won critical acclaim. Reviewing (http://movies.nytimes.com/2005/12/09/movies/09brok.html) the film in The New York Times, the critic Stephen Holden wrote, “Mr. Ledger magically and mysteriously disappears beneath the skin of his lean, sinewy character. It is a great screen performance, as good as the best of Marlon Brando and Sean Penn.”

Calls by The New York Times to Mara Buxbaum, a publicist for Mr. Ledger, and Steve Alexander, the actor’s agent, were not immediately returned this afternoon.

Thomas J. Lueck contributed reporting.

[krulltime]

That is so sad. I really like him as an actor. Plus he was good looking ofcourse.

[krulltime]

A few photos I found of him...

http://galleries.lycos.co.uk/d/12598-2/Heath+Ledger

http://imstars.aufeminin.com/stars/fan/D20041221/1561_662345527_heath_ledger_9_H161753_L.jpg

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/startracks/070521/heath_ledger.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u295/maddies_abb/Ledgerfamily/heath_gallery.jpg

http://www.jossip.com/wp/docs/2007/09/heath-ledger-michelle-williams-sadboobs-sm.JPG

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/03/03/ledger_wideweb__470x309,0.jpg

[Alonzo-ny]

Sadly not the first or last time fame proves to be someones downfall.

[antinimby]

In shock. :(

[JCMAN320]

I was with my girlfriend in the Bronx today when I heard the news and we were both shocked. I really liked him in Brokeback Mountain and the Patriot and I look forward to seeing him as the joker. Extremely tragic my prayers are with him and his family. We have lost a truly great young actor and a great person.

[MikeW]

What's the average life expectancy of young celebrities now a days? Does it crack 30?

[MidtownGuy]

HEATH Ledger's ex-fiancee Michelle Williams is now making a tearful dash from Sweden to New York with their two-year-old daughter Matilda after learning of the Aussie actor's shocking death.

Williams, who split with Ledger last September, was in the Nordic country filming her new*movie Mammoth.

The pair met on the set of Ang Lee's 2005 cowboy epic Brokeback Mountain - for which Ledger scored an Oscar nomination - and*he was said to be gutted when the relationship broke down.

Britain's Daily Mail newspaper claimed the 28-year-old began dabbling in drugs.

"Heath totally wanted to be on his own these past few months since he and Michelle split in September," one insider was quoted as saying.

"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 any more.

"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. ??"Michelle will be devastated by the news because she always hoped*... they could manage to work out their relationship for the sake of their daughter. ??"Now poor little Matty is left without a father. "

Today family members gathered at his mother's house in the leafy southern Perth suburb of Applecross as they struggled to come to terms with their loss.

"We, Heath's family, can confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda,'' his father Kim said.

They insisted the star did not commit suicide - despite his naked body being found with sleeping pills scattered nearby.

Ledger*started taking the pills after completing I'm Not There, in which he played one of the many incarnations of singer Bob Dylan.

He said late last year he "stressed out a little too much" during the Dylan film and had trouble sleeping while portraying the Joker in the newest Batman flick The Dark Knight. He called the character a "psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy".

"I probably slept an average of two hours a night," Ledger said.

"I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going."

He said he took two Ambien pills, which only worked for an hour.

Ledger was discovered naked and unconscious by his masseuse and housekeeper when they could not stir him from his bedroom. Sleeping pills were strewn around the bed and there was a bottle next to his body.

They called paramedics about 3.26pm New York time. Ambulance crews were unable to revive the star and he was pronounced dead at the scene just*nine minutes later.

Bottles of Diazepam and Alprazolam, both anti-anxiety drugs prescribed in his name, were also found in the house, according to law enforcement sources.

"Yes pills were found around the body," a New York Police Department spokesman said.

The medical examiner's office*will perform*an autopsy tomorrow, spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said.

NYPD Detectives and the medical examiner would conduct a thorough investigation -*but Ledger's death is not believed to be suspicious.

"As of right now there does not appear to be any criminality at all," the spokesman said.

The news has sent shockwaves around the world.

Ledger first came to prominence by acting as a homosexual athlete in little-known Australian television series Sweat in 1996.

A 19-year-old Ledger left Sydney for Hollywood, where his standout talent was spotted by Mel Gibson when auditioning 500 actors for the role of his son in The Patriot. The casting wa Ledger's first big-time break and led to his leading role in A Knight's Tale.

This month Ledger had been working on his latest movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, directed by Terry Gilliam, which was due to be released next year.

One of Ledger's most critically acclaimed roles was as a heroin addict in the 2006 Australian movie Candy, in which he starred with Australian Abbie Cornish.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23096271-5001021,00.html?from=mostpop

[lofter1]

http://upload.moldova.org/movie/actors/h/heath_ledger/thumbnails/tn2_heath_ledger_1.jpg

[Meerkat]

I've just read this in the paper on my way to work. Fame isn't enough for some people. What a waste.

[User Name]

...Fame isn't enough for some people...
Fame is too much for some people.

Makes me want to see TDK all the more.

[Zephyr]

The assumption here is that 'fame' was the main or only reason for his apparent suicide or the least that we can say, his death. Perhaps 'fame' took a backseat to another reason, or reasons. As of this moment we don't know, and perhaps we will never know.

The greatest lost will be to us, who have already seen his promise in these film vehicles. I shall miss that obvious talent of becoming the person he played - I know not the rest.

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

The assumption here is that 'fame' was the main or only reason for his apparent suicide or the least that we can say, his death. Perhaps 'fame' took a backseat to another reason, or reasons. As of this moment we don't know, and perhaps we will never know.

The greatest lost will be to us, who have already seen his promise in these film vehicles. I shall miss that obvious talent of becoming the person he played - I know not the rest.

This thread should have been called

WHEN TEEN IDOLS START BALDING BOO TICKETY HOO

Honestly, thousands of young men and women, with far fewer opportunities commit suicide every year.

Countless other men and women died in combat in WWII and today in Afghanistan in an effort to help their fellow citizens, and some would argue, their fellow man.

When I see a front page story on the New York Times for every one of those people, I will pay attention to this guy, as much as I like some of his films.

http://gawker.com/5002468/time-to-go-home

Nuff said.

[OmegaNYC]

Sad. I didn't know his work too well, but I did know of him. Truely sad to hear about this.

[Meerkat]

WHEN TEEN IDOLS START BALDING BOO TICKETY HOO


The name Eyore comes to mind.http://ebay.emmascorner.com/images/eyore-circle.png

[The Benniest]

Extremely sad. I was at school this afternoon, when the subject came up. I didn't even know about it and they were like, "Yea. He died recently." I was like, "Umm...no way!" It's very sad to think about the fact that he died while having a wife and a daughter.

R.I.P. Heath Ledger!

[lofter1]

Nuff said.


In your case: Too much said.

I guess you never learned that sometimes it's best to say nothing at all.

[BrooklynRider]

This is a guy who lived a rather private life and wasn't known for living on the edge. I could understand the snickering and cynicism if it were Paris Hilton, but this guy was a fine actor and seemed to be a devoted father.

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

In your case: Too much said.

I guess you never learned that sometimes it's best to say nothing at all.

Far far too much said, just by the existence of this thread.

Where are the threads for all of the Afghanistan veterans who have died?

WWII?

WWI?

Suicide victims from NYC?

Do you actually think that Heath would care if one of us died?

Another thing: It was utterly self serving and dishonest for his father to say in the press conference that it was an "accidental" death. Whoever the beneficiary of his life insurance is, statements like that do not help Heath's cause.

[ZippyTheChimp]

I didn't realize there was a 'cause.' Or that being famous was a capital offense.

I thought it was about a 28 year old man dying and a 2 year old girl fatherless.

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

Right.

And very few 28 year old men with known histories of drug abuse who die leaving children, whether they commit suicide, die in combat, or die from natural causes get so much damn attention.

http://www.tmz.com/

Live Streaming Video Outside the Chapel Today For the Pre Burial Viewing!

Lets see how many New Yorkers who died in combat in Afghanistan get this sort of coverage - on this forum or elsewhere.

[Fabrizio]

But fame and attention just go hand in hand.

For instance: in your own little way you might be famous on your block or at your local coffee shop... and garner attention... with people pointing you out and covering their mouths while they make comments to one another.

You might even hear them say things like: "Dear God... here he comes!"

All of that attention, and that's just for being a famous a$$hole... now imagine if you were a hot-shot movie star.

[ZippyTheChimp]

Right.

And very few 28 year old men with known histories of drug abuse who die leaving children, whether they commit suicide, die in combat, or die from natural causes get so much damn attention.I don't remember your blog (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=168993&postcount=9) containing any weighty social issues, just silly pap.

Oh wait. You couldn't even garner any interest in that. (http://www.turtlebayconfidential.blogspot.com/)

[Ninjahedge]

I always find it amazing when it is the people that say that we should not be paying attention to something or someone that are usually the loudest ones talking about them.


GT, if you do not like the attention being given, stop providing it.

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

I don't remember your blog (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=168993&postcount=9) containing any weighty social issues, just silly pap.

Right, "Just Silly Silly Pap Zip" and what does that have to do with this celebrity's death and its coverage.

I thought that it was "Nuff Said" and was out the door before the drone kept on, why keep droning on Zippy, and could you please point out where the threads are of the thousands of other accidental medication deaths/suicides of New Yorkers.

[lofter1]

GT: Why don't you create the threads addressing the situations you say are woefully neglected?

That could be a positive way to channel your aggravation.

[NYatKNIGHT]

People grieve for anyone they know who dies, whether they knew them personally or not. (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=42) People also feel compassion for those they don't know and keep their charity private. There's nothing to be ashamed of here, except some preachy admonishment unfairly passing judgement.

[Mohamed]

He was a young-man .

[ZippyTheChimp]

I thought that it was "Nuff Said" and was out the door before the drone kept on, You don't decide when threads have run their course.

You can only decide not to participate, but it seems you lack the discipline to adhere to your own "nuff said." Or was that a directive for everyone else?

[Meerkat]

Where are the threads for all of the Afghanistan veterans who have died?

WWII?

WWI?



That's bizarre. When i mentioned the fact that several members of my family died in the trenches in WW1 you were dismissive of the fact.

The death of anyone is tragic, young or old, but as this appears to have been an accidental overdose, well in my opinion its very sad.

[BrooklynRider]

Do you actually think that Heath would care if one of us died?

Actually, I think that if he read of someone dying a similar death he would have sympathy for the victim.

Your reaction is rathed cold and very mean-spirited. Whatever it is that you are angry about comes out in a very unflattering way.

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

Rider

Are you saying that we should just allow Ledger's post mortem spin machine only tell us the good side about his life?

Generally speaking, public personalities of the scale of Ledger are only too happy to use the media as a means of self promotion and then criticize the same publications for airing/publishing facts that may be seen to be negative.

Several people on this news item seem to think that it was common knowledge that Ledger liked opiates.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/31/celebs-rally-to-pull-heat_n_84357.html

Are you saying that this should just be ruled out?

[lofter1]

Common decency dictates that one should hold back on the snide comments for some period of time -- and at least until after the deceased has been interred or whatever ritual is followed after death.

To do otherwise reveals apparent deficiencies of the commentor -- rather than offering any illumination regarding the deceased or those who felt a connection to that person.

[Ninjahedge]

Saying "well HE did it!!" is no way to justify being this harsh GT.

Especially not in your bitter condescending style. I did not know this guy from Adam, but it is still in bad form to heckle someone post mortem about their, as to that moment, largely undiscussed drug affiliations.

IOW, just learn a bit of tact. Things may be allowed on the internet that are not generally accepted in person, but they are disliked to the same degree and reflect just as poorly on the speaker/writer.

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

He was a good actor who died at a young age.

If the coverage ended at that, some sense of balance would be achieved. Instead, unhelpful and premature expressions that it was all an accident, and this pulling of the drug story by ET under pressure of others who want publicity - but only in their favor - has only made it all much worse.

If you want to be a mouthpiece for his post mortem spin machine, knock yourself out. I would rather see a more balanced view of this event, which will now , and regrettably for his family, only continue to become a bigger story precisely because of the orchestrated effort to spin it

[Ninjahedge]

Are you talking to me?

Be a mouthpiece?

GT, you are the one blathering and whining about it. If the coverage bothers you so much, complain about it, not about the man they are covering.

I am just tired of hearing your negativity on everything all the time.

[ZippyTheChimp]

Seems to me that GT's lat post tried to spin his first post.

I don't think

" WHEN TEEN IDOLS START BALDING BOO TICKETY HOO"

shows any compassion for the family, or a wish for balanced coverage. Just a dismissal of a death as unimportant.

Nuff said?

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

An obvious parody on the emphasis placed upon the grotesque coverage given to this particular event...

He died. He was a good actor.

There was no need for his family to say it was just an "accident", because then you have a bunch of other people who want to show that it was not just an "accident". Etc etc.

Since when has the taking out of a body to an ambulance become news?

People arriving for the memorial service at the funeral home (broadcast live on the internet)? When has that been given the status of news?

His family's obvious reaction of grief - when has that become news?

Just look at the coverage given to the McCann story.

Just how many other children went missing in Europe last year?

Just how many other people died from drugs/committed suicide this year? How many soldiers in Iraq? Afghanistan?

Its just necro news/murder porn.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/martin_bell/2008/02/the_death_of_news.html

If you want this event to become a fiery inferno of nonsense, or you wish to become a spin machine for his interests, knock yourself out.

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

Fancy being a partner in my latest money-making scheme - the celebrity death-messaging service?



If you want to be notified the moment the Milk Tray man winds up in a box of his own, then eVulture is the service for you

Charlie Brooker
Monday February 4, 2008
The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/)

This is already shaping up to be a vintage year for celebrity deaths. First Heath Ledger, then Jeremy Beadle. In both cases I first heard of the sad demise through the miracle of text messaging. Friends clearly felt compelled to be the first to break the bad news: in Ledger's case this was probably because his death came as a shock (an especially tragic one, given his age), and in Beadle's ... well, my theory is that everyone in the country secretly loved Jeremy Beadle, but kept it quiet because the general consensus seemed to be that he was "hated". And when he died, we all felt slightly guilty that we hadn't piped up sooner. There was a palpable sense of "awww", because whatever your views on his TV shows, there was little doubt we'd lost a real character, and somehow, we'd failed him.
Anyway, having my mobile beep twice in a fortnight, like a coroner's pager, made me feel as though I'd unwittingly subscribed to some kind of instant deathwatch service. Which isn't a bad idea, actually. Let's brainstorm.
OK. It's called "eVulture". You sign up for free on a website, and choose the category of celebrity you're interested in. This being an age of dazzling consumer choice in which the customer is routinely indulged like a spoilt medieval prince, the whole thing is super-configurable. You can decide to ignore everyone but the biggest Hollywood star, for instance, or specialise in minor characters from half-remembered TV shows, the sort of person whose passing probably wouldn't be mentioned in a mainstream news bulletin. So if you want to be contacted the moment one of Blake's 7 shuffles off this mortal coil, or the Milk Tray man winds up in a box of his own, this is the service for you.
Meanwhile, back at eVulture HQ, a team of dedicated researchers monitors the news feeds, scans the death notices in local papers and, if necessary, phones around to ask if anyone's seen that bloke who was in that thing lately. GPs are bribed to report any celebrity who dies on their watch (at the end of the year, they receive a hamper full of cakes and wine - the quality and quantity depending on the number of tips they passed on).
As soon as a death is confirmed, the relevant subscribers receive a text alert, which arrives with a discreet little advert attached (that's how the money rolls in). Anyone receiving a deathtext is likely to feel slightly depressed for a few minutes: an ideal condition for advertisers, because you're talking about people with their guard down here. Research suggests that messages for comfort products such as chocolate or alcohol should perform particularly well under these circumstances. There's also scope for some revenue-generating user interaction, too, such as an option to send flowers, sign a virtual book of condolence, or order a rush-released DVD boxset containing the deceased's greatest performances.
Future plans include a scheme in which celebrities are voluntarily fitted with microchips that monitor their current health status, and automatically transmit a personalised farewell message to fans the moment their heart stops beating. At present, we can only offer raw text messaging, but soon hope to provide a full range of MMS-epitaph features such as animated icons, background music, and CGI video clips of the star in question waving goodbye and ascending to heaven.
That's the business plan in a nutshell. I've copyrighted the idea, but if someone else wants to set it up, I'm more than happy to let them. You work out all the complicated stuff; I'll take 25% of the profits. Actually, scratch that. Under that setup, I'd soon find myself looking forward to celebrity deaths - willing the cast of Hollyoaks to die so I could buy some new gold fittings for my yacht or something - which probably isn't good for the soul. Plus it'd make good business sense to go around actively bumping people off. No. I can't do it. Plough my share into wind farms or something. That should help eVulture subscribers assuage their guilt, while simultaneously providing a fitting tribute to the deceased. Perfect.
Incidentally, in case you're appalled by the idea (on the flimsy grounds that it's monstrous), it's worth noting that despite its name, eVulture only steps in once death has occurred. Not before. The tabloids already have the ghoulish-rubbernecker market sewn up, as evidenced by the hand-rubbing coverage of Britney Spears' increasingly tragic predicament, or the extended hounding of Amy Winehouse, all of which strikes them as a tremendous paper-shifting wheeze.
If Spears appeared on a window ledge tomorrow, a fight would break out below. Half the press would scream at her to jump, and the rest would urge her to go back inside, but remain as tormented as possible. One or two might offer professional help, provided that it resulted in an exclusive. And in the resultant coverage, the mob itself wouldn't even be mentioned, none of their shouts or cackles recorded, as though they had exerted no influence at all. At best, a few detached smartarses might mutter something boneheaded about publicity-courting celebs bringing it on themselves. And then the lot of them would vanish into smoke, to reappear at the scene of the next inexplicable meltdown.
Under the circumstances, eVulture looks positively acceptable.
· This week Charlie spent far too long playing Burnout Paradise on the Xbox 360: "A bewildering combination of utterly compelling car-smashing gameplay and infuriating design decisions, which means that playing it is simultaneously fun and irritating, like eating a delicious cake with the occasional drawing pin in it."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2251997,00.html

[lofter1]

Why are you so obsessed with this? No one here has glorified the publicity mill more than you.

You seem to know each and every link to the stories and thereby give weight to them by visitng those sites, reading the stories they tell and linking them here.

In the cyberworld you are gold to these folks -- you bring them new clients at the click of a mouse.

[Alonzo-ny]

Just look at the coverage given to the McCann story.

Just how many other children went missing in Europe last year?



I understand people have to make news and the McCann story is obviously more interesting for them to put out there than the average missing child story but the amount of money/ publicity/ importance given to this one case is absolutely disgusting and repulsive. I think they recieved 1 million in handouts? For what they are not a poor family. Nevermind all the tv time given. I feel sorry for all the poor families with missing kids who werent entertaining enough to recieve 1M.

While I am not agreeing with you GT on this matter I agree on some points.

[Meerkat]

He was a good actor who died at a young age.



Looks like someone is trying a bit of damage limitation.

Now if you'd have started your first post on this thread using these words, and then gone on to make your point, (rather than your rather cold reaction to this young mans death) i may even have been able to agree with the general gist of your posts. Lack of compassion is not a very attractive Characteristic, but i wasn't particularly surprised by the response.

Its amazing that someone who claims to hate the attention this death has attracted, has managed to keep this discussion (which would have probably died out some time ago) alive and well.

And Ninjahedge, i competely agree with your last sentence.

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

Now if you'd have started your first post on this thread using these words, and then gone on to make your point, (rather than your rather cold reaction to this young mans death)...

I wasnt aware that this thread was about me. In fact, you seem to be dwelling more upon me than the dead actor.

The young man died. The media circus was bad enough.

Then his father and Heath's PR machine had to say that it was just an "accident", inviting even more fervant speculation. Read the Guardian article to get some idea of what this can do.

It was as overblown and pornographic as the McCann story.

To stop this misconception of yours, heres "another" news story of the time of Heath's death:

"Congo conflict 'kills 45,000 a month'
Study says effects of decade of fighting continue to kill thousands of people - half of them small children"

See what I am saying now?

[Ninjahedge]

I wasnt aware that this thread was about me.

YOU made it so. Congrats!


The young man died. The media circus was bad enough.

Show me where a single person has said otherwise.


Then his father and Heath's PR machine had to say that it was just an "accident", inviting even more fervant speculation. Read the Guardian article to get some idea of what this can do.

I would rather not read the Guardian. We know what it says. How does this merit your first response?


It was as overblown and pornographic as the McCann story.

Mis-appellation of a term to incite controversy. I believe it was a pedophilial story. :rolleyes:


To stop this misconception of yours,

Confrontary. You are always looking for a disagreement.

I dare you to say "No I am not!"


See what I am saying now?

Yes. And we saw what you said in the beginning.

We are also seeing your unwillingness to admit fault, apologize and move on. You are determined to somehow prove your valor by continuing to post-contextualize your original statement in hopes that people will stop talking about it.

If you do not like the stories, fine. There are plenty taht many of us do not care to hear about any more (Was Brittney on DRUGS!!?!?!?), but simply owning up to your calous first remarks, apologising and moving on WITHOUT any "If"s "And"s or "But"s is what most of us are hoping for, but not expecting.








And Meer, I just hate people taht are so negative all the time.

Maybe that is why I hate myself sometimes!! ;)

[Meerkat]

I wasnt aware that this thread was about me. In fact, you seem to be dwelling more upon me than the dead actor.



Well i guess thats just beacuse you are such a fascinating individual.

Or maybe i was just shocked by your cold indifference to this mans death.

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

However you look at it, his PR machine and family's attempt to say that he was such a perfect human being that he would never intentionally place more tablets in his mouth than what the doctor ordered, was simply tendentious and self serving.

It invited an inferno of speculation and the eventual airing of the drug video except on ET, which bowed to pressure. If you want to be an apologist for his conduct - knock yourself out. His family elected to say what they did, when it could be argued that they shouldnt have said anything.

I wont act as if I knew the dead actor. I didnt.

Neither did thousands of others who stood at the memorial home with cameras and flashes hoping to catch a photo of his corpse.

As one observant Guardian reader commented, one rule should be learned by all journalists; a dead celebrity's family grieving should not enjoy the status of news.

I read the story on the news along with the other stories, such as the estimated near 50,000 dead in the Congo every month, half of which are children.

I decided to place more emphasis upon this.

Nuff said.

[Ninjahedge]

Final word from me (I hope).

Thing is Greg, most of us agree with a lot of what you are saying, but that still does not mean that we approve of you coming in as you did and setting fire to whatever you touched.

None of us here were pining for him, or were more concerned than any stranger hearing of anothers death. Thing is this:

The man just died. Anonymity does not give you the "right" to both spit on the corpse AND expect people to say it is all right. Just because you did not know the guy does not give you the OK to disrespect it.

Also, MOST people find it rather crass to do so so soon after a persons death. You have to give it time. Express your discontent at the media over-coverage, but try not to defile the corpse before it is even in the ground.

Show some stones and admit your fault and lets move on, and out. :)

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

The level of condescension by you about the discussion of this event would make the North Korean government blush. Exactly what level of deference do you demand. It is wrong to act as if you knew the man any more than the average victim of drug abuse, or for that matter, dead celebrity.

If the point that I and others were legitimately trying to make was not clear enough to you, heres an example of the posts on the Huff Post story of today..

NeverRepublican (See profile | I'm a fan of NeverRepublican)
Gee, I don't want to offend anyone but I'm getting real tired of hearing about these muti-millionaires turning to drugs and being in a state of depression. And thier incredible talanet?...I know plenty of teachres who are talented and actually engauage with young folks on a daily basis to educated them. Yet they get crapped on. Please tell me how these entertainers touch anyone outside of seeing thier face on a screen. And what do they really do besides a few "appearances" in public?... they go back to the party.
These jack ass actors and actress's and other entertainers who get caught up in drugs are no more intitled to sympathy than any one who dies in the streets. Yet we get the 24-7 dose of guys like this and loosers like Spears and Lohan just enjoying the American drugged-dream. I have said it before...main-stream hollywood really sucks.
Hey...if the Huffington Post would continually post the names of the dead soldiers or the soldiers who are living in the streets and maybe the other dead people who get murdered in this country...we do lead the world in that category you know...maybe I'd have a better opinion about another well-off actor who decided his lavish life style was just too much to handle. But they don't...so I could really care less about some "high school level prom king" with a drug addiction and now living dead in a hole. Why not imprison the drug dealer Dr's? There's a start.

If you dont wish to see a discourse on this PR fuelled story, then live in China.

[lofter1]

Maybe this will help to bring this thread to a close ...

Ledger's Toxicology Results:

Died From Acute Intoxication,
Abuse Of Prescription Medications,
Death Accidental

Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/06/ledgers-toxicology-resul_n_85294.html)
February 6, 2008

The NYC medical examiner finished Heath Ledger's toxicology report 15 days after he was found dead (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/24/heath-ledger-found-dead_n_82721.html) in his New York apartment. They ruled (http://www.tmz.com/2008/02/06/ledgers-death-ruled-acute-intoxication/) Ledger's death was caused by "acute intoxication" and abuse of prescription medications.


In a statement Ellen Borakave, spokesperson for Office of Chief Medical Examiner, confirms (http://www.usmagazine.com/heath_ledger_died_of_accidental_overdose):
"Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine. We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications."The Feds says (http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20176543,00.html)they will probe how Ledger obtained his many prescriptions:


"We are working with the NYPD to identify any illegally prescribed drugs that may have been prescribed to [Ledger]," Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Erin Mulvey tells PEOPLE, confirming news first reported by TVGuide.com on Wednesday.

[Ninjahedge]

The level of condescension by you about the discussion...

I stopped reading there.

You still do not get it, do you?

You don't like the coverage, we get it. Enough. :rolleyes:

[Ninjahedge]

The one thing I question though, Loft, is this.

Why were there pills all over the floor. You think this was a state of delirium or intoxication?

I can't imagine taking a pill, then just standing around waiting for it to take effect while still holding the bottle, open.....


Ah well, whatever. More stuff will be dug up as they keep looking. It is a shame they could not see this a bit sooner. A life is a life is a life.

[lofter1]

What? I guess you've never self-medicated :cool:

The drugs involved here have a long half-life -- particularly those anti-anxiety types that end in -pam. They are still working after the bottle says it's time for another dose. They build up in your system and within a couple of days what originally might have killed the pain and put you to sleep now takes care of pain but makes sleep nearly impossible. So someone might think "Take more, that will tke the edge off" -- but another pill just makes sleep more difficult. By then your ability to think logically is hugely compromised. But you can't sleep and your mind is cranked. You just want to "check out " for awhile and clear the brain of all the garbage. So maybe you take another type of pain killer you got six months ago for something else. And it goes on until the body can't take it any more.

Bottom line: Anyone with this mix of drugs running through their sytem is not making a very logical choice.

[voodoochild]

I must say that his death was very sad considering he has a 2 year old daughter that will now grow up with out a father. Any one's sudden death, no matter who they are is sad but I just don't get all the hype, STILL.
Even when Jon Ritter died, he haden't been talked about in AGES, then he dies and all of a sudden he became this hero in the eys of the public. I just wish that the media would put a spotlight on others(normal people) that pass on too. For every soldier that has died for our country and freedom, there should be such coverage and memorials. All these men get is a reading of their name on the 10pm news and a tombstone tucked away in a cemetery that will soon be forgotten.:(

[Ninjahedge]

VC, while nice, it is not what teh peopel want to hear about, so they will not watch, and the station will not get $$.. :(

And Loft, I know how he would take so many, I am just confused why he would still be holding the bottle when it conked him out.

The only other explanation was he was already loopy and tried to "chug" them or had limited motive capacity to be able to take these w/o spilling them all over....


Like I said though, it is a shame. And it is especially bad that we have so many of these chemicals out there all designed to make us feel better when most just turn things off in your head....

Ain't science great?

[GermanNewYorkFan]

he was so young !!!! :confused::confused:

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

With all respect to the dead actor, there has been way too much spin in this media circus.

His sister is apparently a public relations "professional" and the PR firm she works for is doing the work for Heath's family/estate. I would doubt that the word "impartiality" would hold any meaning in these circumstances.

The rolled up 20 dollar bill was found to be free of illegal drugs.

But he was taking a legal prescribed drug, Oxycodone (brand name for Oxycontin).

Heres what somebody posted on IMDB:

"Can you crush Oxycodone or Oxycontin(sp) up and snort it through a rolled up bill?"

Very easily. If you snort an entire pill, it gives you the same high as shooting or snorting herion. Very addictive, very dangerous.

Why in the world would Ledger have a rolled up 20?

Perhaps his sister can write that press release.

[voodoochild]

With all respect to the dead actor, there has been way too much spin in this media circus.

His sister is apparently a public relations "professional" and the PR firm she works for is doing the work for Heath's family/estate. I would doubt that the word "impartiality" would hold any meaning in these circumstances.

The rolled up 20 dollar bill was found to be free of illegal drugs.

But he was taking a legal prescribed drug, Oxycodone (brand name for Oxycontin).

Heres what somebody posted on IMDB:

"Can you crush Oxycodone or Oxycontin(sp) up and snort it through a rolled up bill?"

Very easily. If you snort an entire pill, it gives you the same high as shooting or snorting herion. Very addictive, very dangerous.

Why in the world would Ledger have a rolled up 20?

Perhaps his sister can write that press release.

You are so right. Like I said before, there are sooooo many other things going on in this world and THIS is what the media decides to show. How many children are dying of starvation in the world and child abuse???? It is our own fault though. We reach for the PEOPLE magazines with the actors in it rather than the TIME LIFE ones which have the REAL problems shown in them. hhmmmph!

[lofter1]

If it bothers you both so much that there is not enough attention being paid to certain tragedies in life then why, oh why, don't you spend your energy on illuminating the world about that, rather than moaning and whining about the attention being paid to Mr. Heath Ledger?

[Fabrizio]

Oh boy...

Kids... you might want to research the media/public frenzy over the deaths of Rudolph Valentino (1927), James Dean (1956), Judy Garland (1969) or Elvis Presley (1977).

Heath Ledger? Believe me this is NOTHIN'.

-----

Valentino (from Wikipedia):

"An estimated 100,000 people lined the streets of New York City to pay their respects at his funeral, handled by the Frank Campbell Funeral Home. The event was a drama itself: actress Pola Negri collapsed in hysterics while standing over the coffin, windows were smashed as fans tried to get in, and Campbell's hired four actors to impersonate a Fascist Blackshirt honor guard, which claimed to have been sent by Benito Mussolini. It was later revealed as a planned publicity stunt. The New York Graphic printed a ghoulish fake composed photograph on its front cover purporting to show Valentino in his casket, before the body actually reached the funeral home."

---

Judy Garland (as reported in the NYTimes):

http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/04/09/specials/garland-view.html