No. Way.


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

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


Heath Ledger was found dead in his Manhattan apartment.

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."

Ledger 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 was born in Perth, Australia. He has a young daughter with actress Michelle Williams, his co-star in "Brokeback Mountain."

Just heard about this on another forum... Crazy. I wasn't extensively familiar with his work, but I definitely knew of him, and it's very surreal when someone so well-known suddenly passes away like this.

He seemed like a cool guy, pretty shocking news....can't wait to see him in the new Batman movie, will certainly give the movie a creepy edge.

who's gonna be the joker in the new batman movie now?

WHO I ASK!

Holy shit.

who's gonna be the joker in the new batman movie now?

WHO I ASK!

The film's in post production. they'll have to do without pick-up shooting I guess.

I was shocked when my BBC headline ticker extension for FireFox pulled that up.

damn RIP. he was one of australias finest actors in my opinion. thats horrible.

[djskrimp]

damn RIP. he was one of australias finest actors in my opinion. thats horrible.

Agreed. I've been jumping up and down in excitement for his interpretation of the Joker for the last month and a half, now.

He was far too young.

RIP

Its a shame that such a great actor had to die so young

Stupid people die every day.

Stupid people die every day.

Shut the fuck up.

Stupid people die every day.

Don't even start.

At least he completed the filming for the Dark Knight. I kind of feel bad focusing so much on that and not on the fact that he died so young and at such a remarkable part of his career, but it's still there. He gave all he had for the Joker, and I can guarantee that this particular Joker will have an added layer of creepy with it. Kind of like watching The Crow or something...

Sad news, still. A lot of good people are passing away these days...

An absolute fucking tragic waste, no matter what the cause of death turns out to be. Especially with a small daughter.

The expectation for his role in the upcoming Batman was huge, and though I've not been a devoted fan of Heath's - I've seen the trailer for The Dark Knight and as the Joker he looked truly chilling. It is such a pity that one of the most anticipated films in recent years will forever be diminished by this sad outcome.

RIP cobber.

Stupid people die every day.

Don't even start.

While I understand that the news could bum people out, and that this is, in a way, sad, because even though we don't know Heath Ledger, he adds something to your life through his work even without direct contact. So, I understand how some people might mourn the passing of someone they didn't know personally.

And yet, I also understand Eyesore's point that it's hard to feel too sad here because there are people dying everywhere, many of them drug overdoses, and no one will shake their head and mutter about tragedy for the vast majority of them because they were not famous. But, Heath Ledger, apparently a junkie, dies and we want to lionize him and call it a shame just because he was in movies?

No offense, meant. I love this forum and have enjoyed it for many years now and certainly respect you, Blue Raja, and most, if not all of the forum members. So, please understand that I'm just, in the spirit of this forum, and in the interest of thinking outside the hive mind, questioning the idea. I know drug addicts personally. It's a sad thing when someone dies. But, at the same time, it's hard to get too worked up when someone with resources and contacts like an actor in show business dies of a drug overdose. It's not as if rehab and 12 Step programs are a thing of mystery.

I just wonder why we want to hold someone up and valorize because they died and they were famous. If the cat were murdered, in a car accident, something random, then it would be a lot sadder to me. But, he took too many pills? Well, that's what junkies do. Too bad no buddy, including Mr. Ledger, valued his life enough to get help.

****Not edited but I'm thinking...

Okay, now that I think about it, it might be too strong and premature to label Mr. Ledger a junkie since it's possible that it was an accident. So, that being the case, should someone wish to flame me, I'd appreciate it if it was understood that most of what I'm talking about is the abstract idea of famous people somehow being glorified by virtue of their fame in a way that a "normal" person would not.

Anyway, I'm not trying to be a jerk and if it comes across that way I shall be more than happy to fuck off. Just ask.