I was completely stunned and dismayed to learn actor Heath Ledger, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Brokeback Mountain and is gaining incredible buzz for his turn as the Joker in the upcoming The Dark Knight, had died in New York City.
Not many details are known right now, but this is a complete shock that will be felt by many. This comes just a week after young actor Brad Renfro was found dead.
Our thoughts are with both Ledger and Renfro’s family, friends and fans. Please be respectful in your comments.
Source: AP/Google News
Tags: heath ledger
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37 Comments
Yes.
I actually just fired off an email to Vic about this.
It’s truly a devastating piece of news.
Rest in peace Heath. We will miss you.
I’m seriously bummed out about this. A bunch of us geeks were blown away so far from previews of his role as the Joker. What a cruel fate…
heath
I hate to be cruel, but might this affect the release status of TDK?
As-in. Had shooting wrapped?
This is bad news for Hollywood and for the science fiction community in general.
A lot of people were really looking for Ledger to blow it out of the water. He was a serious actor who had a lot of potential.
So young, they go.
This stinks.
And we miss them so.
Man that is meset up. Does eny body know why that happen. Well at least he died with a smile on his face. HE did finish shooting TDK right?
I literally said out loud, “Oh my God!” when I saw this. I’m… stunned and speechless.
Our thoughts go out to Ledger’s family…especially his little girl…
We’ll talk about TDK and other upcoming projects later. Let’s respect the man who tragically died.
Heath
I’m sure shooting was finalized, they should be practically done with the special effects I would think. They will probably dedicate the film to him.
So few of us can phathom the pressures of a Hollywood lifestyle and the limelight of or the paparazzi.
I’m sadened that he is gone, but, as long as TDK lives up to the hype, that he will be remembered well.
Heath,
Thanks for posting that up.
I hate hearing about this sort of thing, especially with him having a child.
The buzz was that WB was going to submit him for a best actor nomination for TDK for next year’s Oscars…
It’s unclear at this point whether it was a drug overdose or a suicide.
Vic
No worries, Vic. I read it five minutes before on http://www.drudgereport.com. Because of his roles in The Dark Knight, Brokeback Mountain and more, he has fans from all walks of life. He’ll be sorely missed.
heath
I was in the process of upgrading my Oracle database when this hit the news. I was totally stunned. This was a young man who was just a step away from superstar status, up there with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. My prayers go out to his family and friends.
It is too bad. I thought Heath was doing a great job as the Joker. I never really liked him and I was disappointed to hear he was going to play the Joker until I saw the pirated photos that leaked. I have been waiting for this movie since the ending of Batman Begins. I got really excited once I saw the teaser trailer. when they finally released the good trailer before I Am Legend I was speechless. he is going to be a great Joker. it is sad that he died, but he is going to leave us with a amazing movie.
As everyone else is the same, I am shocked to hear this news. I too said OMG about this. A friend at my class told me about the news and I was floored. I heard that there was pills discovered around Heath, I can only hope it wasn’t suicide. But alas, knowing Hollywood it probably was suicide.
this was a complete shock when i found out, it totally unexpected and i couldn’t believe it. i didn’t think i was come on today and find out that heath ledger died, may he rest in peace.
I hope it wasnt suicide.
But either way, its a tragedy.
my condolonces to his friends and family.
and Frankly ,
Right now, I dont care when they release TDK.
I HOPE WB proceeds carefully and respectfully with their next move.
I heard that he had an interview just two days ago with either the NY Times or Time Mag (I don’t recall which) where he said that he hadn’t really slept in 2 weeks. He had been getting tops 2 hours a night and Ambien hadn’t been helping so perhaps he just overdid it on sleep medication.
I’ve been at a point where I hadn’t slept in 5 days and after a while you get utterly desperate to sleep.
Vic
Off topic, Endri, can you please provide a valid email address when you post? Whenever you contribute a comment to a post I end up getting a ton of bounced email messages due to the email address you use.
Vic
Steve Adams emailed me about this and I couldn’t believe it. I am still in shock.
Ledger apparently wasn’t sleeping during production either. I’m wondering if hey totally threw himself into the role because he was trying to run away from problems, including those at home that led to his break-up.
IESB.Net has an interview, and he looks like he’s all over the place, and not in a good way.
heath
Being Australian this really hit home. I mean I too was in the camp of hating the idea of Heath as the Joker but then was completely swayed when we started seeing pictures and teasers. I really hope The Dark Knight is massive to give him a fitting send off.
He had had such a great presense on-screen. Moreso than most “A-list” actors. I can’t believe this…
Man,this is sad. Poor Heath.
Dammit,now the Batman franchise is gonna be dead!!! Who the hell knows when TDK will come out now?!!! :-0
DC’s gotta get their act together.
Did you see the article they’ve got going at AICN right now?
Apparently, with his death only hours old, it seems they can’t help but think of how it affects the release of his last film.
What is the matter with people?
Heath will be missed and was and is going to be GREAT! in TDK. But give the man some respect right now. I mean at this point who cares about a damn movie. I am excited about TDK as everyone else but right now a tragedy has befallen and the family as well as Heath deserve more respect then some of you are giving.
This is tragic and horrific news…
I am truly stunned.
Sadly I can only hope that Heaths death somehow helps others get help if they are having depression or drug problems.
Stories of friends saw this coming but did nothing are trully frustrating.
So many celebs these days seem to be living life in the fast lane… Of course we don’t have all the answers yet but its looking that way…
(Sorry this is off topic)
^
AICN, also got credit (today) in TV Guide for posting their now deBunked Star Trek script rumors post that came out like 2 weeks ago.
^
Total bs. That they get credit for that but it also shows you that tv guide dosnt do there. homework…
Ahhh………….you guys are right. Sorry about my comments on TDK.
Heath was a great actor. Although I didn’t like all the roles he played (cough,brokeback,cough,mountain) he showed that he had great range as an actor and has my respect.
And I too was EXTREMELY skeptical of Heath’s casting as Joker until I saw the actual trailer for TDK,it’s a shame he won’t be here to hear fans say how awesome he’ll be as Joker.
He will be missed.
I still can’t help thinking how random-ass this is tho……I never woulda guessed that he would’ve died so soon. :-0
Good post KEL, if I were him, I would want everyone to see this film and enjoy it. Death is a celebration of life in Heaven and he’s all watching us now.
Thanks,Steve.
I hope Heath’s in heaven.
Almost reminds me of the George Reeves murder. (that’s right,I said MURDER. It wasn’t suicide)
Wow. On the Reeves Murder KEL I thought the same thing today.
^
We all live on…
It was murder (Reeves). Seriously,check it out.
What a tragicly startling and painful loss…
It is distressing to me personally to hear such a good-hearted, enlightened and talented person departing so early in life. Having left behind a 2 year daughter wondering why hear father won’t becoming home. My sincere condolescents goes out to his true friends and family.
This is sad news.
While I wasn’t a huge fan of his work (I’d be a hypocrite if I said otherwise), I do have to give Ledger credit for not taking films for the money or the fame. He did have a certain charm and I do feel that his career was about to take off in a very big way.
The first film that I saw him in was The Patriot with Mel Gibson, and Ledger held his own against Gibson when on the screen- something which is no mean feat. His death is a shame, and I truly feel that The Dark Knight will be a fitting closing to an interesting and all too short career.
Niall
Wow heath has deie and all you can talk about is TDK? Do you have any respect for him or anyone for that matter. This is a very sad thing think about his family, he has a little girl. He and his family will definitly be in my prayers . . . so sad
Sad news. Forget TDK he was a young actor with legit talent and I think his role as the joker was going to be his defining role. The movie will benefit and I for one, I am really looking forward to his last role.
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