The obligatory “Heath Ledger found dead” post; Update: Accidental? Update: Drug problem? Update: Or pneumonia? Update: “[W]e saw it coming”
posted at 5:01 pm on January 22, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Not our normal beat but I actually gasped when I heard, and it looks like I’m not the only one. Seemed like a clean-cut guy by Hollywood standards: (estranged) wife and young daughter, no legal troubles. But note well:
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.
Too bad. And a tough call for the “Dark Knight” producers.
Update: “[P]ills strewn all around him.”
Update: A photo caption at Newsday says it was sleeping pills, but who knows.
Update: The Post says they were sleeping pills too, although it’s unclear if the OD was accidental or intentional.
Update: Cops tell TMZ it was an accident.
Update: TMZ says a friend of Ledger’s says he had a drug problem but had been clean for more than a year.
Update: The plot thickens. TMZ says he might have had pneumonia.
Update: Sounds like a troubled guy.
“This is terrible and I’m in shock,” a close friend of Ledger’s tells Usmagazine.com. “But to tell you the truth… we saw it coming.”
“Heath has gone though a rough road of trying to get sober,” the source tells Us.
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His performance in Knight’s Tale was exceptionally good.
Condolences to his friends and family.
captivated_dem on January 22, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Tell me about it. I’ve been to three funerals for late-20’s/early 30 somethings in the past two years due to the effects of the alcohol/painkiller or sleeping pill cocktail. Two were accidental. Damn shame.
NTWR on January 22, 2008 at 7:08 PM
This is such sad news. May God comfort his family and friends.
greekinfidel on January 22, 2008 at 7:14 PM
Heath told a reporter he had a hard time sleeping from playing the part of the Joker in this movie because the character is SO evil.
EJDolbow on January 22, 2008 at 7:17 PM
@ pecan pie on January 22, 2008 at 5:11 PM
I thought it was funny.
muyoso on January 22, 2008 at 7:18 PM
@ SouthernDem on January 22, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Its ok to make fun of a person if he killed himself because his tough life with millions of dollars, a blockbuster hit coming out in the summer, an oscar nomination for a previous film and a daughter who loved him just wasnt enough to live for. If in fact this is an accident, then fine, its a tragic loss for his family. I hate when people judge the humor of others. I find things most people would call “tasteless” funny as hell. When things are meant specifically to be funny, they shouldn’t be judged along the same lines as when they are meant specifically to be hurtful.
muyoso on January 22, 2008 at 7:22 PM
It’s always tragic when someone dies young, by whatever means. Dying young is the very definition of tragic. It’s sad when grandpa dies at 89, but it’s not tragic. Having said that, however, this young man had everything to live for and no reason in the world to be filling his body with drugs. He had a little girl, for Christ’s sake, and he should have gotten his act together. He trashed his life, and now he’s trashed hers, too. I don’t care how good he was in The Patriot or any other film, and neither will his kid as she goes through life fatherless. You don’t procreate and then fuck it up. You just don’t. There’s no goddamn excuse. It’s like that Chris Rock bit where he talks about the brothers coming up to him bragging that they pay their child support. “You’re supposed to!” he yells. “You don’t get extra credit for that. Taking care of the children you bring into the world is the bare minimum requirement of being a parent.” The irreparable misery this young man has left behind just makes me sick.
Rational Thought on January 22, 2008 at 7:23 PM
This is sad. I feel bad for his daughter especially.
The first year or so after quitting something is just, if not more dangerous than the active using period. How many times have you heard things like “he was doing so well…” after something like this happens. It’s usually because they were doing well, but people lose tolerance and can OD pretty easily when they backslide after staying clean for a while. Or they get depressed about failing to stay clean and take way too much. Anyway, it’s speculation in this case, but I’ve seen a number of friends die, and it was always when they were really trying to clean up. if you know anybody that’s “getting clean” from anything, don’t just assume they’re out of the woods because they’ve been doing well for a while. That’s the most dangerous time.
forest on January 22, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Southerndem,
I’ll bet, “Iraq !!!” “Covert Agent” “Halliburton !!!” “Abu-Ghraib !!!” “Tax-Cuts-For-The-Rich !!!” and all the rest, have never crossed your lips.
Everyone else is an “Asshole”
Uh-huh
right
franksalterego on January 22, 2008 at 7:25 PM
You never know what demons have ahold of some people. It is impossible for me to pass judgement on him.
JonRoss on January 22, 2008 at 7:36 PM
I wonder if Jack Nicholson had the same problem before he played the Joker?
koolbrease on January 22, 2008 at 7:47 PM
Haven’t read the rest of the posts yet (to see if it was mentioned), but I have to point out something that’s bothering me. If he had a regular massage scheduled, than the woman should be called a massage therapist, not a masseuse. That word has sexual connetations to it.
We were told the difference the first day of massage therapy school.
the goddess anna on January 22, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Sad news for his family, maybe it will be a wakeup call for the likes of Brit or Lohan. Drugs are part of our culture for good or bad even more so in Hollywood.
TroubledMonkey on January 22, 2008 at 7:49 PM
I should have added the rest of my thoughts before submitting – I was shocked when my husband told me this news earlier… He was one of my teenage crushes, and he’s not much older than me. It always freaks me out a little when people my age die.
the goddess anna on January 22, 2008 at 7:53 PM
How tragic. I thought he was a great actor with a very bright future ahead of him. Just terribly sad. Brad Renfro, Suzanne Pleshette and now Heath Ledger. It always comes in threes. Weird.
jewells45 on January 22, 2008 at 7:54 PM
That was my first thought when I saw this story.
OneGyT on January 22, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Pneumonia can be a side effect of drug abuse – especially opiates.
forest on January 22, 2008 at 7:58 PM
Isn’t Dark Knight in post production? I’m sure they’ll go ahead with the movie, dedicate it to Heath. He looks like he’s really good in it.
jewells45 on January 22, 2008 at 8:08 PM
I don’t know if you’re a noob or a moron, but you may want to look around before you stereotype someone. Idiot.
SouthernDem on January 22, 2008 at 8:37 PM
How about just waiting till you know what the truth of the matter is. It’s called respect.
If people feel disdain after it’s shown that it was intentional or because he was shooting up or something, go for it.
SouthernDem on January 22, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Another Celebrity bites the big one. Oh well, there’s a never ending supply of them there so-called Celebritys.
As for the human being beneath the molded plastic Celebrity persona… RIP
SilverStar830 on January 22, 2008 at 9:02 PM
@muyoso on January 22, 2008 at 7:22 PM
I like the cut of your jib.
Juck ‘em if they can’t take foke, is what I say.
TheSitRep on January 22, 2008 at 9:03 PM
May God rest his Soul and comfort his family.
Zorro on January 22, 2008 at 9:08 PM
FWIW – Ain’t It Cool News is reporting that all of Ledger’s work on “The Dark Knight” is complete.
Queasy on January 22, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Disappointing number of pretentious/snide/snarky/animosity-by-association/petty remarks being made on this thread. Be nice if we didn’t sink to the levels of, say, the DU.
Reaps on January 22, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Can’t anyone see the connection here? Owen Wilson dates Kate Hudson… drug overdose. Heath Ledger dates Kate Hudson (last November)… drug overdose.
Do I really need to spell it out?
ErikTheRed on January 22, 2008 at 9:32 PM
RIP Heath.
I’m disgusted by some of the comments. If I want to read SNARK about somebody’s death, I’ll hit the Kos Kids website.
Sorry, but I thought we were better than this.
mimi1220 on January 22, 2008 at 9:38 PM
Yeah. You’re right. After all, them there Celebritys deserve much more wailing, crying, and self flagellation in mourning to honor their heroic deeds in war, the cures for cancer they’ve discovered, saving babys from burning buildings, and all the other great things they’ve done for all of mankind. That is, other than smile for the camera, make millions doing it, then being better and more important than everyone else enough so that they get front page headlines while the people who actually do good for the human race get a 10-line newspaper summary buried in the obit’s, if they’re lucky.
But hey, go ahead, live your own dull drab life vicariously through so-called Celebritys who’d sooner assume you’re the shoe shine boy/girl than give you the time of day sincerely. I bet you’ll really blow your lid when Britney and Lindsey finally bite the big one, wontcha? Those are gonna be really brutal.
Besides, the DU worships the ground Celebrity’s walk on. That’s why their candidates are so busy fighting for popularity and Celebrity status constantly as opposed to attending to business of running a massive country using a clear head and equity instead of popular bias.
…cry me a river
SilverStar830 on January 22, 2008 at 10:02 PM
The snark here is nothing compared to FreeRepublic, where it’s a full on “he played a homo so I’m glad he’s dead” fest.
SnarkVader on January 22, 2008 at 10:05 PM
No need to go over the top. A young guy has died. That’s sad, nothing more nothing less. Happens every day, just because this one was in the public eye doesn’t make it any more or less sad.
Not sure if it’s the nasty side of social cons showing here or just people typing without thinking…
VeniVidiVidic on January 22, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Absolutely Horrific. No Words.
Gartrip on January 22, 2008 at 10:38 PM
indeed. we don’t even really know what happened yet and all this perverse sarcasm. regardless of the circumstances of his death, i feel sorry for anyone who passes and has ignorant s**t like this said about them. shame on you!
judge not, lest ye be judged…
he was a fine actor and it’s a tragedy that he is gone so young, regardless of how it happened.
homesickamerican on January 22, 2008 at 11:54 PM
All right, once again I don’t have the slightest idea who this guy even is.
But it’s still a waste.
Bob's Kid on January 22, 2008 at 11:57 PM
To be honest I was never thrilled with his work until I saw the Dark Knight trailer, it looks amazing and like he had a lot of talent. Also on foxnews today I saw a picture of his child, a beautiful 2 year old, that will never know her father. I pray for comfort for his family and point out how (it looks like) drugs has taken another from hollywood. We need to look closely at what’s happening in that scum hole and see if there is a way to begin a process of change.
Via Con Dios
HotAirExpert on January 23, 2008 at 1:28 AM
Yes it’s real
Ugly on January 23, 2008 at 3:30 AM
Heath was an excellent actor. Just like all of us, we go through life and everything seems normal. And than something like this happens.
Sometimes things are not what they seem. Even though the only movie I saw
Heath in was The Patriot, the only thing that matters is that he seemed to be a good person and it is never good to hear about someone passing at such a young age.
tazmebro on January 23, 2008 at 4:23 AM
this is very near the top of my list of the most pathetic things i have ever read. i bet there will be a bunch of huckheads there (”h” and “f” are pretty close, in the alphabet, pronunciation-wise, and meaning-wise in this case!).
i hope they get the holy-crap kicked out of them (pun intended).
homesickamerican on January 23, 2008 at 4:41 AM
Disgusting, revolting, and absolutely detestable bunch of “people.”
Jockolantern on January 23, 2008 at 5:42 AM
“Dying young is the very definition of tragic”
Many times it is Darwin’s theories being played out. In Hollyweird deaths that is almost always the case. Most of these people die from 1)intentional drug overdose meaning they are too weak willed to live with the lives they have chosen to create for themselves. See ya, no sympathy here or 2)they are too stupid to realize the potential affects the mixture of drugs could have on them or use those affects to escape their reality. Again, see ya. Both are examples of natures way of preventing that particular gene pool from perpetuating itself. Can some one tell me what this young man has done that was constructive/helpful for our society?
And yes, I feel terrible for his daughter. No child should have to grow up without a parent. That’s the only sad part I see in all of this.
rayvet on January 23, 2008 at 6:34 AM
I am still looking forward to seeing what may now be his final performance as The Joker in the upcoming new Batman movie. I have a feeling that just as Brandon Lee’s last role before he died as The Crow is considered by many to be his finest performance, so may this be with Heath Ledger.
Too young. Too soon. This is beyond being a tragedy.
pilamaye on January 23, 2008 at 7:02 AM
Can anyone truly comprehend the mind of another? I can understand if it was intentional. We all suffer our own personal demons and weaknesses. The tragedy of life is to be given problems with no solutions; questions with no answers. One solution is to leave this world behind. Having faced down both addiction and plans for suicide has left me more sympathetic to all those who struggle and fail with life. Just because no one else can understand your torment does not make it any less real.
I wish I could bring myself to believe in a Creator. I earnestly desire to know that death is not the end of everything. I’ve seen too many people I love and so much waste in the world to not rage and weep against the Great Destroyer – Death. If there were a God, Vishnu, Allah, etc. then maybe we all have a soul which continues on after we die. Maybe life isn’t a cruel joke.
This is so depressing. Heath is gone. Some day I, you, and everyone and everything will also be gone.
Viscount_Bolingbroke on January 23, 2008 at 7:15 AM
Jake Gyllenhaal was absolutely torn apart by the news. When asked about Heath, Jake said, “He could be your best friend, or your worst enema.”
Bikerken on January 23, 2008 at 8:30 AM
When I was in college, I knew a guy who wasn’t feeling well, laid down on the couch to take a nap, and a few hours later he was found dead from pneumonia.
Blake on January 23, 2008 at 8:45 AM
Blake, as a medically trained person (granted, I’m a vet, not an MD), I can tell you that people confuse the term pneumonia (infection of the lung) and “fluid in the lung” for the same thing. Nine out of 10 times, my MD friends tell me when people lose a loved one because of acute onset of death from pneumonia, they are usually talking about acute congestive heart failure. The fluid in the lungs makes the lungs heavy and wet and many people (even in the medical community) use the term pneumonia when it’s not really correct. Many of the drugs taken by the rich and famous (and I guess the poor as well) can cause acute heart failure. I would be more inclined to suspect that. A person with pneumonia is going to wake up sick. Not wake up dead. Just my thoughts on the pneumonia angle.
rayvet on January 23, 2008 at 9:30 AM
It seems that wherever you go, in real life or on the net, events such as this bring out the cockroaches. Shameful.
Whatever the truth behind this fellow’s demise, he was a bright young talent that would have provided us with decades of wonderful art. Now lost.
Terribly, terribly sad. My deepest condolences to his family.
LimeyGeek on January 23, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Well, you ain’t going to believe THIS
JetBoy on January 23, 2008 at 12:16 PM
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