In Memoriam Heath Ledger
Prosecutors have decided to drop the investigation of false prescriptions that Heath Ledger allegedly used to obtain extra painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs that led to an accidental overdose.
Heath Ledger's doctors have been cleared by the DEA after a check of their records revealed no prescription combination that would have been risky for Ledger to take.
Some reports are now starting to come in on Jake Gyllenhaal's response to Heath Ledger's death. He has not released any statement or tribute as yet, but friends have indicated that he is taking Heath's death very hard. Michelle Williams and Naomi Watts have given interviews regarding their relationships with Heath Ledger and the effect of his death. Christian Bale has also made some comments about how the death of his friend has been affecting him during the difficult time of the movie premiere.
The body of Australian actor Heath Ledger was found by his housekeeper in his apartment in New York on 22 January 2008. The initial autopsy was inconclusive, but, after further tissue tests were done, the Medical Examiner's report gives the cause of death as accidental drug overdose after a mixture of various prescription anti-anxiety and sleeping drugs were found in Ledger's tissue samples.
Heath Ledger's death is a stark reminder of how fragile life is. From all accounts, here was a happy but over-worked father who just needed some sleep. It seems very possible that this desperate need for sleep combined with sleeping tablets and serious illness (unconfirmed pneumonia) could have led to Heath simply slipping away instead of waking up one afternoon.
Image: Heath Ledger at the New York City premiere of I'm Not There, photographer: "Gavatron"
Death of Heath Ledger
Updates:
The Age reports that the results of the autopsy performed on Heath Ledger on Wednesday proved inconclusive. Further toxicology and tissue tests will take 10 to 14 days for results to come through. His body has been released to his family.
The New York Times has more information, stating that Heath Ledger was found face-down in bed by both the housekeeper and the masseuse, who had arrived for the massage appointment. They list the apartment as 421 Broome Street in SoHo. No illegal drugs were found - only the bottle of prescription sleeping pills.
TMZ.com reports that there is a possibility that pneumonia may have contributed to Heath's death.
Statement from Heath Ledger's family
Released to Australian television news
We, Heath's family, confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda. He was found peacefully asleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30 p.m. U.S. time.
We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well wishes and kind thoughts at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him.
He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many. Please now respect our families need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately.
More news related to the death of Heath Ledger
- Heath Ledger found dead in New York
- The Age's report on Heath Ledger's death.
- Heath Ledger dead
- The report from the ABC.
- Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger found dead
- CTV Canada report.
- Actor Heath Ledger found dead in NYC
- CBS report.
- Heath Ledger, Actor, Is Found Dead at 28
- More information from the New York Times.
- Heath Ledger dead at 28
- Sydney Morning Herald 3-page report
- Heath Ledger updates
- Updates from TMZ.com
- Ledger autopsy inconclusive
- The Age report on the autopsy.
- Staff tell of Ledger's last moments
- Reports of massage therapist Diana Wolozin and housekeeper Teresa Solomon's statements to the police.
- Heath Ledger may have died of natural causes
- Some speculation from the Malaysian Sun that Ledger may have had a heart attack.
- Heath Ledger's film to be finished by computer
- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus director Terry Gilliam is trying to work out how to continue the film to include Ledger somehow.
- Gilliam wants Johnny Depp to complete Ledger's role
- Terry Gilliam is considering Johnny Depp as a replacement for Heath Ledger - which could be worked into the plot as the character changing appearance.
- Partying and drugs possibly related to split
- Claims that Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger split over his love of partying, a environment that Williams wanted to shield their daughter from.
- Heath Ledger refused rehab
- Michelle Williams apparently tried to get Heath Ledger to book into rehab for drug problems in 2006.
- Heath Ledger's final farewell ends in sunset swim
- Heath Ledger farewelled in Perth.
- Friends, family bid farewell to Heath Ledger
- More than 500 mourners said their farewells to actor Heath Ledger.
- One aspect of Heath Ledger's death still a mystery
- Authorities are still investigating who might have given Heath Ledger the drugs Oxycontin and Vicodin. Ledger's doctors have been cleared of prescribing dangerous combinations of drugs.
- Michelle Williams and Naomi Watts speak about Heath Ledger
- Michelle Williams and Naomi Watts give the first interviews about Heath Ledger.
- Ledger ensured Matilda would be wealthy
- Ledger formed the Thank You for the Trust trust shortly after Matilda's birth, making his daughter and her mother Michelle Williams co-trustees of high-priced properties he owned.
- Heath Ledger's Will Revealed
- The documents were created before his relationship with Michelle Williams and the birth of daughter Matilda
- Heath Ledger's Dad: Michelle & Matilda Rose 'Will Be Taken Care Of'
- Though Ledger's will was created before Michelle and Matilda, they are "part of our family," his father says.
- Allegation that arrest of Bale is linked to grief over death of Ledger
- Allegation of assault on family members leading to the arrest of Christian Bale has been linked to his grief over the death of Heath Ledger.
- US investigators drop Ledger drug inquiry
- US prosecutors have decided not to pursue a criminal case into how Heath Ledger obtained the powerful painkillers that contributed to his overdose death.
This just in...
The latest article on Heath Ledger's death
- Gregory Peck's Grandson Tackles Heath Ledger's 10 Things Role
- The original film was based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew and starred Julia Stiles as Kat and Heath Ledger as Patrick, which was Ledger's ...
Heath's legacy
Family and Films
Heath Ledger leaves behind his two-year-old daughter Matilda. He split with Matilda's mother, Michelle Williams, last year. They remained close, however, and Michelle is reportedly devastated by the death of her former fiance.Heath Ledger was born in Perth, Western Australia, the son of Sally Ledger Bell and Kim Ledger.
Heath was best known for his Golden Globe nominated role in Brokeback Mountain in 2005, in which he played a ranch hand struggling to come to terms with his feelings for another man, played by Jake Gyllenhaal.
Heath debuted in the 1997 Australian movie Blackrock, and in 1999 starred in the teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You.
Ledger also starred in The Patriot, Monster's Ball, A Knight's Tale, Brothers Grimm, and Ned Kelly.
In 2007, Heath was one of six actors who portrayed Bob Dylan in the movie I'm Not There. Ironic title, isn't it?
In July 2008, Heath's final completed film, The Dark Knight will be released, in which he plays the Joker to Christian Bale's Batman. Christian Bale also starred in I'm Not There, while Jake Gyllenhaal's sister, Maggie, stars alongside Heath in The Dark Knight.
In December 2007 Heath began working again with director Terry Gilliam (Brothers Grimm) on the filming for a movie called The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, starring Christopher Plummer. This movie is now temporarily on hold but the latest news is that Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell have all been signed on to complete the movie.
Images:
Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger. Unknown photographer.
Heath Ledger as Ennis in Brokeback Mountain, © Universal Studios
Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight, © Warner Bros.
Official website of Heath Ledger
- Heath Ledger's official website
- Thanks to Fefe for letting us know that the official Heath Ledger website is back up. There is a response to Heath's fans from the webmaster.
- Heath Ledger Myspace
- The Heath Ledger Myspace page.
Updated news feed
Heath Ledger tributes roll in
- Aussie stars devastated by Heath Ledger's death
- The Age, 2 pages of star tributes.
- Remembering Heath Ledger
- Underground Online's tribute to Heath Ledger
- Tributes rolling in for Heath Ledger
- Tributes to Heath Ledger from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Nicole Kidman, Mel Gibson, John Travolta, and more.
- Nicholson warned Ledger on drug
- More tributes from stars. Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger about the effects of the sleeping drug Ambien.
- Photo gallery tribute to Heath Ledger
- Heath Ledger photo gallery.
- Cate Blanchett's tribute to Heath
- Cate Blanchett starred in the movie I'm Not There, although she didn't work closely with Heath.
- Hollywood's A-list mourns Heath Ledger
- The Screen Actors' Guild Awards.
- Michelle Williams to put work on hold
- Michelle Williams' next two films are on hold while she grieves for Heath Ledger.
- Christopher Nolan's moving tribute to Heath Ledger
- Christopher Nolan, director of The Dark Knight has paid a moving tribute to Heath Ledger in NewsWeek, saying that he was "bursting with creativity", and remembering some of the moments that endeared Heath to him.
- Jake hit hard by Heath's death
- Speculation based on comments a friend of Jake Gyllenhaal's made to People magazine.
- Ledger portrait draws crowds
- A young Australian artist says he has turned down lucrative offers
for his haunting portrait of the late actor Heath Ledger and would
give the painting to the star's mother. - Naomi Watts' romance with Heath Ledger
- Even though Naomi Watts was 10 years older than Heath Ledger, the couple shared a special bond for a time.
- Christian Bale on 'Kindred Spirit' Heath Ledger
- The Dark Knight actor opens up about his co-star's tragic death
- Sienna Miller Remembers Heath Ledger with Pajamas
- The actress still wears some PJs she shared with her former Casanova co-star
- Heath Ledger Portrait Wins Australian Art Prize
- Artist Vincent Fantauzzo, a good friend of Heath Ledger, receives the People's Choice award in The Archibald.
- Heath Ledger honored in 'Dark Knight' credits
- The end credits of the "Batman Begins" sequel include a farewell note to Ledger, who died in January from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs; and to special-effects technician Conway Wickliffe, who was killed last September in a stunt-car accident.
Heath Ledger's films
Watch The Dark Knight Trailer
Heath Ledger stars as The Joker
Some strange initial speculation
However, Associated Press has reported that the police timeline reveals that the masseuse grabbed Ledger's mobile phone, which had Mary-Kate Olsen's number programmed into it, to call for help thinking Ledger was only unconscious. Olsen, who was on the other side of the country at the time, sent over a bodyguard (presumably EMT trained) to assist. The masseuse then called 911.
SBS reported that the masseuse called Olsen three times over the course of nine minutes, before placing an emergency call, and then calling Olsen again.
Of course, some of the early speculation also involved suicide queries. But how likely is it, though, that a hands-on father would commit suicide and leave his baby girl to grow up without him? Heath's family are adamant that he would not have killed himself. The official investigation has ruled the death accidental.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
The good news is that filming on The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Heath Ledger's final film, has reached post-production and is likely to come out in 2009. Keep your fingers crossed that Terry Gilliam is able to complete his movie without any fur...-
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
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Terry Gilliam's latest movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, is now in post-production and should reach our cinemas in 2009. The scenes filmed with Heath Ledger prior to his death are very likely to be included without alteration. The plot all...
Are you as shocked as I am?
I'd like to offer my condolences to Heath Ledger's family, friends, and co-stars. This is devastating news.
Tony Matos wrote
Great lens, very well organize just saw Batman movie he did some great work. Living in brooklyn myself, I heard a lot of great things he did for his community,and being involved. 5 Stars a must!! Hope to hear from you.
Posted July 30, 2008
rockycha wrote...
Outstanding work on this lens! Added to my dark knight - heath ledger section.
Posted June 30, 2008
enslavedbyfaeries wrote...
Beautifully done lens about a great actor. I have a really hard time watching the trailer to the Dark Knight movie knowing that he is gone.
Posted June 25, 2008
KimGiancaterino wrote...
So sad... another talented individual gone too soon. You've handled the topic beautifully. Squid Angel Blessed.
Posted June 13, 2008
jembie wrote...
I was devastated when I heard the news about Heath. I adored him as an actor and still find it hard to comprehend what happened.
This is a lovely lens with a human touch and not over-sensationalised like all the news reports of the events.
Thank you 5* and favourited :)
Posted May 11, 2008
Karendelac wrote...
An easy 5 stars.
Good job D.
This is why it is better to look up Squidoo than Wikipedia.
Lots of facts, good information, statistics, graphics.
Thanks doing some thing nice for his memory.
Best wishes,
Karen
Posted February 22, 2008
GrowWear wrote...
Heath's family and friends, no doubt, have grief that is beyond what they think they can bear. My condolences and love go out to them.
Posted February 08, 2008
poddys wrote...
This is a nice lens, a good tribute to a fine actor who had a lot still left to do. He will be missed.
Posted February 08, 2008
Sad news ,I can't believe he is gone.Condolence to his family you can share many things in my lens too :
Posted February 08, 2008
fefe wrote...
His website is back up if you go to http://www.heathledger.net/_main/ but if you just go to http://www.heathledger.net it redirects to his myspace page.
Posted January 28, 2008
rejoicemusic wrote...
Lovely lens about Heath - thank you so much. How sad for his little girl and family.
Posted January 25, 2008
rms wrote...
Thank you for creating a place for us to share our sadness over this young man who was taken way too soon.
Posted January 24, 2008
Crystal_Booth wrote...
Heath Ledger was one of my favorite actors. I especially loved his role in A Knight's Tale. I can't believe he is gone. How terrible for his daughter and family. He will be missed!
Posted January 23, 2008
Music-Resource wrote...
Hi Daoine, Nice Heath tribute lens. He was a good actor. R.I.P. ~Music Resource~
Posted January 23, 2008
Comfortdoc wrote...
Sad news as is the sudden death of anyone who is young. I think of the deaths of Princess Diana, Steve Iwrin, John Belushi, Anna Nicole Smith, John Lennon and the list goes on...
Posted January 22, 2008
Carennedy wrote...
What a shock. I didn't hear about it until I saw your post on squidu
Posted January 22, 2008
GypsyPirate wrote...
I am shocked. This is terrible news. He was so young, and I really liked his work.
Posted January 22, 2008
