comment #1

Geoff says ...

His performance in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN was easily one of my favorites by a male lead in, I don't know, 10 years? The fact that he's The Joker in the forthcoming DARK KNIGHT kind of boggles my mind.

This is just sad, fucked up news.

comment #2

Balerion says ...

He really did seem to have it all together, from what little one heard of his personal life. Sure, he was attached to a number of ladies in the tabloids, and he split from his wife, but still. Not someone who seemed so down that he was ready to make an end of it all.

comment #3

Daniel G. says ...

What an absolute tragedy. Can I ask ahead of time that we refrain from the typical snide jokes here? He was a terrific actor and by all accounts a stand-up guy. A new father, too. Sad day amidst the Oscar madness. Time to bring it down to earth and realize we're all human.

comment #4

Dan Revill says ...

It's shocking. It does definitely put a damper on the day.

comment #5

erniesouchak says ...

RIP

comment #6

Geoff says ...

Does anyone know if Heath was contracted to do more Batman sequels? I'm just thinking of him dying or living in the film.

Can't help it.

comment #7

arch451 says ...

The Dark Knight is going to be huge.

comment #8

Craptastic says ...

Having this taking place at one of the Olsen Twins apartments just made this event that much sadder and tragic.

comment #9

Luke Y. Thompson says ...

Provided the Dark Knight is a good movie, I think the grosses will increase. Fans will want to see Ledger's final performance over and over.

Heck, wouldn't be surprised if the Joker action figures are quick sell-outs -- the first and only Heath Ledger toy.

rest in peace.

comment #10

Ortega says ...

Goddamnit. This is fucking horrible news. What a stupid way to die, and how tragic. One of the best actors of his generation, gone. Talented people like Amy Winehouse are wasting away because of the stupid fucking drugs, and now Heath. let's not forget Brad Renfro, who was also a terrific actor who never got his chance. Goddamn.

comment #11

D.Z. says ...

I'm not sure if discussing grosses is any more appropriate than making snide remarks, but I doubt they'll be selling merchandise for a character played by a guy who OD'ed anytime soon. That's going to definitely be out for the studio, even if Dark Knight ends up being the biggest hit of the year. After all, WB had enough problems putting out Return of the Joker uncut after Columbine! As for how the film itself will actually do, while I doubt his death will affect its grosses, the expectations for Ledger's last performance could be higher; and if he disappoints, it could end up going the same way as well. After all, we all loved Raul Julia once, too, but that didn't help Street Fighter...

comment #12

lazarus says ...

If The Joker was supposed to continue into the third Batman film, I wonder what they would do--cast someone similar-looking who could approximate whatever Ledger does with the role (a difficult task, I imagine), or just get another talented actor, stick him in the same costume, and just pretend nothing's different?

I imagine stepping into those shoes won't be an entirely pleasurable experience for whoever winds up having to take over.

comment #13

jeffmcm says ...

That's a really stupid comparison.

comment #14

jeffmcm says ...

(not to Lazarus)

comment #15

christian says ...

DZ, for the love of all things holy, keep your contrarian indifference to yourself.
At least for a day.

comment #16

goodvibe61 says ...

This is horrible news. Rest In Peace.

About his career, what I keep thinking is not unrelated to talking about the box office, and I hesitate to state it already. But his passing today of all days, I can't help but wonder whether this story will play all the way out to one year from today and they announce the nominees for the best performance by an actor in a supporting role. If Heath is anywhere as good as people believe he will be in Dark Knight, the media will have a field day with this element of the story. And if he is indeed great in the role, there's little doubt that this will have some kind of impact next fall.

It feels pretty bad just typing that out right now, so I think I'll stop. My condolences to his family.

comment #17

York "Budd" Durden says ...

I have to say that of course I feel terrible about this, but my initial reaction? All kidding aside, the first thing I shouted was wondering whether or not they had looping left to do on The Dark Knight, or what if Nolan needs reshoots... of course there are a hundred ways around that stuff, but damn if I didn't feel like I need to stop thinking quite so much about industry stuff and just enjoying life's little pleasures, or something along those lines...

comment #18

Craptastic says ...

Second that.

comment #19

Gaydos says ...

Out of the quarrel with others we make rhetoric; out of the quarrel with ourselves we make poetry. ~W.B. Yeats

We lost a poet. R.I.P.

comment #20

le corbeau says ...

Heath Ledger. Owen Wilson. Brad Renfro. Lindsay Lohan. Britney Spears.

The last time Hollywood had a rash of tragedies like this, the names were Wallace Reid, Roscoe Arbuckle, William Desmond Taylor and Olive Thomas, and the result was the Hays Office. At the very least, I see congressional hearings and a lot of hurried ass-covering by the studios and producers who keep stars coked up and pilled up to keep them working and cooperative until they crack up.

comment #21

giantman says ...

This is indeed sad and terrible and wasteful news. This reminds me sadly of River Phoenix, young, talented, and gone way before their time. I agree with Jeff, this is sad mostly for what we will miss, what the future held for us and for him, and the simple tragedy of the (apparent) decision to end his own life. Tragic.

comment #22

jason4235 says ...

I think I read recently that he was going to star in Terrence Malick's next one, Tree of Life.

comment #23

MAGGA says ...

He was the same age as me. Impossible to imagine being in such a state. I know plenty of people who went totally self-destructive at some point in our twenties, but it always seems more like a cry for desperately needed attention. From the perspective of most people Ledger was living a dream, so I guess with Wilson and so many others as additional examples, we should be careful what we dream of. This fame thing really fucks people up whether they attain it or not.

comment #24

actionman says ...

He left that project and Brad Pitt is doing Tree of Life with Malick...

I heard Ledger passed on Josh Brolin's role in No Country. Wells--have you ever heard this before? I heard the Coen brothers straight offered him the part, and he passed.

Anyways, very sad. He was a terrific, interesting actor, and as Jeff said in his post, there was a moodiness about him that always presented itself. Terrible for Michelle Williams and terrible for their kid.

comment #25

rocco says ...

Never heard of Ledger being mixed up with this type of stuff...he seemed like a smart, soulful, down-to-earth guy devoid of the narcissism prevalent in many suicides...hard to believe.

Someone described him on another thread as "melancholy" and that sounds just about right...although for anyone who spends a lot of time really thinking about themselves and the world it's hard not to be...

comment #26

K. Bowen says ...

Who was the last young A-list actor to die? River Phoenix was close, but maybe still on the rise and not quite there. Owen Wilson nearly, sadly, and thankfully not.

comment #27

Dirty Harry says ...

Heartbreaking loss. Terrible tragedy. Ledger was a phenomenal talent with a future as bright as he wanted it to be. His performance in BROKEBACK was the best of that year and the few that preceded it. And everthing I've seen from his JOKER looks like something very, very special.

RIP. My prayers and condolences to Michelle Williams and their young daughter.

comment #28

High Chaparral says ...

"A long lifetime of great performances lay ahead for Ledger. "

That was what I thought, I just took it for granted that he'd regularly pop up in good films over the next 30 years.

I hope to God he's not put in the same bracket as vapid fuckups like Spears etc. but I fear it may be too late.

comment #29

High Chaparral says ...

"A long lifetime of great performances lay ahead for Ledger. "

That was what I thought, I just took it for granted that he'd regularly pop up in good films over the next 30 years.

I hope to God he's not put in the same bracket as vapid fuckups like Spears etc. but I fear it may be too late.

comment #30

jeffmcm says ...

Mgmax, you know that no such thing will happen.

comment #31

thorsen1nk says ...

The term "what a waste" is overused, cliched, and totally applicable here. I mean the guy was brimming with talent, had a new baby, millions of dollars and fans, a huge career ahead of him, and droit de seigneur with just about any woman he wanted. I'd kill to have half the life he had, and he just chucked it all away over...what, exactly? What could be worth it? So goddamn senseless it makes me want to punch out the window. I wish they could bring him back to life just so I could slap some sense into him. He will be missed.

comment #32

Terry McCarty says ...

Ledger was working on the new Terry Gilliam film not too long ago. Wondering if his role in the film was finished or not.

comment #33

Christian Licorice says ...

I'm sorry, but I am not in such a forgiving mood.

Another actor ODs, big fucking deal.

why am I the only one not rushing to put Heath on some pedestal of acting greatness simply because he's dead. the bulk of Heath's output was, frankly, mediocre at best.

and yes, The Dark Knight's grosses just received a big boost (c'mon people, you know how this world works).

comment #34

PerfectTommy says ...

Suzanne Pleshette dead at 70 of natural causes. Loved her on "The Bob Newhart Show", in the Disney films as a kids and, of course, in "The Birds". There is something to be said for not having your death top Headline news.

comment #35

nola says ...

I still don't believe it. Why?

comment #36

JHRussell says ...

Wasn't Ledger recently linked as a "buddy" of Owen Wilson?...maybe I am getting mixed up here...sorry to hear of the death.

comment #37

p.Vice says ...

I know everyone knows what I'm going to say so I'll get it out of the way -- How much you wanna bet this happened hours after he watched a rough cut of The Dark Knight and reality of Christopher Nolan movies hit him in the face like a ton of motherlovin' bricks?

This is really disappointing news. Ledger was an incredibly talented actor whose choice in movies thus far had only hinted at what might have come. Very sad that we lose all the great performances he would have given.

comment #38

High Chaparral says ...

"why am I the only one not rushing to put Heath on some pedestal of acting greatness simply because he's dead. the bulk of Heath's output was, frankly, mediocre at best."

Because you're not as cool as you think you are, and you're wrong.

comment #39

queenie says ...

Again, not to be thought of as part of the insensitive crowd (it's really sad not to see this actor in the many roles he would undoubtedly have nailed had he lived), but - seriously - who cursed Terry Gilliam? What with the possibilities of prostate cancer, suicides/ODs, and terribly foul weather, will he ever be able to make the movies he envisions?

comment #40

Mr. Gittes says ...

" How much you wanna bet this happened hours after he watched a rough cut of The Dark Knight and reality of Christopher Nolan movies hit him in the face like a ton of motherlovin' bricks?"

Uh, WHAT?

Imagine being Chris Nolan right now: Long hours in the editing bay constantly looking at Heath Ledger knowing he's no longer alive. Surreal. WB execs are panicking. And we all know the first question coming out of Leno's, Lettermen's, and everyone else's mouth when Chistian Bale makes the rounds.

Does Dark Knight HAVE to be pushed back?

comment #41

York "Budd" Durden says ...

Durden to Mr. Gittes: No. To push it back would be a huge financial misstep for WB.

comment #42

Dublin101 says ...

What a waste. He was excellent in a recent film called "Candy". It's an Aussie film about a doomed romance between two junkies. Ledger's performance in the final scene where the two lovers break up is particularly haunting and I suppose that it will be even more poignant now. The film was overshadowed by Brokeback but it's well worth tracking down.

comment #43

cacophony says ...

the new rumor is that his death is pneumonia related. in some ways, this would be a relief if true.

terribly tragic, no matter which way you look at it.

comment #44

Mr. Gittes says ...

Durden: You're probably right but damn...the marketing around Knight was completely Joker centered and one wonders if audio looping has yet to take place but that all seems irrelevant right now. However, we all know what WB is thinking. Damn this day sucks.

comment #45

caslab says ...

i don't think it's insensitive, queenie . . .

my first thought was, you know . . . "sad" . . .
my second thought was . . . "jesus, terry gilliam cannot catch a fucking break"

comment #46

Craptastic says ...

Yeah, I didn't like that Suzanne Pleshette didn't get much recognition as well. She's was talented and a stone-cold fox back in the day.

comment #47

T. Holly says ...

Young blood beat old man sick and tired.

comment #48

Jack Price says ...

This is going to haunt me for days...

"He told The New York Times in a November interview that he had trouble sleeping while portraying the Joker, whom he called a "psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy."

comment #49

rocco says ...

Being a good actor with lots of money and a great career ahead of him should do nothing to elicit sympathy...being a young father who brought joy into the lives of those close to him is what should...

As for being good looking, having lots of money, success, etc, it's all a matter of what one finds fulfilling...those things aren't important to the comtemplative sort who isn't willing to live, as Socrates put it, an unexamined life.

comment #50

Mumbleboy says ...

Please let this be anything other than a suicide: accidental overdose, bad drug interaction, the pneumonia connection, murder. Anything. If someone that successful and full of potential can't keep it up under the pressures of life, what hope do the rest of us have?

At least I have a hard time getting my hands on pills of any real strength.

comment #51

ROTC says ...

Rest in Peace, Heath. You were the real deal, and you will be missed.

"the new rumor is that his death is pneumonia related." cacophony, by all accounts Ledger's body was found in his apartment by a masseuse. Kind of hard to believe that anyone with severe pneumonia - which has pretty recognizable symptoms, is intolerably painful, and does not kill suddenly - would be at home for a massage appointment instead of seeking out the hospital care they needed.

comment #52

Mumbleboy says ...

I do find it funny that it's someone named Christian Licorice who doesn't feel too forgiving. Isn't forgiveness what Christians are all about?

Humor is the only thing that helps me cope with tragic news like this. I'll use my better judgement and keep those comedic quips to myself.

comment #53

cacophony says ...

totally understand that rotc. that's why i said "rumor" instead of treating it as fact.

comment #54

Jamieson says ...

Absolutely heartbreaking.

Way too talented and way too young.

You'll be missed Heath. RIP

comment #55

MickTravis says ...

A true bummer. A genuine shame.

"The Lords of Dogtown." "Brokeback." "I'm Not There." Look at him in those three films and tell me that's not an actor who descended into character.

And according to "notstarring," he was indeed the first choice to play Moss....

http://www.notstarring.com/movies/no-country-for-old-men

comment #56

Balerion says ...

I think the fact that two Ambiens only worked for about an hour may be suggestive that this was an accidental overdose if he was needing to pop more and more pills to actually try and get some sleep.

There's a video linked at TMZ from a very recent interview. At first (before the Ambien information was brought up), I thought his twitchiness and messing with his face was possibly suggestive of a drug habit. But as someone noted, the same behavior is typical in people with severe insomnia.

It's entirely possible some medication he was given for illness (flu, pneumonia, whatever) interacted badly with the stuff he was taking to try and sleep. Or not.

The tox report will no doubt make things a lot clearer.

comment #57

Balthazar says ...

If he died from 10-12 Ambiens, we'll never know for sure whether it was suicide or just the utter stupidity of someone trying to get some sleep and being unwilling/unable to read a damn label.

comment #58

Kim Voynar says ...

"I'm sorry, but I am not in such a forgiving mood.

Another actor ODs, big fucking deal.

why am I the only one not rushing to put Heath on some pedestal of acting greatness simply because he's dead. the bulk of Heath's output was, frankly, mediocre at best."

Christian Licorice, shut the fuck up. Seriously.

And I second the recommendation for CANDY. It's by far my favorite of his films.

comment #59

Edward Havens says ...

Wow... using the sad passing of a somewhat talented actor to name-check an Olsen twin, even after that part of the story is debunked...

Stay classy, Wells.

comment #60

BurmaShave says ...

If it was suicide, then fuck him. He had a kid.

"If you can't fix it, you've gotta stand it."

comment #61

BurmaShave says ...

Nevertheless, may he rest in peace.

comment #62

source188 says ...

Heath Ledger dead?!?! I'm in denial about all this. I leave work, get a text reading "heath ledger died" and I don't believe it for a second, come home and see it online and what the fuck happened?! within the past two years he was developing into an utterly interesting actor. This summer was supposed to be his take off and this happens!

My sincere condolences go out.

comment #63

MilkMan says ...

Heath Ledger dead = No more irony. We have now truly been ushered into the 21rst Century. The only advice I have for my fellow Americans is to keep on shopping. Otherwise the Ambien win.

comment #64

thevisceral says ...

I thought the Heath Ledger/Charlotte Gainsbourg parts of I'm Not There were the best parts of the movie (way better than the Fellini rip-off Blanchett section). I would've preferred a whole movie with those two performers as characters like that, but of course, no one just makes movies about characters cause it's not "conceptually interesting" enough. Too bad. Heath was good and it's sad to see him go.

comment #65

p.Vice says ...

Who wants to start placing bets? Here's the line on the suicide note:

Didn't get nominated for I'm Not There: 12-1
Just learned Jason Reitman somehow got nominated as Best Director: 10-1
Obama lost Nevada primary: 7-1
Got bitch-slapped: 5-1
Michelle won't take his ass back: 2-1
Just watched rough cut of The Dark Knight: 1-2

comment #66

christian says ...

Are you lonesome tonight, p.vice?

comment #67

Rod32303 says ...

Loved his work. LOVED. Fucking sucks. For real.

Will never judge another - didn't live in his shoes, but heartbreak and despair are real motherfuckers, if that's what he was feeling.

I will miss his screen work greatly. Truly a champion actor not afraid to show his soul on film.

Rest in Peace.

comment #68

jeffmcm says ...

If it was suicide, that makes it more of a tragedy, not less of one. Depression is a disease.

comment #69

Spicer says ...

This is indeed sad news. When I read the crawl on CNN I had trouble believing it was true. Heath was a truly gifted actor.

I seldom watch it, but I will especially avoid the vapid entertainment media's dissection of this. I can't image how grotesque Access Hollywood or the E! channel will be when covering Heath's death.

comment #70

Ray says ...

Goodbye Heath. Thank you.

www.therecshow.com

comment #71

Joe Leydon says ...

p.vice: If it turns out that Ledger didn't commit suicide, will you agree to do humanity a favor and throw yourself on his funeral pyre?

comment #72

KamikazeCamelV2.0 says ...

Jesus, some people sure are out for blood today aren't they? Going around calling him a drug addict without any proof. Pills? If I collapsed while holding a jar of pills then I'm sure I'd spill them to! Or maybe some medication for his pneumonia reacted badly with sleeping pills. Just wait until the autopsy, for christs sake.

It is a very sad loss, he was such a talented actor - his Brokeback Mountain performance is the best my a male actor this decade - and very tragic for the fans, the audiences, the industry and most of all his family.

comment #73

lazarus says ...

The difference between D.Z. and pVice is that D.Z. thinks he's smart and has a legitimate point, and p.Vice thinks he's funny.

They're both wrong, and they're both jackasses.

To paraphrase a George Carlin routine, we should have the two of them fight to the death, and then shoot the one who wins anyway.

comment #74

raygo says ...

Depression sucks. Not saying he killed himself, but obviously if you're depressed and not seeking treatment you're not taking care of yourself and anything can happen. Fame and money don't fix things like that.

It's very sad. I suffer from depression. I make a good living, have a nice house, and I think about death a lot. My friends don't understand any of it ... but they have my back. Where were his friends?

comment #75

Caustic712 says ...

Well said, Lazarus.

comment #76

Rosebudsthesled says ...

Heath Ledger was this generation's answer to Marlon Brando. His work in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, one of the best performances I've ever seen (and ever will see) in my life, is going to be revered to for generations to come. This is a truly tragic moment for all of Hollywood. Jeff is right--look at the years of brilliant work we could have had.

comment #77

jeffmcm says ...

Ditto to Lazarus.

comment #78

rocco says ...

Can we stop mourning *our* loss of future performances and show some respect for the *person*? I keep reading how tragic a loss this is because Ledger was so gifted. The loss of the actor is no great tragedy...acting is a very transitive art and other gifted actors will fill the void...

It's the loss of someone loved, the loss of a father, the departure of an inquisitive soul who touched people's lives that makes this tragic. "Great actor" is a trivial characterization that I think he himself would shun, having talked about NOT being defined as an "actor," while struggling with reconciling real-world angst and human achievement with celebrity and public perception.

He was a good actor and there's nothing wrong with mentioning it, I just don't think that's how he defined himself.

It's late and I'm ra,bling....I'll stop now.

comment #79

Mjs says ...

Well said, by both Lazarus and rocco.

comment #80

D.Z. says ...

Fine, I'll link this tribute to him. http://www.darkhorizons.com/news08/080122j.php

comment #81

jeffmcm says ...

Yes, there's nothing like a link to something you don't agree with. Bravo.

comment #82

christian says ...

Very good DZ.

comment #83

scooterzz says ...

nice work, laz.....

dz..jeeze....sigh..

comment #84

christian says ...

So the police are ruling the death "accidental" and it looks just like that. The media whores are out in force with their wretched exploitive moralizing. The Huffington Post gives space to soulless parasites like Bonnie Fuller, so she can quickly inject her expert worthless opine:

None of his gifts, neither talent nor family, appears to have been enough to combat the demons that apparently led Heath to take the pills that could have ended his young life.

Heath, perhaps if you had just re-watched your old film you would have been inspired to stay with us and to have "changed your stars."

comment #85

jeffmcm says ...

My favorite awful TV moment was earlier on the TV Guide network when they made the segue, "He plays the Joker in next year's Batman sequel, but there was no laughing today..."

You have to respect that ironic lack of irony. Or not.

comment #86

BurmaShave says ...

Ain't it just like the night to play tricks...

Not to bring this back to something as crass or feckless as the Oscars, but in retrospect he really did deserve it more than Hoffman. A titanic characterization versus a very good impersonation.

Ennis Del Marr will stay with me the rest of my life and is the reason why I took the foolish death of a total stranger to my heart and had trouble sleeping. BROKEBACK already ruined me because of the ways in which I haven't live my life to the fullest, but I'll be pulling out Santolalla's score today and as I crest the hill down into the still dark city that guitar will very likely carry with it all the sadness in the world. Fuckin' movie stars.

comment #87

sundevilajm says ...

Forget OD'ing on Ambien alone. The LD50 for Ambien is seven and a half grams. Other drugs are the culprit if it turns out to be drug related.

comment #88

Alan Cerny says ...

If he had pneumonia, and took something to sleep, that's not suicide. Lots of people have died that way. Walking pneumonia isn't a joke, it's killed people quite easily when they thought they just had a bad chest cold.

comment #89

Chicago48 says ...

He was just starting his greatness. Loved his work.

He did of an "accidental overdose" of Ambien and sleeping pills. Ambien has been known to cause Problems....he was recovering from pneumonia.

comment #90

Chicago48 says ...

He was just starting his greatness. Loved his work.

He allegedly died of an "accidental overdose" of Ambien and sleeping pills. Ambien has been known to cause Problems....he was recovering from pneumonia. (as of today, this could change next week)

comment #91

K. Bowen says ...

If he had pneumonia, would he be naked and would he have a masseuse on the way over? And wouldn't the housekeeper turn the masseuse away at the door if he were ill?

comment #92

b.throttle says ...

Amen BurmaShave. You put what I was feeling to words...

"Ennis Del Marr will stay with me the rest of my life and is the reason why I took the foolish death of a total stranger to my heart and had trouble sleeping. BROKEBACK already ruined me because of the ways in which I haven't live my life to the fullest, but I'll be pulling out Santolalla's score today and as I crest the hill down into the still dark city that guitar will very likely carry with it all the sadness in the world. Fuckin' movie stars."

comment #93

Josh Massey says ...

Burmashave, I concur. Best post I've seen from you yet.