Heath Ledger found dead

[VF21]

Actor Heath Ledger has been found dead at a Manhattan residence...

(Received in a breaking news email from sacbee.com)

UPDATE:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jpzdve6RF9k9My1ItZGj3eRprEEwD8UB6IM81

Heath Ledger Found Dead in NYC
By TOM HAYS – 9 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan residence, and police said drugs may have been a factor. He was 28.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the Manhattan apartment believed to be his home. The housekeeper who went to let him know the masseuse had arrived found him dead at 3:26 p.m.

The Australian-born actor was nominated for an Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain," where he met his wife, actress Michelle Williams, in 2005. Ledger and Williams had lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, until they split up last year.

Ledger was to appear as the Joker this year in "The Dark Night," a sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins." He's had starring roles in "A Knight's Tale" and "The Patriot," and played the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in "Monster's Ball."

Ledger grew up in Perth, and began doing amateur theater at age 10. At 16, he moved to Sydney to pursue an acting career, quickly landing TV movie roles and guest spots on Australian television.

After several independent films and a starring role in the short-lived Fox TV series "Roar," Ledger moved to Los Angeles and costarred in "10 Things I Hate About You," a teen comedy reworking of "The Taming of the Shrew."

Offers for other teen flicks came his way, but Ledger turned them down, preferring to remain idle than sign on for projects he didn't like.

"It wasn't a hard decision for me," Ledger told the Associated Press in 2001. "It was hard for everyone else around me to understand. Agents were like, `You're crazy,' my parents were like, `Come on, you have to eat.'"

His latest role was in "I'm Not There," in which he played one of the many incarnations of Bob Dylan — as did Cate Blanchett, whose performance in that film earned an Oscar nomination Tuesday for best supporting actress.

 

[Twix]

Thanks for posting this, VF. I have lots of friends that are Heath fans...it's going to be hard for them.

Amazing actor and too young.

RIP Heath....

 

[VF21]

I feel very badly as I've liked him for a long time. My first thought was of River Phoenix. This is just sad.

RIP, Heath Ledger.

 

[Twix]

I just read the article on sacbee.com. It said Heath died from drugs?? I didn't even know he use drug??

A few days ago it was (actor) Brad Renfro, 25...died most likely because of drug too? Now Heath...

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

He was an up-and-coming actor compared to the likes of Matt Damon, and of course made his mark in Brokeback Mountain. Was said to play the Joker too in the sequel to Batman Begins, "The Dark Knight."

RIP Heath Ledger.

 

[Rockmeister]

RIP Heath Ledger.

 

[Warhawk]

Ledger was to appear as the Joker this year in "The Dark Night," a sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins." He's had starring roles in "A Knight's Tale" and "The Patriot," and played the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in "Monster's Ball."

RIP - I never understand the impulse to take drugs or, worse, your own life. Very sad.

Of much lesser import but still a curious side note, I wonder if they finished filming his parts for that yet? Or are they going to have to rework parts if not or simply reshoot those bits he's in? Haven't been following this, so I really don't know....

 

[VF21]

It's now being reported there were prescription pills scattered around his body so maybe this was a tragic accident.



As far as his Joker role goes, I know there's a significant trailer floating around the internet with clips of him from the film.

 

[Jechtsphere]

RIP - I never understand the impulse to take drugs or, worse, your own life. Very sad.

Of much lesser import but still a curious side note, I wonder if they finished filming his parts for that yet? Or are they going to have to rework parts if not or simply reshoot those bits he's in? Haven't been following this, so I really don't know....

It's in post production so his parts were finished.

sad and shocking although I'm curious why he was staying in one of the olsen twins apartment.

 

[Prophetess]

....................:cry:

RIP Heath...

 

[Warhawk]

It's now being reported there were prescription pills scattered around his body so maybe this was a tragic accident.



As far as his Joker role goes, I know there's a significant trailer floating around the internet with clips of him from the film.

Yeah, I just didn't know if they had finished all the filming. Sounds like they had - thanks J.

Kinda reminds me of the movie "The Crow" with Brandon Lee - from wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crow_(film)

The Crow is a 1994American film adaptation of the comic bookof the same name by James O'Barr (who himself makes a cameo in the film). It was directed by Alex Proyas and starred Brandon Lee in what became his last film.

The film gained instant notoriety even before its release, when Lee was killed in an accident during filming. Despite this event, or perhaps due to it, the film has gained a cult following over the years.

On March 31, 1993 at the North Carolina Film Studios in Wilmington NC, there were eight days left before shooting of the film was to be completed. The scene being filmed involved Lee's character Eric Draven walking into his apartment and witnessing the brutal rape of his fiancée by thugs. Lee's character would then have been shot and killed along with his fiancée by the thugs. As the scene was being filmed, Brandon Lee was killed after Michael Massee (who played the villain Funboy) fired the gun at Lee as intended. Earlier in the shooting of the scene the bullet from a dummy round became unseated and was lodged in the barrel of the handgun without being noticed. The gun was then loaded with a blank cartridge containing a propellant charge but no bullet so as to render a gunshot effect. When the blank was fired, the propellant drove the bullet from the weapon and hit Lee in the abdomen.[1] After Lee's death, a stunt double, Chad Stahelski replaced Lee in some scenes to complete the film. Special effects were used for digitally compositing Lee's face onto the double.

The original footage featuring Lee's actual death is the source of some controversy. Some accounts claim it was destroyed immediately, without even being developed while others suggest it was turned over to law enforcement officials as evidence and later given to Lee's family.

Hence my question about filming....

Edit:

Oscar-nominee Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at his downtown Manhattan apartment, according to the New York City Police Department, who said drugs may have been a factor. The Australian-born actor was 28.

Police said Ledger was naked in his bed with an unknown number of sleeping pills near the body.

NYPD spokeswoman Stephanie Jaramillo told FOXNews.com that Ledger was discovered by his housekeeper at his apartment at 421 Broome Street in the Soho section of New York City and was pronounced dead at 3:35 p.m. EST.

Jaramillo declined to comment on the cause of death, saying only that "the investigation is still ongoing."

FOLLOWING IS A N-Y-P-D NEWS RELEASE ON TODAY'S SITUATION INVOLVING HEATH LEDGER: ON TUESDAY, 01/22/08, AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 HOURS, IN THE CONFINES OF THE 5 PRECINCT, POLICE RESPONDED TO 421 BROOME STREET AND FOUND A M/W/28 UNCONSCIOUS. THE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DOA AT THE SCENE. M.E.'S OFFICE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH. INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

Law enforcement told celebrity gossip site TMZ.com that Ledger's death was accidental. The autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,324696,00.html

It says "his apartment".

 

[kennadog]

Just so sad...so young. RIP

 

[Gary]

Wow...

Crazy stuff. I am so sad right now. I thought his best role was in Lords of Dogtown. If you haven't seen it please do. It was a great movie.

This right after Brad Renfro dies in an apparent suicide/drug death as well..

RIP Heath, RIP Brad

(below is a pic of Brad Renfro for those who didn't know who he was)

 

[PurpleHaze]

The guy was a heroin addict, in and out of rehab, and all his close friends knew it. Lots of links such as TMZ, DrudgeReport, etc. about all his drug problems. RIP.

 

[GoGoGadget]

It's also being reported that he had pneumonia, which would make more sense.

Most people who OD or commit suicide aren't found with a bunch of pills not swallowed, but there could have been a problem if he mixed sleeping pills with meds for pneumonia. Not to mention the fact that sleeping pills and respiratory problems usually aren't a very happy mix.

 

[Gargamel]

I just read the article on sacbee.com. It said Heath died from drugs?? I didn't even know he use drug??

A few days ago it was (actor) Brad Renfro, 25...died most likely because of drug too? Now Heath...

Renfro did. This was him getting picked up in a drug buying sting in a bad part of LA a few yrs back. Obviously was troubled.

 

[C Diddy]

I just heard that a certain religious group infamous for picketing the funerals of military service men and women have announced their plans to picket Ledger's funeral. Absolutely despicable.

RIP Heath.


One of the first movies I ever watched with my wife is 10 Things I Hate About You. It was one of her favorite movies, along with Top Gun. I've also seen A Knight's Tale an The Patriot and enjoyed both of those.

I am really looking forward to seeing him in the new Batman movie. I think he's a fairly decent actor.

He is only two years older then me. Really sad.


My condolences to his family and his child.

 

[kingsfan916]

Rip