Heath Ledger, such a talented actor, such a great loss.
Heath Ledger was found dead today in his New York apartment. He had a two year old daughter to Michelle Williams with whom he’d broken his engagement last September. Heath was the most captivating of young Australian actors to emerge this last few years. His talent equaled that of another Aussie export, Nicole Kidman and this talent was so poignantly captured in his leading roles in films like Candy and Brokeback Mountain. He was a courageous actor, playing tough controversial roles and he brought the audience right into the shoes of the flawed characters he played, in this sense bringing us closer to our own sense of humanity. I’d urge those who haven’t seen his films to go see them. In Ned Kelly he was the iconic anti-hero. In Candy he captured so much of what it is to be human. In Brokeback Mountain, he captured loss and romantic tragedy with wonderful artistry. A great loss to the Australian and international film industry. A great loss to the audiences who will never see the new magic he’d surely have brought to the screen in future works. Most of all a loss to his friends and family. Heath had a magic, not only in his films, but just watching him at film awards, there was a generosity in his soul, a playfulness, a realness, a shyness. He was so refreshingly 3D in an increasingly 2D world.
author, artist, composer, screenwriter.
Dear Donna:
The press jumped to quick conclusions, as usual, upon hearing that there were prescription sleeping pills around the room. It has since been discovered that Heath had pneumonia at the time of his passing, and that there was only one prescription bottle by his bed. The police are now saying it was most assuredly an accident. No autopsey has been done yet, so calling it an overdose is premature.
Heath does not deserve to have his name lumped in with the addicts and suicides of troubled actors and rock stars by being labled as “dying of an overdose.” Especially when still nothing is known at this time.
Thanks for the update. Have you seen his films? His character in Candy and in Brokeback just rips ya heart out.