R.I.P. Heath Ledger
The Australian-born actor, who made his way into our little tag cloud recently via his portrayal of Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes's I'm Not There, was found dead in a SoHo apartment at 3:35PM today. Pills were near his body, police suspect no foul play. The Dylan biopic wasn't Heath's only music-related project: Ledger had directed videos for Ben Harper ("Morning Yearning") and Australian artist N'Fa ("Seduction Is Evil"), and apparently teamed with Harper to start a record label. Also and more eerily, MTV reports Heath "recently shot and edited a music video for a Drake song called "Black Dog," so titled because of a Winston Churchill quote describing depression as such. It is also reportedly the last song Drake recorded before overdosing on antidepression medication in 1974 at the age of 26." We last saw him at the I'm Not There concert (pictured) at Beacon Theater in November, introducing acts and paying homage to Todd Haynes and Robert Zimmerman. Ledger, who plays the Joker in the forthcoming Batman sequel The Dark Knight, is survived by his two-year-old daughter Matilda Rose (whom he had with actress and ex-fiancee Michelle Williams). Heath was 28. Condolences all around.
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Posted at 5:04 PM
Comments (63) latest by Kellie
'I'm Not There' is pretty great.
Posted by: k at January 22, 2008 5:20 PM | ReplyScore = 0
K, maybe you should share that particular thought in a post about the movie, not this young man's passing. All the same, condolences all around indeed.
Posted by: Jeff at January 22, 2008 5:27 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Unbelievably sad.
Posted by: stef-k at January 22, 2008 5:29 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Unbelievably sad
Posted by: stef-k at January 22, 2008 5:32 PM | ReplyScore = 0
So sad. My condolences also.
Posted by: bookwibble at January 22, 2008 5:36 PM | ReplyScore = 0
sad
Posted by: werw at January 22, 2008 5:38 PM | ReplyScore = 0
agreed. talented guy. very unfortunate.
Posted by: joey fresh at January 22, 2008 5:41 PM | ReplyScore = 0
this its so sad. and a great shock. such a great talent and a nice man... my thoughts go to his family and friends.
Posted by: ian g at January 22, 2008 5:43 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Don't do drugs, kids.
Posted by: yomomma at January 22, 2008 5:43 PM | ReplyScore = 0
word has it he was found in mary kate olsen's apartment? wtf? he was truly becoming a great young actor and bringing some talent to the guys under 30....sorely missed
Posted by: jimm at January 22, 2008 5:49 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Holy Shit!
I thought this was a joke, like the "R.I.P. Britney Spears" post.
Wow.
Posted by: b.LOUD at January 22, 2008 5:50 PM | ReplyMy condolences.
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It was actually in Mary-Kate Olsen's apartment.
Posted by: Alex at January 22, 2008 5:52 PM | ReplyScore = 0
This is truly sad...
Heath was a very talented person and always seemed pretty cool to me (not that I ever encountered him personally). To see him at his best, check out the Australian film "Two Hands". It was one of Heath's first films and is one of my favourite all-time films.
Posted by: Ben at January 22, 2008 6:00 PM | ReplyScore = 0
He acted as a homosexual in gay movie - that was enough for God.
Posted by: Cosima at January 22, 2008 6:05 PM | ReplyVote 1 - Mike Huckabee!
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tragic.
Posted by: stephen at January 22, 2008 6:07 PM | Replyonly 28 - he had a great career in front of him. I suspect Mary Kate encouraged him.
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... thousands of Iraqi civilians dead, Israel pushing Palestine around, the economy plummeting, and heath ledger dying! This is all too much for any hipster to handle. Oh wait, im callous and don't give a shit about anything. Let me go munch on some soy noodles and light up a fag. All is good inside my plastic little box.
Posted by: GetUpToGetDown at January 22, 2008 6:28 PM | ReplyScore = 0
actually, it's NOT mary-kate olsen's apartment.
http://reddit.com/info/669yz/comments/c02ytst
Posted by: claire at January 22, 2008 6:38 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Not Olsen's apartment. Same building but his own flat. He and William's split in September. He was having a very difficult time sleeping, was photographed Saturday, on set, in London - had been relying on sleeping pills to get some rest (time zones and sleep are a real bitch). Sounds "accidental" to me and I really hope it is. RIP Heath, you seemed like a great guy.
Posted by: N at January 22, 2008 6:38 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Cosima - I hope for your sake, you were just kidding.
Posted by: Blu at January 22, 2008 6:43 PM | ReplyScore = 0
"Pills were near his body, but police suspect no foul play."
Yes, because usually when there are pills around it points to murder. Retard!
Posted by: dude at January 22, 2008 7:28 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i am actually quite sad about this. i live in perth the city he comes from in australia and i know his family. i didn't know the family well admittedly but i still feel very sad about this whole incident.
Posted by: killabot at January 22, 2008 7:28 PM | ReplyScore = 0
This is sad and everyone's going to hate me for saying this, but this is a music blog. Why are you posting about an *actor* who died? I know it's big news and it will get you page views, but -- somewhat obscure ties to the music business aside -- it's simply unrelated. I run a blog myself, and I can't always just throw up whatever I want on the main page, if it's not relevant to the subject.
That said, this is very sad. Being rich and famous really doesn't solve anything, does it? I'm sorry for his daughter. On a selfish note, I'm glad he finished up his work on The Dark Knight. Hopefully they won't need him in post-production.
Posted by: The Other Matthew at January 22, 2008 7:46 PM | ReplyScore = 0
"He acted as a homosexual in gay movie - that was enough for God.
Posted by: gaby at January 22, 2008 8:00 PM | ReplyVote 1 - Mike Huckabee!"
COSIMA ur going stupid close minded RETARD!
PPL like you (and huckabee) make me afraid of this future.
but anyways.
so sad when i heard this....its ridiculous. RIP
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I've read a lot of blogs featuring entries about Heath Ledger's death, and you can be sure that there is at least one person cracking jokes about him or somehow connecting Amy Winehouse to his death. I don't know if anybody told you ('you' being the Insensitives in the world), but you're not supposed to talk bad about people who die. As a strong believer in karma, I'd advise you to watch what you say. Or at least be an ass on your own blog.
Posted by: the_untitled at January 22, 2008 9:21 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I would have never guessed that people who read stereogum had a conscience hahah.
Posted by: twotapsyes at January 22, 2008 9:39 PM | ReplyScore = 0
fuck that Cosima comment above.
okay,
here's to heath, though stereogum is stretching with this post.
my heart goes out to his kid, family, and friends.
death is a horrible inevitability. sorry he had to face it so soon.
Posted by: the.audio.phile at January 22, 2008 10:43 PM | ReplyScore = 0
omg its soo sad, he was my fav eva actor, my idol, an inspiration, also i started to be a fan wen i was 10 cos i found out he has the same birthday as me, he was too young to die, what a waste xxx
Posted by: kelly at January 22, 2008 11:04 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Well world we have lost yet another great actor. So, I am posting this bulletin in his memory. It is the letter from A Knight's Tale, but with a twist:
My dearest Heath:
It is strange to think, We have not seen you.
We have seen the new moon, but not you.
We have seen sunsets and sunrises, but nothing of your beautiful face.
The pieces of our broken hearts can pass through the eye of a needle.
We will miss you like the sun misses the flower. Like the sun misses the flower in the depths of winter.
Instead of beauty to direct its light too, the heart hardens like the frozen world your absence has sent us to.
We'll find it empty and cold when you're not here.
Hope guides us. It gets us through the day and especially the night. The hope that after you leave our sight it will not be the last time we look upon you.
With all the love that we possess...We remain yours...
The knights of your heart,
Your Fans
My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
Posted by: Samantha at January 22, 2008 11:40 PM | ReplyScore = 0
uhh good poem. . .
Posted by: Lord Byron at January 23, 2008 12:41 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Very sad. He was a great actor, and a terrific Dylan.
Posted by: Josh at January 23, 2008 1:20 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Here is a link to a new Heath Ledger Memorial Tribute video on YouTube:
Posted by: GYoogleTube at January 23, 2008 1:51 AM | Replyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WEpWAO5dXc
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Great work, stereogum. By posting about something completely irrelevant to music, you've somehow drawn out the Teen People readers.
U ppl should be ashamed of urselves.
Posted by: Elliot at January 23, 2008 2:22 AM | ReplyScore = 0
We don't know yet if it was suicide or an accident, but I'm hoping it was a suicide, if only because then it was a CHOICE (albeit a potentially chemically imbalanced and/or deeply depressed one) and not a horrible mistake. It's worse to me for some reason if he wanted to live and just took one too many :/
Posted by: zik at January 23, 2008 3:57 AM | ReplyScore = 0
zik, even if it were a suicide, it would still be a terrible mistake to end your life and leave your two year old daughter without her father.
Posted by: jayfarer at January 23, 2008 6:16 AM | ReplyScore = 0
good night sweet prince.
Posted by: tennessee at January 23, 2008 7:45 AM | ReplyScore = 0
RIP Heathie...I will miss you so much.
Posted by: Annie at January 23, 2008 7:50 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Umm...this is very sad, but I agree with Elliot, this is a music blog
I love how all the music blogs in an effort to make this story relevent say "Heath plays Bob Dylan in the recent biopic"
Posted by: Les at January 23, 2008 9:29 AM | ReplyScore = 0
"COSIMA ur going stupid close minded RETARD!"
gaby, you just lost.
not that i'm defending cosima, because i hope that comment was made in jest, but calling someone a "close minded retard" just defeats the whole purpose of your arguement.
i still think it's so incredibly random that heath ledger's dead, though. he's never been one of those actors who are all over tabloids 24/7 and always up to shenanigans. he's always just been.. there.. living a normal life as a normal guy who happens to be a pretty great actor. it's pretty sad.
Posted by: massromantic at January 23, 2008 9:47 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Everyone please ignore the troll who calls him or herself "Cosima". I have seen this person make the exact same comment on many other blogs. This person seems to be google searching blogs with Heath RIP posts and pasting the same garbage over and over. Pity that person.
Posted by: whistle at January 23, 2008 10:35 AM | ReplyScore = 0
"Umm...this is very sad, but I agree with Elliot, this is a music blog"
Then why are you even posting on this story
Posted by: Dan at January 23, 2008 10:36 AM | ReplyScore = 0
The Nick Drake song is actually called "Black Eyed Dog" I believe...
Posted by: theEvilAngel at January 23, 2008 11:01 AM | ReplyScore = 0
The Nick Drake song is actually called "Black Eyed Dog" I believe...
Posted by: theEvilAngel at January 23, 2008 11:03 AM | ReplyScore = 0
okay you people have said it... it's a music blog. i'm sure if one of your favorite actors passed away, and stereogum posted a bullentin about him/her, YOU'D post your condolences. please, if you have nothing to say that is relevant to this topic, then skip over it and watch the new badly drawn boy video or whatever.
Posted by: ian g at January 23, 2008 11:18 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Please visit Heaths memorial site that i have set up. The link is below. Please add to your favourites and add any comments and pics.
http://heath.ledger08.gonetoosoon.co.uk
Posted by: Leanne at January 23, 2008 1:07 PM | ReplyScore = 0
RIP Heath.... we miss you!!
Posted by: Eddie at January 23, 2008 4:26 PM | ReplyScore = 0
heath what a shame youhad too leave you will be missed
Posted by: paola at January 23, 2008 5:18 PM | Replyr.i.p
:(:(
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posting about mr. ledger's death on a music blog may not be as irrelevant as some would think, biopic aside:
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/02/14/heath_ledger_teams_up_with_ben_harper_to
Posted by: undrthewaves at January 23, 2008 5:42 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Not to sound irreverent or anything, but does anyone know where said music video can be found? That song is phenomenal and eerie more so than many of his others, and I would be interested to see the video.
Posted by: Oz at January 23, 2008 7:05 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Inescapable!
I feel sorry for his daughter and his family and it goes without saying he was a good bloke and a decent actor. But fuck the media have gone over the top with this. I don't know how much coverage this is getting in the US, but in Australia its revolting.
The first six pages of Sydney's Daily Telegraph were purely devoted to him, and he hated that fucking paper cos their fucking photographers and the rest of the city's paparazzi hounded him so much they drove him and his family out of Australia.
For a guy who purposefully shunned the tabloid spotlight and hated all the shit that is superfluous to making movies its disgusting the media are tearing his carcass to shreds to fill a few column inches and draw tears from the public.
His family had to force themselves to go through the indignity of facing the media with a statement yesterday to minimise the hounding they were sure to receive from the baying hounds.
He'd probably be feeling extremely uncomfortable with all the blubbing going on from the celebrity worshippers as well.
Good bloke. Talented. Died young. Give it a rest.
Posted by: Steve Sanders at January 23, 2008 7:49 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Posted by: Burgernoodle at January 24, 2008 2:38 AM | ReplyI don't know. I mean, it is getting a lot of media attention, but so far, not in a bad way. It's just because it was a shockingly sudden death of a clearly very talented individual. As far as I can tell right now, people/the media are trying to just pay tribute. And I think its great that other less-known projects are surfacing, like his directing music videos...who knew he had started a music label with Ben Harper?? Incredible. Watch the video here: http://www.burgernoodle.com/2008/01/23/morning-yearning-directed-by-the-late-heath-ledger/
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rest in peace heath !!!!!
it is trully sad that he died and at such a young age.
you will be missed
r.i.p
Posted by: laura at January 24, 2008 1:37 PM | ReplyScore = 0
we going to miss u heath rest in peace.
Posted by: andrea at January 24, 2008 5:33 PM | Replyhe been a uscj as great actor and well my deepest symphaty goes to his famyli and friends.
and please all the people who are writhing thing that are are so out of this like that he was found in mary-kate olsen's apartment please even just for once in your life respect to his family,friends and his memory!bye
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heath we going to miss u.
Posted by: andrea at January 24, 2008 5:39 PM | Replyheath was a such great actor and person well my deepest sympathy goes to his family and friends.
and for all the people who are writing things out of place like that he was found in marykate olsen's apartment please even for once in your life respect his family, friends and his memory!
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Not in a bad way?
Showing his body bag and houdning Michelle Williams for photos as soon as she reaches New York. Vomit.
Posted by: Steve Sanders at January 24, 2008 10:40 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I live on Layfette off Broome and could run down the block to see this disgusting huddle of soulless photographers on Tuesday. My roommate and I were walking home and noticed the mob, approached, and learned of the details, people waiting for a fucking body bag to be removed from the building. I think it's so disrespectful. And then to hear all this bullshit about photographers chasing after his ex and baby upon their arrival back in the city? Even more disturbing. This isn't fucking Los Angeles and it kills me when people act like this.
Anyways, RIP mate.
Posted by: Eoin at January 25, 2008 9:55 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Rest in Peace Heath!
Posted by: Jenny at January 26, 2008 9:09 AM | ReplyYou will be missed immensly
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pay tributes to heath here:
http://www.my-cause.com/cause/heath_ledger_rip
Posted by: Janney at January 26, 2008 9:13 AM | ReplyScore = 0
yes he was an actor, and yes all you little girls watched 10 things i hate about you and fawned over him. but really, what makes him so special to have his death be posted as a blog.
there are people out there who really deserve the condolences he's getting
great actor, but you guys are seriously shooting for overkill when it comes to sadness for this guy
Posted by: Mark at January 26, 2008 3:36 PM | ReplyScore = 0
As any tragic loss.....nothing one can say ....God Bless his family....and all affected
Posted by: tom at January 26, 2008 11:22 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I couldn't believe it when i heard this devastating news on the radio. A great actor who touched so many people through his work. Will always be remebered,
Posted by: rav at January 27, 2008 11:26 AM | ReplyRest in Peace and deep condolences to his loved ones.
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Hey Mark, everyone hates you.
Posted by: Everyone at January 29, 2008 6:44 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Just had to say goodbye to an actor who meant such a lot to me like he did to many others. I am Heartbroken and gutted to my heart.Goodbye Beautiful Heath Thank you for so much, I will never ever forget you godbless you Angie H. T.U.K
Posted by: Angie H at February 25, 2008 8:20 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I miss him so much .. i just wish he never touched them pills xxxx R.I.P Heath
Posted by: Kellie at August 5, 2008 1:11 AM | ReplyScore = 0