Heath Ledger Found Dead

CNN.com has reported that Heath Ledger has been found dead in his apartment in New York:

According to the New York City Police Department, Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment in downtown Manhattan on January 22, 2008.

At 3:31 p.m., a masseuse arrived at Apartment 5A in the building for an appointment with Mr. Ledger, the police said. The masseuse was let in to the home by a housekeeper, who then knocked on the door of Mr. Ledger’s bedroom. When no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger unconscious. They shook him, but he did not respond. They immediately called the authorities. The police said they did not suspect foul play and said they found pills near the body.

Spike1's picture

Rest in peace

This is really shocking. Such a shame that he will not get to see how people are going to enjoy his performance as The Joker.

Dustin's picture

This also begs to question

This also begs to question what will happen to the role of the Joker should it continue on in the franchise?

Dustin's picture

He has some projects coming

He has some projects coming up. See here.

HollywoodChicago.com's picture

River Phoenix, Brad Renfro and now Heath Ledger

Who else has died young in film? Brad Renfro died just last week at 25 (see our thread on this here).

PatrickMcD's picture

Lotsa Deaths

Five come immediately to mind — James Dean (auto accident), Brandon Lee (mob hit), River Phoenix (indulging) Chris Farley (indulgence) and the late, great John Belushi (indulgence max).

Hank’s in a band! www.myspace.com/thetelepaths

Dustin's picture

You forgot George Burns, Walter Matheau, and Peter O'Toole

You really think Brandon Lee was a mob hit?

PatrickMcD's picture

One Never Knows, Does One

I was being flippant, but his Dad, Bruce Lee, had run afoul of the Hong Kong mob, because of their ties to the film industry…

From Wiki:

His iconic status and young and unusual death fed many theories about his death, including murder involving the Triad society (Hong Kong mob) and a supposed curse on him and his family.

The curse theory was extended to his son Brandon Lee, also an actor, who died, 20 years after his father, in a bizarre accident while filming his last film, The Crow at the age of 28. It was released after his death and gained cult status, as his father’s last film, respectively, had been, and did.

Hank’s in a band! www.myspace.com/thetelepaths

HollywoodChicago.com's picture

Updates: history of distress, but no indication of suicide

See our news story for some new updates to this story.

First of all, we learn of a Nov. 2007 article in the New York Times where Ledger reveal some alarming quotes that could be interpreted as warning signs for severe distress and anxiety.

Second, the New York Police Department now reports that there was no “obvious indication of suicide”.

HollywoodChicago.com's picture

Heath Ledger's nervous ways remind me of Billy Bob Thornton

In response to this quote from above:

Quote:Even as he spoke, Ledger was hard-pressed to keep still. He got up and poured more coffee. He stepped outside into the courtyard and smoked a cigarette. He shook his hair out from under its hood, put a rubber band around it, took out the rubber band, put on a hat, took off the hat [and] put the hood back up. He went outside and had another cigarette.

This reminds me of my interview with Billy Bob Thornton for “The Astronaut Farmer”. I got a very similiar sense from him.

HollywoodChicago.com's picture

Story now includes background, quotes from major publications

Our news story now comprehensively includes facts, background and interesting quotes from the major publications including CNN, MSNBC, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, /Film, Hollywood Elsewhere and more.

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