Great Aussie actor dead in his apartment aparently. Wondering what the cause of death will be found to be?
Just before Batman comes out too, he could have done so well for himself, but now, it's over. As we said in gradeschool "smooth move ex-lax..."
That article says 'set to play the Joker' ...ummm that finished filming ages ago...he was already shooting another film for Terry Gilliam (who seems to have the worst luck with getting projects made). I know so many people that have tried to OD on pills only to vomit them up and survive...how is it these celebrities manage to OD on them ?
His drug use is well documented apparently and for a 28 year old, healthy man to drop dead in his apartment, it is not hard to make an assumption. Brad Renfro too. Not many under 30 leading men drop dead from heart defects. edit: I am not saying he was a bad person, it sucks to die young. On a side note: Actors often go through very rigorous medical tests before doing movies that require a certain level of physical activity. Then completion bonds and insurance policies are taken. You wonder how movies cost 140m to make, yet when you have an actor you are paying say 10m to, that actor needs to be insured because if they get ill, you have hundreds of crew that need to be paid to wait, not to mention locations, lodging, and so on.
if the knucklehead did indeed overdose, then why? i cant feel sorry for the out of touch with reality hollywood types. fame and fortune for doing nothing. roofers work hard, medical professionals work hard, teachers work hard, actors, no. to have this life and piss it away, if he did what it looks like he did, then i say see-ya bud.
The second I heard this I thought: "River Phoenix". Talented actor, a handful of movies, too young, drugs, etc etc. Phoenix really died before his time. I think this guy did, too. RIP. RMX
This is in general...there are many types of 'hard work'. I have been in the film industry for 20 years and can say it can be VERY hard work...it can also be very easy work at times. I think that goes for most professions. For a big action film an actor may be working 12-15 hrs a day on set for 6 days a week. Then on the off time they are physically training/exercising so they can do the stunt you saw for 30 seconds over and over and over again for perhaps several days. This is in no way a defense for Heath Ledgers apparent suicide. Just a general observation because I often hear these kind of comments from those who are not in the film business.
Sometime these people have extremely deep rooted pains, and the drugs are an escape. If they quit the drugs for a little while, to say film a movie or something like that, then start again, they take too much on accident and their body goes into shock. I'm sure the drugs actors/stars get are WAY more potent than the common street drug. They're not stepped on as much, so they're a lot stronger. It's easier to overdose.
+1000000 The upside is Golden pay... The downside is exhaustion taking its toll including a movie made on the subject by Haskell exler "Who needs sleep" about his 1st AC (assistant cameraman) that died after falling asleep behind the wheel on his way to see his daughter's play at school. He had been working weeks straight of LONG days. this gave way to "Brent's Rule" read it here: http://members.aol.com/silsurf/brtext.html I have done 20 hour shoots, worked Grip and Electric, Camera (including steadicam) and many other things and will say that it is tough, very tough.
Sad news. I met him this summer when he was in Chicago doing Batman. He seemed pretty down to earth and was more than happy to sign autographs and take pictures with some of the young Joker fans hanging around near the set. Very sad for his poor baby daughter who will never really know her dad.
Glad Im not the only one who understands ! Not to hijack but I just finished shooting a film where it was 6 day weeks at minimum 14 hrs a day (often up to 18) and on the one day off we worked 12 hrs a day prepping for the next weeks shoot. This went on for 6 weeks. People outside of the business just see what the media feeds them.
probably the stock market crash and the fact that brokeback mountain was gonna be repossessed thru sub prime lending
i understand that people in all industries work hard, if you are away from your family, then in my book that constitutes hard work and sacrifice. but people like actors that make such a gross salary for what it is they do, entertain, its just hard to feel sorry for them. it is a tragedy when anyones life is lost, especially when there is a child involved. seems to me that would be reason enough to clean up. i do hate it for the little girl.
It appears Ledger was dealing with pneumonia so, it may no be suicide. http://www.tmz.com/2008/01/22/heaths-family-he-did-not-kill-himself/#comments I suppose we may never know. But, I find it interesting how quickly people rush to judgment.
If it was a suicide or even an accidental OD OF COURSE the family is going to make something up like pneumonia. having said that it could also be true that he had pneumonia and mixed with a bad cocktail of drugs caused his death. We will never know the actual truth.
How many apparently healthy men in their late 20's in the 21st century drop dead of pneumonia because of drug interaction that also happen to have a maid, and a massage appointment that day. I don't know many physical therapists even that would treat a person with pneumonia unless they were adequately rested and I can't imagine that a masseuse would show up under that condition. For me, that theory won't fly. The result will be interesting, and within minutes the whole thing will be over, he'll be buried, and forgotten.
Can't believe how many idiots on here are rushing to judgment with their "drug use/abuse" comments. Reports are saying he had over the counter sleeping pills and Ambien near him. Yeah, sounds like the typical herion addict several on here are trying to portray him as. I take Ambiens when I'm out of town. I often dread going out of town bcz of how lousy I sleep in hotels. I can't even fathom how f**ked I'd be if I was forced to travel to Austrailia, NYC, London, etc... every single month.
