RIP Heath Ledger

[ToLiveIsToFly]

So says CNN

[BackInTex]

Wow.

That is all.

[tlynn78]

What a waste of talent. Wow, indeed. I thought he was in ENgland filiming his next movie. WTF?


t.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

AOL is saying it too.

He's got a little girl.

[KillerTomato]

That's a damn shame. The kid had talent.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

TMZ is saying that over the counter sleeping pills were found next to him.

[Bob78164]

According to the New York Times, he was found in Mary-Kate Olsen's apartment. She was in California at the time. --Bob

[silverscreenselect]

I used a spoiler here because this is in extremely poor taste but it's the first thing that popped into my head when I heard this.

Spoiler

I guess the joke's on him.

It is a terrible shame when this happens to someone so young and talented.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

According to the New York Times, he was found in Mary-Kate Olsen's apartment. She was in California at the time. --Bob

TMZ originally reported that he was in her apartment, but then said that he wasn't.

[BackInTex]

I used a spoiler here because this is in extremely poor taste but it's the first thing that popped into my head when I heard this.

Spoiler

I guess the joke's on him.

It is a terrible shame when this happens to someone so young and talented.

I don't get it.

[jaybee]

H.L. played the Joker in the new Batman movie.

[tlynn78]

H.L. played the Joker in the new Batman movie.

Oohh. I didn't get it either. GLad he finished filiming that.
Who the hell offs themselves BEFORE a massage??? After, maybe, but BEFORE?? As I said, WTF??

I suspect he was playing mind games with someone and thought he'd be found sooner, and with a better outcome...


t.

[kayrharris]

He's the same age as my youngest daughter (well, a little bit older, but not much)....anyway, he's very young.

I find it very disturbing that so many "successful" actors/actresses, rock stars, singers, whatever seem to be dying young or in dire straights as far as their lives are concerned. Very disturbing.

Now they're analyzing whether it was the dark role of The Joker that caused him to go into a deep depression. It's possible, but I would think a trained actor could distinguish between his roles and his real life. Maybe I'm totally off base, which wouldn't be the first time. Just trying to sort this all out in my tiny little mind which was formed from a pretty sheltered life.

[BackInTex]

I find it very disturbing that so many "successful" actors/actresses, rock stars, singers, whatever seem to be dying young or in dire straights as far as their lives are concerned. Very disturbing.

Poor parenting, in my book. A good parent will allow their child to get his/her feelings hurt, get bullied (even by a sibling), etc. up to a point of course.

So many people these days, mostly young, grew up protected from emotional stress (no dodgeball, all teams get trophies, you must give everyone a valentine, teachers choose the team, etc.) that when they grow up and have real problems, they lack the emotional strength and tools to deal with it.

My theory, anyway.

Now they're analyzing whether it was the dark role of The Joker that caused him to go into a deep depression.

Nah, if his BBM part didn't cause suicidal thoughts playing the Joker won't.

Somewhere I reade he recently separated. Too bad mon or dad weren't there to make that nasty old wife go back and apologize and quit treating their boy unkindly.

[5LD]

perhaps his wife left him due to drug abuse? or some other issue and his unwillingness to take responsibility. they have a 2 year old daughter.

[Bixby17]

He's the same age as my youngest daughter (well, a little bit older, but not much)....anyway, he's very young.

I find it very disturbing that so many "successful" actors/actresses, rock stars, singers, whatever seem to be dying young or in dire straights as far as their lives are concerned. Very disturbing.

Now they're analyzing whether it was the dark role of The Joker that caused him to go into a deep depression. It's possible, but I would think a trained actor could distinguish between his roles and his real life. Maybe I'm totally off base, which wouldn't be the first time. Just trying to sort this all out in my tiny little mind which was formed from a pretty sheltered life.

I can understand how twisted off things can get.

When I was in Miami for the Super Bowl, it was crazy how the partying got. I was a responsible adult who was driving in an unfamiliar city, so I didn't do much drinking at all. But we were wearing VIP passes to the parties we went to, so people gave us all the alcohol we cared to drink, and I am sure that if we wanted, we could get other stuff. We stayed out until 4 or 5 in the morning every night and it was a really weird life for a long weekend. But there is an ending in sight for that.

I could easily see how it could get really weird for a famous young attractive person. Especially one who has a ton of money and people wanting to party with them and give them stuff.

I didn't do much stupid stuff when I was younger, but I did enough stupid stuff that I wouldn't want my kids to do. I can't imagine what it would be like to go through your young adulthood with few limitations--tons of money, people treat you like a king. When you work, you work really long hours, but when you don't work, you really want to play.

[gsabc]

So which was it, Freddie Prinze or John Belushi? Suicide or self-inflicted?

Either way, what a waste.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Apparently he had pneumonia at the time of his death. I would like to believe that it was accidental.

[tlynn78]

...that when they grow up and have real problems, they lack the emotional strength and tools to deal with it.

My theory, anyway.

I used to think much the same way about suicidal individuals, BiT. Heath Ledger certainly seemed to have all the things to make life easier, more fun, whatever. He certainly didn't have the everyday stressors most of us have. I have to say, though, that in the past five years, I have come to a place where I can understand the allure of suicide. I never 'got', before, how one could fail to look on the bright side, see the glass half full, focus on the positive, etc. I understand a lot better now how sometimes it's simply impossible for some to focus on all that, and only want what feels like peace. Depression is not chic, not a convenient excuse for checking out of responsibility. It's an incredibly insidious illness, and growing so increasingly prevalant, it's scary.

t.

[Beebs52]

...that when they grow up and have real problems, they lack the emotional strength and tools to deal with it.

My theory, anyway.

I used to think much the same way about suicidal individuals, BiT. Heath Ledger certainly seemed to have all the things to make life easier, more fun, whatever. He certainly didn't have the everyday stressors most of us have. I have to say, though, that in the past five years, I have come to a place where I can understand the allure of suicide. I never 'got', before, how one could fail to look on the bright side, see the glass half full, focus on the positive, etc. I understand a lot better now how sometimes it's simply impossible for some to focus on all that, and only want what feels like peace. Depression is not chic, not a convenient excuse for checking out of responsibility. It's an incredibly insidious illness, and growing so increasingly prevalant, it's scary.

t.

Tgirlie, you said it well. It's very easy to pass judgment and compartmentalize things like depression if you've never seen it up close. It's not all a matter of "butch up". Often it's a combination of many things. Doesn't make it any better, righter, whatever.

However, for this whole thread, we don't know for sure what the reason for the cause of death was, so it's all speculation.

[tlynn78]

However, for this whole thread, we don't know for sure what the reason for the cause of death was, so it's all speculation

Very true - I"m just completely (selfishly) bummed. Good thing I have my "A Knight's Tale" dvd. I really liked him, and it's just so sad.

t.

[Beebs52]

However, for this whole thread, we don't know for sure what the reason for the cause of death was, so it's all speculation

Very true - I"m just completely (selfishly) bummed. Good thing I have my "A Knight's Tale" dvd. I really liked him, and it's just so sad.

t.

It's all very sad. He was so young. WTF.

[Rexer25]

...that when they grow up and have real problems, they lack the emotional strength and tools to deal with it.

My theory, anyway.

I used to think much the same way about suicidal individuals, BiT. Heath Ledger certainly seemed to have all the things to make life easier, more fun, whatever. He certainly didn't have the everyday stressors most of us have. I have to say, though, that in the past five years, I have come to a place where I can understand the allure of suicide. I never 'got', before, how one could fail to look on the bright side, see the glass half full, focus on the positive, etc. I understand a lot better now how sometimes it's simply impossible for some to focus on all that, and only want what feels like peace. Depression is not chic, not a convenient excuse for checking out of responsibility. It's an incredibly insidious illness, and growing so increasingly prevalant, it's scary.

t.

t.,

May I have your permission to quote you when someone tells me to cheer up?

Nah, forget it, it's easier to just tell them to piss off.

[tlynn78]

Nah, forget it, it's easier to just tell them to piss off.

You have my permission to tell them to piss off.

or bite me, uh, you - oh, you know.


t.

[T_Bone0806]

A definite shockeroo. The young man had some talent, that's for sure. Hoping it's accidental. If there was no note left behind, it's doubtful anyone'll ever know for sure.