CNN Front Page is reporting that Heath Ledger has been found dead in a Manhattan Apartment.
FOX has now picked it up, police seem to think it may be drug related…
And now TMZ is on the scene saying pills were found all around him.
I’m going to update on the fly as much as possible… this is just terrible news. I really liked Heath.
Update: 2:15pm PST
Evidently he was still filming his new movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in NYC. Details aren’t really out as to whether this was an OD, or whether he had a drug problem. This article seems to indicate, that at least as of 2006, he didn’t have an IV drug use problem… but it’s hard to call this “hard evidence.”
The quote is compelling:
I’m sure drugs and alcohol would inspire new thoughts but it’s certainly not something that I use as a tool or a mechanism to create.
The FOX entertainment reporter is now talking about an interview with Heath he had for Brokeback Mountain where Ledger was drinking. Ummm… okay. That’s a reach in terms of relevance.
TMZ’s latest: The pills found were prescription.
Heath Ledger’s Soho apartment was owned by Mary Kate Olsen?? That’s just odd.
Now they are saying it might have actually been HER apartment…. and the NY Times has confirmed that it actually is her apartment. Wow. She’s in California but he was staying at her place.
The New York Times is saying “signs point to suicide.”
The Mary Kate story has now been refuted. Not sure how that one got started…
TMZ Is now confirming that Ledger had a substance abuse problem that he was trying to kick.
The fire department has confirmed that prescription sleeping pills were found.
Update: 2:45pm PST
CNN has Dr. Drew on the phone… he’s pointing out that prescription sleeping pills would be much more likely to be fatal.
Dr. Drew, who is really good, is pointing out how odd a non-violent suicide from a male is.
CNN is confirming that Heath was dating model Gemma Ward, pictured below:
Update: 3:45pm PST
They are sort of backing off the Ward story (saying he may have been dating her), and mentioned he was dating Lohan at some point.
An autopsy will be conducted on Wednesday.
Many people are coming forward now mentioning how odd Heath could be in interviews… but having conducted a few hundred interviews myself I think I can safely say most people in the business are a little off. It sort of goes with the territory, of existing in such a strange world.
I really hope Heath doesn’t get painted badly here. Yeah, he may have been depressed, but that’s not exactly rare in this day and age.
I mean, anyone who has to talk to strangers all day about their art is either 1) super extroverted or 2) a little sick of it.
Back to the story… Heath was found at 3:27pm EST by his housekeeper. She was waking him up as he had an appointment with a masseuse that had just arrived. He was found in the nude. They called 911 to no avail.
Update: 4:10pm PST
I wanted to wait until someone else thought it… and now Fox has. James Dean. Dean died at the age of 24. He was nominated for two Oscars. Heath was older… and with one Oscar. But he certainly had the sex appeal and talent. I don’t know that it makes sense to compare across generations, they obviously had a ton of differences – but I think people are struggling to put this in context.
My only thought is that we’ve lost a great, great actor. Here’s a nice piece on the range of Heath.
Update: 4:27pm PST
This is totally creepy… Michelle Williams is at Sundance right now promoting a film called Incendiary. The plot?
A woman’s life is torn apart when her husband and infant son are killed in a suicide bombing.
Ugh. My prayers and thoughts go out to this poor woman and her child. What a mess.
Update: 4:47pm PST
I have to tell you, this is the worst headline I’ve seen in quite some time:
Really, guys? Really? I’m as big a Batman fan as there is… but a man, a father no less, died today in tragic circumstances. The fourth paragraph is even worse:
The good news is that The Dark Knight has been shot and wrapped, so the impact of Ledger’s death on the movie will be minimal, other than a pall cast over the film in remembrance of a talented actor.
Umm, no. That’s not the “good news.” There ISN’T good news. You gotta be kidding me. The “impact” will be “minimal???” How can anyone really think that? We’re going to hear about this story for years. It’s going to be impossible to watch the film without thinking about Heath’s death.
Man, the internet is super idiotic at times like these. Even worse than the tele.
Holy Crap. He ODed.
Last person I thought would dead this year.
Very Sad
Holy Crap. He ODed.
Last person I thought would be dead this year.
Very Sad
Very sad. I was super shocked as soon as I saw that when I got online to get my celebrity gossip fix. Did not expect this from him.
The local news here in Indiana just broke in with it. Says he was found in a Manhattan apartment. 28 years old. Same age as my oldest son. How tragic…. I hope it wasn’t drugs.. Britney will be next……
lars—-
are you still praying “hope nobody important dies this week???”
you jynxed it, man!
I’m in shock, can’t belive he is actually dead. It is so tragic, especially thinking of his young daughter.
A huge loss. I won’t speculate like the rest. It could have been accidental. God be with his daughter!
RIP
Wow, I was shocked at this news! I knew Heath had a reputation as a partier, but I thought his ‘fun’ was more along the lines of booze and enjoying life as a ladies man. He was a very talented actor. And a father. I hope Michelle Williams and their child can weather this sad, trying time, as unscathed as one can realistically be in the aftermath of such a personal tragedy.
Upon hearing this news, I immediately thought of River Phoenix–another bright light snuffed out far too soon.
I’m sure that there are those who will quickly focus on this as something Heath brought upon himself. But I won’t go there. Because that’s a myopic view both of the allure of drugs and of the true creative talents that Heath had in this world.
You guys, I’m actually in tears. NOOOOoooooooooooOOOOOooo!!!!!
I don’t think it was a drug-overdose because he was partying. It may have been suicide…perhaps he’s very broken up about his “marriage” ending…he really hasn’t looked good or happy for the past 6 months. I’ve read online that they were over-the-counter sleeping pills…..
Oh Heath………..
I think I am going to go watch “Brokeback” on DVD and bawl my eyes out.
I know the Beet actually met the dude (if only briefly). He and Harrison Ford got mad at her for ruining some outside shot during Hollywood Homocide by asking for an autograph or something to that effect. Anyway, maybe if we shine the Beet logo into the sky we can get her to come off a story with a little levity that doesn’t speak ill of the dead. Then again, that can probably wait.
Okay, turns out I’ve got the wrong actor. Sorry ’bout that folks.
Really sad, especially if it was deliberate. He was quite a talented actor.
It’s always amazing how fortune and fame is not the road to being able to make yourself happy and content.
wow…this really is so shocking and sad. :(
I met Heath briefly at a SAG screening for Brokeback Mountain. He was such a talented actor…very devoted to his craft and very soft spoken.
I don’t think he ever wanted the media attention that he got. I think he just wanted to be an “actor” not a celebrity and be left alone.
I send all of my good wishes to his family, friends and daughter.
Like many young actors he has died way to young and I hope that is a wakeup call for the young Hollywood set today.
what a loss. :(
i was shocked, i really liked Heath. very sad :(
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I cried a little, checked about a thousand gossip websites, yahoo and everything I could and still I’m hoping that tomorrow I’ll find a photograph of him going out of a restaurant and everybody will be feeling stupid because they thought him death….
I’ll always have a crush on him, I’ll always love him as an actor, I’ll buy every single movie he made I mean it!!
I’m so sad, shocked and ooooh no his daughter, so selfish of me thinking of my shock, hope she will remember the time they spent together…
so young, so talentes, what a loss I’ll always love him!!
this is really sad!
God rest his soul in peace liked him too.
god i’m so shocked. it’s terrible.
This is horrible. His poor little girl…
I just can’t believe it. First Brad, now Heath. January has really SUCKED! My heart goes out to Michelle & Matilda. So sad. RIP.
Anyone else remember him hanging out w/ Leggings Lohan not too long ago? Hmmmmmmmmmm
:( This is so sad. The last thing i expected to hear when I woke up this morning is that Heath Ledger had died.
I dont even know what to say, I hope he is in a better place now and my thoughts are with his family.
Rest In Peace xoxo xxxx
I finally saw Broke Back Mountain last wkend. RIP pimp(I’m Jewish what do I know about pimping?) lol too much hanging with my homies from Central Park East.
i live around the corner from michelle williams. I can’t believe he’s leaving behing a 2 year old. just awful.
i live around the corner from michelle williams. I can’t believe he’s leaving behind a 2 year old. just awful.
You are a pathetic moron, and have used Heath in more ways than any media outlet ever has. If anyone who reads this looks back at the ways Heath was portrayed on this sight, they would never read another word of trash this complete as.s has to say about anything.
Did you take out the part of your last blog that talked about hoping no one died? I think you’re cursed.
No, seriously.
I really hope it wasn’t a suicide… a day after blue monday. It’s so sad either way and so unexpected.
I can’t believe you use Fox News aka Fixed News aka Fox Noise as a creditable news source EB.
I’m a paramedic and deal with death all the time. I’m genuinely sorry for this man’s family and friends (and even fans), and their loss… but I personally didn’t know him. Therefore, I do see the fact that Batman won’t be affected to be “good news”, and have to defend those “internet idiots” who feel that way. Fact: Many of us won’t miss Ledger per se, but we would have missed Batman.
That said, my heart goes out to those who actually DID know him, and to those who will miss him.
And as for those who could barely name a movie he’d been in before yesterday, and are now suddenly in grieving over his death: you’re a bunch of hyper-dramatic retards.
as shocking as it was to first see the news of his death i immediately thought of lars’ comment on how he hopes to god noone famous dies this week, creepy
do you really have to report on any shady ass news thing you hear? i mean, you actually believed the olsen shit? seriously.
i love this site the way it is. here’s to beet cutting her vacation short.
i’m gonna go continue frowning about the world killing off my (late) teen crushes.
I never leave comments but I just had to after this. Who the fuck cares what’s happening with Batman! It is a MOVIE!!! Someone just lost their life and left behind a two year old child who will now not even remeber having a father at all and this is what they focus on? Disgusting.
Dear Jamie,
The NY Times was the original source behind the Olsen thing… and as they are pretty much the most respected newspaper in the country I didn’t think they would print something for kicks. Writing in a real time situation isn’t ideal, and occasionally things get reported that I don’t believe but am nonetheless obligated to mention.
When they retracted it I wrote about that too.
Sorry if that didn’t gibe with your sensibilities. But I wish you much love regardless.
Um yeah, and Bossip is ridiculous too but don’t even go to that URL so they don’t get hits. Their headline is â€IN WHITE FOLKS NEWS: HEATH LEDGER DIES FROM ROCKS!†(implying crack/cocaine overdose which I don’t know where the hell they get their facts from.) They cross the line on a regular basis. EB, you should take them off your list of cohorts. They totally suck. I swear to God, Evil Beet is the only website like this that I go to because it’s clever as hell. Fuck all the other bullshit. R.I.P Heath!!!xoxo
So sad. I like this guy very much. but….. what a pity!! God Bless Him. A few days ago, It seems that I saw his profile on http://www.militarysoulmate.com . I dont think he wanna date with military. fuck….
LoveYouForever!!! Maybe you are right, I saw his profile on that site. but I hope you can remove your post. Im so sad now.