January 23, 2008. We mourned the passing of a talented Australia-born actor - Heath Ledger, aged 28.
The Australia-born actor was found dead Tuesday by his housekeeper and masseuse — lying naked and face-down at the foot of his bed, with prescription sleeping pills nearby. An early autopsy was inconclusive, and more tests are needed to ascertain the cause of death. At the point of this posting, accidental drug overdose can not be ruled out.
If this is a case of accidental overdose; just like my friend said, it is another solid indictment against doctors / pharmacists for being too easily prescribing drugs for just about any ailment without finding out the underlying cause.
[5.2.08 NEW YORK -- The medical examiner has concluded that actor Heath Ledger's death was an accident, and the result of the abuse of prescription medications. The medical examiner of DAE released results of the toxicology report Wednesday, saying Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of six drugs, including pain killers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety drugs. The six drugs found in his system were oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine, the medical examiner's office said]
(Brokeback Mountain,2005)
Anyway, Heath Ledger’s most remembered performance, to me, was his brave role as Ennis Del Mar - a tormented gay cowboy in Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain”; which scored him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in 2006.Set in the scene of 1960s Wyoming, Brokeback Mountain is a story revolves around Ennis. Mumbling, grunting, with his eyes permanently downcast, Ennis was the very picture of a tortured gay soul, unable to come to terms with his all-too-natural attraction for men.
Even after marrying a woman, Ennis continues to have intimate affairs with his secret lover Jack. It is only near the end of his life that Ennis makes peace with himself and realises that Jack is the only one he ever really loved. He then leaves his family and moves into a trailer that’s positioned to look out at Brokeback Mountain, the place where he and Jack fell in love.
Heath Ledger also played a role of a drug addict in “Candy” (2006, picture on the right) as well as an incarnation of Bob Dylan in “I’m Not There” (2007, picture on the left)
To me, the most anticipated role of him is his final finished performance of playing Batman's nemesis, the Joker, in the upcoming "The Dark Knight"- the darkest character he ever played. The Joker was last played in the big screen by Jack Nicholson.
(The Dark Knight, 2008)
Born in Perth, Australia in 1979, his good looks and obvious talent has propelled him to stardom at the age of 20, with initial roles in commercial flicks like “10 Things I Hate About You” and “A Knight’s Tale”. It was only later that he moved towards darker and brooding roles in heavy dramas like Monster’s Ball, Lords of Dogtown and Brokeback Mountain.
(A Knight's Tale,2001)
He was engaged to his Michelle Williams in 2005 and they have a daughter together. But the couple split up last year.
Below shown the chronicle of the big screen movies that Heath Ledger played during his lifetime.
(10 Things I Hate About You, 1999)
(The Patriot, 2000)
(A Knight's Tale, 2001)
(Monster Ball, 2001)
(The Four Feathers, 2002)
(Lord of Dogtown, 2005)
(The Brothers Grimm, 2005)
(Brokeback Mountain, 2005)
(Casanova, 2005)
(Candy, 2006)
(I'm Not There, 2007)
(The Dark Knight, 2008)
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Heath Ledger (1979 - 2008)
