Heath Ledger Dead at 28!  − 23 January, 2008

I am a state of total shock – Aussie actor Heath Ledger was found dead in an apartment in New York City yesterday afternoon!
Not that I know him personally or anything, but he would never come up on my radar as someone who would die young – possibly from an accidental overdose. Details seem to be blurry at this point – the initial findings in the autopsy are, so far, inconclusive. He just didn’t seem to live the fast and furious Hollywood lifestyle I would associate with a star who would die young… the other Hollywood folks who met an untimely demise were generally know for risky lifestyle choices, so it wasn’t such a surprise.
But Ledger seemed to be on the straight and narrow – he was good-looking, by all accounts, an excellent actor, devoted father… granted, his recent relationship break-up with his baby-mama Michelle Williams may have played a part, or speaking of parts, apparently his recent role as the Joker in the latest Batman installment, Dark Knight, disturbed him enough that he was having trouble sleeping at night. I don’t know…
I can well imagine that a relatively young man, catapulted unexpectedly to stardom, would have some psychological issues in dealing with fame and fortune. Add a sensitive, artistic nature, the responsibility of fatherhood and the dissolution of a meaningful relationship, and it may have been too much for him to deal with on his own. Perhaps he overdosed from self-medicating his woes. I can’t imagine he would chicken out of real life, especially since he was so enamored of his lovely baby daughter, Matilda Rose.
But again, I don’t know him. I don’t pretend to know his problems. Though I can try to put myself in his shoes, I really have no idea what it is like to be a famous movie star, and all the pressures involved.
I remember watching some sort of show talking about the fact that the big Hollywood folks are really like individual economic structures… they bring in hordes of money through their work, and through that they employ a lot of different people, so there is an army dependent on them for sustenance and when there is a breakdown, a lot of people can lose their jobs. I would certainly feel pressure to support my staff and my lifestyle if it meant other people could feed their families off me. That alone is some serious pressure.
To my (untrained, of course) eye, the situation looks pretty accidental. I can’t imagine a man with such dignity in life would choose to kill himself completely naked in bed. If he was planning suicide, I can’t imagine he would’ve scheduled a massage… on the other hand, that could’ve been his way to make sure his body was discovered relatively quickly post-mortem. I don’t know…
All I do know is that it is a huge loss. A handsome, talented actor, father and someone’s son, friend, family member. My heart goes out to all of those who have been violently affected by his passing – his family and friends. Just another reminder for us to cherish each day we have and that death doesn’t respect fame and fortune – it eventually comes to all of us. Carpe Diem.