Perth, Australia, the hometown of Heath Ledger, was the location of first his service (attended by as many as 400 mourners) and then a private funeral. The service was accompanied by an Aboriginal mourning song An eulogy was given by Cate Blanchett and a speech by his sister Kate Ledger. After the private funeral, Heath’s body was cremated. Later, several service attendees including his sister Kate and Michelle Williams (his ex-fiance and mother of his daughter) swam in the ocean in honor.
Ledger died Jan 22nd in New York City of what is now being called an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
Heath Ledger’s apartment, which rents for $25,000/month, is reportedly already back on the market. It’s understandable that the owner has a mortgage to pay, but hopefully they don’t advertise it as his apartment, to profit. Though I can’t imagine too many fans can afford that price. (My guess: some crazy rockstar with a death fetish is going to take it.)
Ledger died in his apartment on Jan 22nd of an accidental overdose due to prescription drug abuse. The U.S. federal government’s DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) will be launching a probe into how he managed to get so many prescription drugs. The common opinion is that more than one doctor (or friend?) would be involved.
Heath Ledger’s funeral has not even taken place but word is that someone is selling photos of his dead body. A single photo is selling for $300,000. That’s truly sickening. It reminds me of the photos of Kurt Cobain’s body. Believe me, if you’ve never seen them, you don’t want to. It’s not the way I want to remember anyone, and I really hope no media organization buys these pics of Ledger.
Heath Ledger’s death has been ruled by the NYC an accidental overdose caused by acute intoxication. There were a combination of as much as six prescription drugs in Ledger’s system - some for anxiety, others for sleeping problems, and one an antihistamine.
Ledger’s family issued a statement about the toxicology report. His ex-fiance Michelle Williams and their daughter Matilda Rose arrived in Perth, Australia for his funeral.
It’s sad enough that we lost such a talent so soon, even sadder that his insomnia/ sleep disorder drove him to this.
Heath Ledger wasn’t doing drugs at the SAG party of 2006. Or so the video that Entertainment Tonight supposedly paid US$200,000 for proves. There’s some speculation that the allegations of him being videotaped doing drugs were rumors started to help ratings in TV Sweeps week, which is coming up. What’s really weird, though, is what Ledger says (or so it seems) in the video: “I used to smoke five joints a day for 20 years.” It makes no sense. I doubt he started when he was barely in grade school.
No sh*t, Sherlock dept: A friend of Jake Gyllenhaal says that he is taking Heath Ledger’s death harder than most people. Uh, duh. Maybe that’s because he was actually a close friend, unlike a lot of other stars that were asked about Ledger? It takes more than a week to get over someone you cared about. Sometimes years or decades. Should he have been partying and making out with someone instead, like Mary-Kate Olsen was supposedly doing?
On top of Ledger’s death, Gyllenhaal also has to deal with criticism about his relationship with Reese Witherspoon - from his mother (Naomi Foner) and ex Kirsten Dunst, no less.
TMZ is saying that Mary-Kate Olsen - who reports say has been out partying and sucking face with someone - will not be questioned regarding Heath Ledger’s death, according to NYPD Commisioner Ray Kelly. There were conflicting reports all over the blogosphere about this. The latest rumor is that had the masseuse bothered to call 911 first, instead of calling Olsen 3-4 times, Ledger might have lived.
This is horrible all around. Either the masseuse is guilty of whatever charge that would be, or someone is starting a very nasty rumor. In the meantime, actress Michelle Williams - the mother of Ledger’s daughter Matilda Rose - is taking some time off of filming her next movie Blue Valentine.
A man posing as Heath Ledger’s father, Kim Ledger, fooled Tom Cruise, the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home, and a number of other people. He managed to talk with Cruise for a while. John Travolta was also contacted but according to his reps, he knew the man was an impostor. Looks as if Cruise didn’t have his superpower ring on.
Daniel Craig, aka the current James Bond, is defending the new Bond 22 movie title, Quantum of Solace, saying that name is important to the plot. [China Daily]
This seems like a month of celebrity passings. Actor Christopher Allport died at age 60 after apparently being trapped in an avalanche. Allport has appeared in numerous movies (TV + theater) and TV shows since 1973. He’ll also appear in 2008’s Garden Party. [EFlux Media via Bitten and Bound]
Linsday Lohan has a $1000/day shopping budget. Must be nice. [Cele|bitchy]
Barry Sonnenfeld won a DGA Awards prize this past Saturday for directing an episode of Pushing Daisies, one of the best new shows on TV. AP says that it’s for “television comedy”, but the show leans more towards dramatic comedy. [AP/Google]
If Johnny Depp does fill in for Heath Ledger in his last film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, there’s apparently a way to make it work. The story has a magic mirror through which ledger’s character falls, and he could change into another character, portrayed by Johnny Depp. It’s being directed by Monty Python alumni Terry Gilliam, and his brand of moviemaking suggests that such a plot device could work.
Ledger had already finished work as The Joker for Batman: The Dark Knight. However, Warner Bros. is unsure of the marketing campaign at this point. This movie is currently scheduled for release on July 18.
It’s being said that Mel Gibson, who played Heath Ledger’s father in The Patriot, had advised Ledger not to take the gay cowboy role in Brokeback Mountain, and that their friendship suffered after that. Gibson had supposedly indicated that Ledger’s career would be ruined by such a role. There are further allegations that Gibson has made homophobic comments several times (though not to Ledger), but his rep denies it.
Ledger, who passed away on Tuesday, will be buried in his native Australia. There will not be a public viewing. The masseuse who found him could be facing charges or jail time because she’s not licensed - a crime in NY state.
In the meantime, Mary-Kate Olsen, who might be questioned by police (depending on whom you ask) about why the masseuse supposedly called her several times before calling 911, has supposedly been partying it up at an NYC club. Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t a normal person NOT party it up three days after the death of a friend? Or maybe it’s her way of coping.
[other sources: NY Daily News, People, US]
