Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Heath Ledger is Dead
I was going to do a post about the Academy Award nominations, but news released on the same day detailing the death of Australian actor Heath Ledger, 28 years old, just shocked me and no one was talking about the Oscars after that. I mean, this guy had the world in the palm in his hand. More than just a GQ face, Ledger had talent as demonstrated with his Academy Award nominated role in Brokeback Mountain. And perhaps the most anticipated movie this summer, The Dark Knight, has him co-starring as the Joker that had many in the industry buzzing on how good he portrayed Batman's most hated villain. If no one knew who he was before, that movie was about to change that and propel him to superstardom.Unfortunately, he was found dead with sleeping pills and the initial reports indicated it was either an overdose or suicide (no note found). And you may have heard he was found in Mary-Kate Olsen's apartment but that ended up being false as he was found in his own flat.
Notice a trend lately with young actors dying or perhaps on the road to death with their behaviour? Ledger is a different case somewhat, as he never had a reputation of being a "bad boy" or being a drug abuser or whatever to my knowledge. But if you think of the recent death of Brad Renfro at age 25, the rehab visits by Lindsay Lohan and Brittany Spears, Owen Wilson thinking of killing himself...what's going on? I thought we would have learned something from the cocaine-filled 80s that left many behind in their grave with their lives of excess. But these stars seem to hate themselves or something; I'm not sure exactly what it is but it's pretty depressing. Don't we all want to be rich and famous and not have a care in the world to think about?
I thought we did.
# posted by SBP : 10:45 PM
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First off it was sad to hear that another young person has passed on. I will also say that it brings up an interesting subject. I will finally say that b/c of brining up this subject I figure I will be attacked for doing so but my shoulders are broad and back is strong so here goes.
Unfortunately this will never stop happening as ‘people’ with problems like depression, addiction to drugs, booze, fabersha eggs (please tell me you got that reference)…or merely misadventure, will continue to destroy themselves unless they get ‘proper’ help and not pretend rehab or holiday rehab that celebrities go to.
Another issue with celebrities, musicians or athletes is that million dollar salaries allow financial means and connections so an individual can access all sorts of drugs, anytime and in any quantity.
1000s of people younger and older then people like Ledger die every single day. Be it suicide or drug related -not saying he committed suicide- but they are no different if they just got of a set, stage or finished their shift at the office. The only difference is that the ‘average’ person’s death doesn’t make headlines as they are not celebrities, but they are no less important.
A part of this is that just b/c they are a celebrity doesn’t mean that their life is a fulfilling or happy one -Wilson for example. They are still just people and everyone has their own problems no matter how big or small.
When Wilson attempted suicide CNN, among other news stations, stated how shocked they were b/c he seemed like such a happy guy. Why did they think this? Was it b/c he always plays a happy go lucky guy in his movies? Not sure if they realized it but those were characters in a movie not real life. In real life maybe he was just as depressed as the person that lives their life day in and day out with nothing to look forward to and ends up slitting their wrists at home.
Unfortunately this will never stop happening as ‘people’ with problems like depression, addiction to drugs, booze, fabersha eggs (please tell me you got that reference)…or merely misadventure, will continue to destroy themselves unless they get ‘proper’ help and not pretend rehab or holiday rehab that celebrities go to.
Another issue with celebrities, musicians or athletes is that million dollar salaries allow financial means and connections so an individual can access all sorts of drugs, anytime and in any quantity.
1000s of people younger and older then people like Ledger die every single day. Be it suicide or drug related -not saying he committed suicide- but they are no different if they just got of a set, stage or finished their shift at the office. The only difference is that the ‘average’ person’s death doesn’t make headlines as they are not celebrities, but they are no less important.
A part of this is that just b/c they are a celebrity doesn’t mean that their life is a fulfilling or happy one -Wilson for example. They are still just people and everyone has their own problems no matter how big or small.
When Wilson attempted suicide CNN, among other news stations, stated how shocked they were b/c he seemed like such a happy guy. Why did they think this? Was it b/c he always plays a happy go lucky guy in his movies? Not sure if they realized it but those were characters in a movie not real life. In real life maybe he was just as depressed as the person that lives their life day in and day out with nothing to look forward to and ends up slitting their wrists at home.
P.S. I wanted to put at the end of that, that yes it would be nice to not have things to worry about but of course reality sets in and we have to deal with things from time to time.
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