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The news of Heath Ledger's sudden death came as a shock. But why should we feel affected by the death of famous people when strangers die every day? Obviously, we feel we know them, and having watched them on screen we have a sense as to what they're like in real life - although obviously, we could be quite wrong. There's also something discomforting about the death of anyone younger than you... and I suppose the older you get, the more that happens.
A lad I used to work with died recently of a brain tumour. He was a fair bit younger than me, probably younger than Heath Ledger, and I know for certain he was one of the nicest guys you could ever have hoped to meet. While remarking on headline deaths, I do feel I should make note of the ones that don't make headlines.
As for Ledger, while most of the obits will no doubt focus on his role in Brokeback Mountain and his upcoming turn as the Joker in Christopher Nolan's Batman sequel The Dark Knight, the performance I most remember him for (and the one that convinced me he was the right choice for Batman's psychotic archnemesis) was his role alongside Matt Damon in Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm. It's a typically whimsical Gillian trip, but Damon - and Ledger in particular - really made it work. He struck me as an actor with a lot of potential, not just another prettyboy movie star.
As with my former colleague, it seems indeed true that only the good die young.
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theme…the song still makes me laugh out loud.
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7 rants and reactions:
It's bizarre. I haven't seen any of this guys films and know very little about him... but the news still shocked me. As you say: why should his death have an effect when the hundreds that die all around us every day usually leave us cold?
I liked him in 10 things I hate about you. But perhaps I shouldn't be admitting that.
Ledger's death is a significant loss for anyone who loves film but hates movies. The man had range, but more than that, he could have gone the way of any number of good-looking actors and do the blockbuster thing. He was fine in the rather underrated "A Knight's Tale". Instead, he did a variety of films. He had the makings of a very fine actor.
I hear that the "God Hates Faggots" church is going to picket his funeral because of his role in "Brokeback Mountain". I hope the Australian contingent at the funeral will conform to stereotype and clobber these "Christians".
Dan - yeah, that was one of the better teen movies.
Dude - I do hope nobody even brings that up... but sadly, I suppose it's inevitable. I was also half expecting a "Curse of Batman / The Joker" thing (along the lines of the old "Curse Of The Superman Movies" that listed Christopher & George Reeves, Richard Pryor, and Margot Kidder's teeth among its casualties) but I couldn't think of anyone else who'd suffered after appearing in a Batflick.
Like Steve,I hadn't really gotten round to noticing Heath Ledger amongst the current crop of young actors. James McAvoy and David Tennant are my favourites and I do hope they have the strength of mind not to get too sucked into the usual cliche of self-destructive behaviour.
However I'm afraid I now have limited sympathy for those who die by their own self-destructiveness, rather than getting proper help for whatever they need help coping with in life. And I have known enough people with such problems to say quite confidently that you can bet behind virtually every prematurely deceased alcoholic/drug addict there's a trail of angels with broken wings who tried to save them, but was pushed firmly away.
I thought Brokeback was rubbish, so I wish they'd stop going on about it. The Grauniad published a particularly sickening piece of fawning about Ledger today, and I can't help but feel that all this hand-wringing is more disrespectful than respectful at this point.
K, I suppose I'd feel that way if it was Josh Hartnett!
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