The mysterious death of Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger was often socially awkward and jittery, but when I interviewed him last month for TheEnvelope.com about his role in "I'm Not There," he was really jumpy. Heath scratched and tugged at his skin a lot, rocking back and forth in his seat. At first it seemed like he didn't want to do the chat, then like he didn't want it to end, especially when I told him some juicy dish about what Ang Lee had told me a few days earlier about "Brokeback Mountain." Ang admitted what we all know: that it probably lost best picture, in large part, because of academy homophobia. Heath loved hearing the dish, but when I asked him what he thought about the issue, he jumped back in his seat, covered his head with his arms as if suddenly frightened, and cried out, "Don't make me answer that question!"
Turns out that Ledger may have been so restless and edgy due to chronic loss of sleep. Some observers believe he may have died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills. CLICK HERE to check out an interview Heath gave to the New York Times last November. He confesses to suffering from insomnia and how he'd recently taken Ambien, which didn't work, so he took some more.
Last week Heath was in Australia, then in London this past weekend. When he got back to New York on Monday he may have been in a weakened physical state, suffering from pneumonia. Sounds like he was zapped and in desperate need of sleep.
Unfortunately, our video chat below was highly edited. Sure wish you could see the whole thing.
Oh please, enough with "Brokeback-lost-due-to-homophobia" b.s! How long are you going to repeat this old tired conspiracy theory, when you know it has no value. I know you'd like to think it was the best movie of that year, Mr O-Neill? If that were really the case, please explain awards to Hilary Swank for "Boy's Don't Cry", or nominations for "The Crying Game" and "Gods and Monsters", amongst many others.
If they were homophobic, would have they dared nominate Melissa Etheridge, let alone give her an Oscar?
Posted by: Kuroko | January 27, 2008 at 08:11 AM
remember that this young talented passed away during a writer's strike, his life had a lot of benefits in it ,
i only have seen this guy on screen, and can see he was a very, very talented person.
his fans will miss him dearly, please sir rest in peace...
Posted by: lisa | January 24, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Re:Kate
An earlier version of this entry included the phrase "drug overdose", which was later removed and edited, therefore my comment on the insensitive nature of the remark. Unfortunately, I cannot provided a link to the prior version of the text, but I know it's true.
People of The Envelope, I dare you to post this reply !
Thanks.
Heath, we'll miss you.
Posted by: McGirl | January 24, 2008 at 02:12 AM
U were amazing in every film. Ur death was completly a shock to me, and im sure the rest of the world. U will be remembered.
Posted by: LyNn R | January 23, 2008 at 09:00 PM
Seeing him play characters far beyond his years in Four Feather and then Lords of Dogtown, I recognized a talent that is very rare in actors. Yeah, I was so sad yesterday and remain so. My heart goes out to everyone who loves him--incl. his daughter, who will surely miss her Daddy for a long time.
Posted by: Hope | January 23, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Tom, love 'ya, but you are not a medical professional. You have no idea why Heath was jittery, just that he was. Love you Heath!
Posted by: junior | January 23, 2008 at 11:48 AM
I don't think the article was insensitive. Tom did not say "drug overdose", he said "accidental overdose of sleeping pills". His dipiction of Heath being jumpy was just an observation he made. Please read more carefully and don't go into reading an article with that attitude that all journalists are out to hurt celebrities.
Posted by: Kate | January 23, 2008 at 08:19 AM
how bizarre is going to be when we see him as Joker this summer...RIP
Posted by: Gustavo Z | January 23, 2008 at 05:45 AM
Shame on you, Tom!
The "drug overdose" reference was absolutely uncalled for!!
It is a disgrace some journalists insist on depicting this brilliant young actor's death as the result of an addiction and not as the tragic accident we can assume it was judging from reports.
Tom, you should had been more careful before posting innecesary speculations in the wake of such tragic events.
Heath, you'll alwyas be remembered.
Rest In Peace.
Posted by: McGirl | January 23, 2008 at 03:29 AM
why does he have a clothes pin on his thumb?
Posted by: Steve | January 22, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Wow, Tom. I find your article very insensitive. Shame on you.
Posted by: KB | January 22, 2008 at 08:13 PM
How sad and so preventable!
Heath, I will miss you for the rest of my life!
I thank you for your work, esp. "Brokeback Mountain". To think that you had no role models to emulate. You invented
an unforgettable character!
May God have mercy on us all!
Posted by: AlM | January 22, 2008 at 08:12 PM
This is one of the saddest thing's i've heard in a long time. I am so sad right now, Heath was a very talented actor with a huge future ahead of him.
Posted by: boidiva02 | January 22, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Maybe Heath "jumped back" from the question, because it put him in an embarassing spot. Not everyone feels the need to speculate on the mindset of the Academy. He probably was more interested in talking about his recent work rather than go over old ground about a foolish Academy choice.
Posted by: Brendino | January 22, 2008 at 07:17 PM