h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was saddened to hear that actor Heath Ledger has died. Only age 28. It reminds me of River Phoenix dying so very young. They were both so talented. Great actors seem like real friends, even if we never get to meet them, because they bare their soul on screen. Rest in peace, gentlemen.

This news has shocked me more than I'd have expected.

I've never heard anyone say a bad word about Heath Ledger - which, in a country where successful people tend to be denigrated, speaks volumes.

Hi Ivan. *waves*

Yes, it shocked me too when I heard it on the radio while driving.

I sincerely hope it was a mix-up with medication, and not a deliberate decision...

Yes.

Feel sorry for his family and little girl.

There's a lot of public comment about Heath Ledger here and there online, and about 5% of it seems to be writing him off as some sort of junkie. Aren't people vile? It was Prescription Medication, for crying out loud. He'd had pneumonia. He wasn't 100% healthy. Anything could have happened. Why the blazes won't these pinheads wait for the coroner's verdict before hurling abuse?





(Sorry...)

oh my. I hadn't heard that.



I thought he had a lot to offer.

No need to say sorry. Yup, I hesitated to make this a journal entry at all, since it might attract that pinhead element. But sharing sadness, even sadness of someone you didn't know personally, seems the humane thing to do.

I couldn't agree more.

Hi Sho, hun, good to see you.

good to see you too
sorry it's under such sad circumstances

I hadn't realised he wasn't yet 30

It always peeves me when young actors don't win Oscars they deserve, because "Hey, they're young, they can always win later." Ledger really should have won for Brokeback Mountain. But I guess that's a shallow concern, I'm sure his friends and family just want him back.

Shocking, I was quite upset when the ticker announcement told me the news last night, he's the same age as my second daughter, I enjoyed his work and I still can't quite believe it. I hope Hollywood honours his memory with a honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement.

for his child and for his family

I must admit to being shocked when I read this journal, I hadn't heard of his death.

It is so sad that we have lost someone who had proven himself to be an extremely fine and talented actor.

As cause of death hasn't been confirmed yet, as in, was it suicide or accident, I'll refrain from comment on this 'incident' but I'm finding it very difficult to have sympathy with any so called stars in general who all seem to have fame and fortune yet behave in a manner that frankly beggars belief at times.
So much for being role models, when you look at the Pete Doherty, Amy Winehouse, Kate Moss escapades, to name just a few. It isn't just film or pop stars either, sports people are equally as bad. They're either very badly managed, poorly educated or just easily led into behaving badly. Whatever the reasons, they get too much publicity and not enough punishment. If "the man in the street" gets caught on film using illegal drugs he's banged up in jail so fast their feet barely touch the ground. Why should it be any different for "stars"?

So you're withholding judgement...while simultaneously making a link between Heath Ledger and misbehaving stars? I'll admit I share some cynicism about the use of the mysterious term 'prescription drugs' - but c'mon - you can't have it both ways.

And incidentally...I rate Pete Doherty. For all his failings, he has a remarkable gift for language, and especially the *sound* of language. Here's hoping he cleans himself up.

With all due respect Edward, you've made the link in relation to Heath Legder in my post not me. Where have I said he misbehaved in any way, shape or form? Can I suggest you re-read what I said.
As for Doherty, I can't think of a worse example of the excess's of bad and illegal behaviour.

I do apologise. Your comment on Heath Ledger followed by one on misbehaving stars was a non sequitur, then, rather than a link. What else shall we talk about? Topology? Kangaroos?

Christopher Marlowe. Ben Jonson, Dr. Johnson, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Nerval, Mallarme, Rimbaud, Hemingway, Byron, de Quincey, Keats, Shelley, Ginsberg, Kerouac, Dylan Thomas, and many many others. Drugs and/or booze.

Drugs are more easily available in there, so Lock 'Em All Up in our already overcrowded prisons, I say. Right on bro'! Good thinking there!

Especially sensitive as a posting on a thread about someone's sudden death.

A posting like that, and a chosen name like that, tell us volumes about you, my friend.

Jab