Heath Ledger found dead

By Alexandra Heilbron on January 22, 2008 | 50 Comments


Heath Ledger dead at 28Heath Ledger, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in null, was found dead in a New York City apartment today at 421 Broome Street in Soho, according to the NYPD. A masseuse arrived at the building for an appointment with Ledger, 28, and got no answer. She called the housekeeper who opened up the bedroom and found Ledger unconscious at approximately 3:30 p.m. Police say they don’t suspect foul play. Pills were found near his body and attempts to resuscitate him failed. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Ledger has a two-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose, with his former fiancée (and Brokeback co-star), Michelle Williams. To watch his last interview with Tribute, click here.

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Comments & Discussion

  1. Mike Oxbig • January 22, 2008 @ 6:03 PM

    I cant believe it….he will be dearly missed:(

  2. Stephanie D. • January 22, 2008 @ 6:10 PM

    omg…may you rest in peace heath!

  3. 2legit2quite • January 22, 2008 @ 6:20 PM

    Good news is that there wont’ be a brokeback mountain sequel.

  4. Anonymous • January 22, 2008 @ 6:32 PM

    OMG. What a shock. Rest in peace Heath.

  5. Leanne Starkes • January 22, 2008 @ 6:33 PM

    OMG! I cannot believe this, he was such an amazing actor. I’m totally shocked, his poor little girl.

  6. Yoohooters • January 22, 2008 @ 6:36 PM

    I had watched the Batman preview like 30 times and couldn’t WAIT to see his performance. 🙁 Was it one of his last?!?

  7. ZH • January 22, 2008 @ 5:36 PM

    RIP Heath Ledger

  8. Anonymous • January 22, 2008 @ 5:43 PM

    OMG… RIP Heath… amazing young talent… will be dearly missed…

  9. MJJ • January 22, 2008 @ 5:51 PM

    Deeply sad and in shock by this news! Heath Ledger was such a good actor. What a young talent actor. Tradegy 🙁

  10. Joshua • January 22, 2008 @ 5:52 PM

    He was an amazing actor and will be sadly missed.. Let us try to remember how we love him..not how he died. And p.s. 2legit2quite, your jerk.

  11. carol6363 • January 22, 2008 @ 6:13 PM

    So sad to lose someone this young with so much going for him. RIP

  12. jay • January 22, 2008 @ 7:02 PM

    R.I.P Heath Ledger

  13. Chris • January 22, 2008 @ 7:19 PM

    This cant be true, why….?…..everyones talking about his amazing potrayal of the joker in the next batman….now its just gonna be sad to see his last performace be his best. James Dean anyone?

    R.I.P Heath, you were an amazing actor

  14. n.v • January 22, 2008 @ 7:38 PM

    i hope they continue that batman movie with him still as the joker, cause it would suck if they bring in someone new but other than that heath was such an amazing actor…gunna miss that man…

  15. Karen • January 22, 2008 @ 8:20 PM

    JFC what is wrong with Hollywood? If its not the DUI’s, its the overdoses! These people have it all and if they didn’t want it, they should have let go, a long time ago. Yes, granted, he was a good actor but what possesses a person to try all that stupid shit??? Honestly, now…

  16. Taryn • January 22, 2008 @ 8:26 PM

    It’s so sad to see someone so young and talented go. RIP Heath.

  17. scottie • January 22, 2008 @ 8:36 PM

    u will missed

  18. Anonymous • January 22, 2008 @ 8:39 PM

    RIP Heath, and God bless. Thank you for all the entertainment you gave us, you will be dearly missed.

  19. Adam B • January 22, 2008 @ 8:53 PM

    Will be dearly missed. An amazing talent. RIP

  20. Adam B • January 22, 2008 @ 8:55 PM

    RIP Will be dearly missed. Pray for his family
    2legit2quite: you jerk

  21. Adam B • January 22, 2008 @ 8:55 PM

    RIP Will be dearly missed. Pray for his family

  22. josh • January 22, 2008 @ 9:03 PM

    RIP heath you will be sorely missed you were one of hollywood’s best and brightest my condolances to your family

  23. *** • January 22, 2008 @ 10:07 PM

    i am really shocked from this news! he’s one of the finest actors of hollywood RIP

  24. Maria • January 22, 2008 @ 10:31 PM

    He was an amaing actor and he will be missed..he was talented and looked like he was on his way up. I saw clips of the Dark Knight movie of Heath potraying the JoKeR and he looked sick and compelling. Its really sad to see such a talent person die so suddenly and go so soon.

    But was it just me or did anyone notice he really looked under weather lately. He was private, but the few photos I saw of him he looked really tired, sick and depressed.

    My thoughts go out to his daughter who will not know her father and the family:( RIP Heath gone 2 soon!

  25. Anonymous • January 22, 2008 @ 10:36 PM

    r.i.p. hun

  26. bob • January 23, 2008 @ 12:05 AM

    wow good actor , he was awesome in the patriot . sad good actor . rip

  27. Anonymous • January 23, 2008 @ 12:59 AM

    As much as I’d like to share one of these RIP sentiments, all I can think is “what a waste of a life”.

    WHEN IS THIS MADNESS GOING TO STOP? The list gets longer and longer every year.

    Heath Ledger
    River Phoenix
    Chris Farley
    John Belushi

    The list goes on, and on, and on and yet none of them believed it could happen to them. These people were not superhuman but they were given amazing gifts with their talent and yet they threw it away.

    The worst part is still to come. All the tabloids will sensationalize his death and speculate as to why it happened. They will dig up whatever morsels they can, true or not, and these pieces of publicized trash will be something his daughter will have to live with for the rest of her life.

    The whole thing is sad, really sad.

  28. leonapeters • January 23, 2008 @ 1:13 AM

    i’m shocked and saddened for the people who were closest to heath. it is speculation right now whether drugs r involved and i am hoping this is not the case. if so another sad testimony to these young people who get sucked into the whole hollywood world where all believe they r above ordinary people due to wealth and availibilty to too much excess. another tabloid story that will make me want to question why? if u r given every thing and u r still not happy get help.

  29. anonymous2 • January 23, 2008 @ 4:12 AM

    It’s so sad.He was a brilliant actor.

  30. 2legit2quite • January 23, 2008 @ 9:33 AM

    Adam B, don’t get upset, the freak show isn’t over yet.

  31. Rickster • January 23, 2008 @ 9:58 AM

    Sad, so sad to see him go. What is it with young talent, not limited to the movies either. To add to anonymous’ list, entertainers who have lost their lives at the same age or around:

    Kurt Cobain (27)
    Jim Morrison (27)
    Brad Renfro (25)
    Janice Joplin (27)

    now Heath Ledger (28)

    I just turned 30 and it amazes me that this happens. They haven’t even begun to enjoy life.

    Tragic day.

    RIP Heath, best wishes to your family.

  32. 2legit2quite • January 23, 2008 @ 10:11 AM

    to add to the list:

    Joe (24)
    Marry (26)
    Dick (22)
    Sam (27)

    and about a gazillion other 20 somethigns that have lost their lives over the years.

    Heath was just another person with problems.. just because he was a celeb shouldn’t make his death any more shocking.

  33. hawaiianlover • January 23, 2008 @ 12:30 PM

    Heath was an amazing actor and will be truely missed.
    Let God be with his family and friends.
    Hollywood has lost a great sensation.
    Heath may you rest in peace.
    whoever you may have touched in your life, you will be missed by them and they will remember your life, not how you died.

  34. MD • January 23, 2008 @ 2:12 PM

    He was an amazing actor and seemed like a great guy. I was so shocked to hear the news! To me I feel like it’s unbelievable because he had so much talent and I didn’t expect this. And I was anticipating his performance as the joker this year. I am still shocked by the news, Hollywood has definitely lost a sensation. R.I.P. Heath Ledger, may prayers and thoughts go out to you and your family.

    : ‘ (

  35. Adam B • January 23, 2008 @ 5:46 PM

    Sorry 2legit2quite

    RIP Heath

    God bless

  36. eegii • January 23, 2008 @ 6:29 PM

    i think he died because of overdose!Sad but true!

  37. Anonymous • January 24, 2008 @ 12:42 AM

    If its a drug overdose it doesn’t automatically make it a suicide. Chances are it was an accident. Heath began taking sleeping pills during the filming of The Dark Knight and mentioned that he still wasn’t getting enough sleep. He probably took more than he could handle. The sad part is that his role as The Joker may have actually lead to his untimely death. RIP Heath

  38. scott • January 24, 2008 @ 1:19 AM

    they say sleeping pills were found maybe it was just an accident, Heath was qouted saying playing the joker in the new Batman (Dark Knight)movie made it very difficult to sleep.

    Know after toxicology test.

    R.I.P Heath.

  39. tams • January 24, 2008 @ 1:34 AM

    I am so deeply saddened by Heath’s death. I so hope that the media will do him justice. The media spent HOW MUCH TIME ON NICOLE SMITH’S DEATH….for what reason???????

    Here is a truely amazing actor whose life was cut short.

    I just finished watching Nancy Grace totally flip out on some reporter cause he was trying to downplay all the spectulation surrounding this horrible tragedy. Nancy got so defensive, why cause this reporter had just called her on what was said.

    Bottom line and this is for all organizations that represent the “MEDIA”….. PLEASE GIVE HEATH AND HIS LOVED ONES THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE. This wasn’t someone who lived for the LIME LIGHT…he was totally an amazing actor, father, friend and human being.

  40. Charlene • January 24, 2008 @ 1:54 AM

    It is a great tradgey. I am appalled at a few comments previous. About the sequel of Broke Back Mountain. What insesitive thing to say, especially a day after the actor’s death. There are members of his family and close friends who have lost a father, son, friend.

  41. tams • January 24, 2008 @ 2:54 AM

    I agree Charlene…2legit2quite you are obviously an insensitive person who does not understand the true meaning of Brokeback Mountain. Your comment proves that.

  42. DONNA • January 24, 2008 @ 5:30 AM

    Ican not understand that such a good actor AS he Could let the pressure of the media make him break down A very great lost to everyone

  43. Anonymous • January 24, 2008 @ 8:57 AM

    2legit2quite: you’re an idiot.

  44. 2legit2quite • January 24, 2008 @ 9:33 AM

    Just because a celeb dies doens’t mean the workd has to stop.

    Anonymous ^^^ are you upset because a close friend passed or because you live vicariously through celebrities?

  45. Anonymous • January 24, 2008 @ 11:18 AM

    I’m not upset, sad that another tragedy has happened, yes, but not what you would call upset. The world hasn’t “stopped” because Heath died, in case you hadn’t noticed, he had a huge fan base, all of whom are sad at his passing, but they haven’t “stopped”. If anything, I would say that YOU are upset because I called you an idiot. And the plain truth is, you ARE an idiot.
    What is your name supposed to mean, anyway? 2legit2quite? 2 “quite” what? did you mean to put in 2legit2quit? You are a total moron.

  46. Rickster • January 24, 2008 @ 3:43 PM

    Please Hammer, don’t hurt ’em!!!!!! 2legit, get out of the 90’s and get a real F’n handle.

    You are an A$$.

    And please, go ahead, make fun all you want…

    Bottom line, good actor, unneccessarily gone, either by accident or on purpose, should not be made light of.

    Anyone you are close to pass away recently? didn’t think so.

    Get your head out of your A$$ and think for a minute. Whether he was famous or not, he is gone and death is a sensitive subject. He had a lot of fans who truely will miss him, so why not keep your F’n thoughts to yourself and let the fans have their say.

    Rickster out.

  47. kula • January 27, 2008 @ 7:43 PM

    actually he was such a good actor ,and i do pray that his family ,friends and love will be able to handle his death situation ,and may his soul rest in perfect peace.

  48. tributegirl • January 29, 2008 @ 6:03 PM

    Thanks, Rickster, I think you told 2legit exactly what we’ve all been wanting to say!

  49. LOLA • August 29, 2008 @ 4:27 PM

    To his girlfriend and little girl I’m so sorry for your lose your in my thoughts and my prayers.
    Heath so bad to lose such a young talent RIP Heath.

  50. Lola • August 29, 2008 @ 9:10 PM

    To Heath Ledgers Family,
    I’m so very sorry for your great lose I hope you are able to greive in peace my prayers are with you all.
    To his girlfriend and little girl Matilda you had a great Dad you can be proud of Him and he LOVED you very much.
    Lola. xo


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