Actor Heath Ledger was found dead today in a Manhattan apartment from an apparent drug related suicide. According to police, Ledger was found naked and unconscious next to a pile of prescription medication by his masseuse. Initial reports erroneously claimed the apartment to be owned by Mary-Kate Olsen, until it was discovered that the pills in question were not for dieting. Ledger was 28 years old.
The actor was in the process of filming Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Gilliam’s productions are notoriously problematic, leading some to go as far as to say the director is cursed. Disagreements with studio heads, financial problems, injury and even acts of god have all plagued Gilliam films in the past. Now death can be added to that list.
This is ironic considering the pictures of Ledger on the set of Parnassus that circulated the web a few weeks back. Misleading headlines such as Heath Ledger Hangs Himself prompted mild outrage within the blogosphere. If you ask me, so called journalists should be more responsible.
UPDATE:
A rep for the Ledger family is saying that the death was accidental, and if you ask me, I’d be inclined to agree. You don’t get all naked and call for a masseuse if you are planning on killing yourself. More info HERE.
