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Hollywood in mourning after death of Heath Ledger
Written by Vince Pettit | Wednesday, January 23, 2008 |
Hollywood is mourning today for actor Heath Ledger who was found dead in his NYC apartment yesterday (22nd January). There has been no further news on how his death came about, other than he was found with sleeping pills next to his body and police are not ruling out suicide. An autopsy is due to take place today.
Ex-Girlfriend Naomi Watts has cancelled all her press appearances for today at the Sundance Film Festival, where her dark comedy Funny Games is set to premiere at midnight. Watts and Ledger dated for nearly two years after meeting on the set of Ned Kelly in 2002.
A spokesperson for Ledger’s ex-fiancée and mother of his two-year-old daughter Matilda, Michelle Williams declined immediate comment, but it is understood that she is devastated by the news.
“We are all deeply saddened and shocked by this accident,” Ledger’s publicist, Mara Buxbaum, said in a statement Tuesday night. “This is an extremely difficult time for his loved ones and we are asking the media to please respect the family’s privacy and avoid speculation until the facts are known.”
“Heath’s family confirms the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda. He was found peacefully asleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30 p.m. U.S. time,” Kim Ledger, the actor’s father, said in a video statement to Australian TV.
“We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well wishes and kind thoughts at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him.
“He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many. Please now respect our families need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately.”
Oscar-winning actor-director Mel Gibson said of Ledger “I had such great hope for him, He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss.”
In 2001, Gibson cast Ledger to play his son in the American war of independence epic, The Patriot.
Fellow Australian actress Nicole Kidman was shocked at the news and gave the simple statement “What a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his family,”
American actor John Travolta, who was in Australia at the time of Ledger’s death, said the young actor had been one of his favourite performers.
“His abilities are rare…it’s a tremendous loss,” said Travolta.
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