Heath Ledger Archives

Here are the first celebrity reactions of Heath Ledger’s death:

“I am just beyond sad at this point and shocked. I was on my way over to pay him a visit when I found out. I had just left him a message and heard his voice on the machine. He was such a special and genuine person, so extraordinarily talented because he was so raw and honest with his feelings. He was so full of life, so electric…. This is immensely sad.” — supermodel Helena Christensen, rumored to have been romantically involved with Heath

“What a tragedy. My heart goes out to his family.” — Nicole Kidman

“I am shocked and very saddened by the news. I deeply respect Heath’s work and always admired his continuing development as an artist. My thoughts are with his family and close friends.” — Cate Blanchett

“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. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.” — Mel Gibson

“He is one of my favorite actors. His abilities are rare…it’s a tremendous loss. It’s hard to be here celebrating Australia under these circumstances.” — John Travolta

“It was with great sadness that I have learned of the passing of Heath Ledger. It is tragic that we have lost one of our nation’s finest actors in the prime of his life. Heath Ledger’s diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the great performances by an Australian actor.” — Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia

“The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. Heath was a brilliant actor and an exceptional person. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.” — Statement by Alan Horn, President and COO of Warner Bros. and Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group

Pictured left: Heath Ledger on the London set of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus on Friday.

Heath Ledger’s family is reeling after learning of the actor’s death from the media today, reports In Touch.

Family friend and private investigator Paul Barresi spoke to Heath’s uncle Neil Bell today. Bell is in his early 60s and was, Heath’s personal assistant, confidante and mentor.

“The last thing that Heath would want to do is throw it all away. He was very happy living in New York, ” Bell told Barresi. “His mother and father (in Australia) heard of his death on the news. We are all devastated. The whole family is devastated over his death, and more so over having to learn of his death from the media.”

Bell recalled, “Ever since Heath was a little boy, all he ever dreamt of was becoming an actor. Heath knew at a very young age that acting was his destiny and purpose.”

A visibly upset Lindsay Lohan wipes a tear from behind her sunglasses as she mourns the death of Heath Ledger on Tuesday in West Hollywood.

La Lohan was seen eating at Le Pain Quotidien cafe earlier in the day but her bodyguard whisked her away before she could comment. Lindsay is rumored to have been dating Heath in December 2007. More Here! »

A rep for Heath Ledger’s family says Heath’s death was accidental.

The cops told the Ledger family that there is no evidence that he may have committed suicide, reports TMZ.

His family says he was not that kind of person to have taken his own life.

Heath was sick with pneumonia when he died today in NY. His autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.

Former fiancee Michelle Williams is currently on a plane en route to NYC.

Heath Ledger has been found dead in his SoHo apartment in New York City.

He was found in his bed by his housekeeper at 3:35 PM ET, reportedly surrounded by pills.

The 28-year-old actor has a 2-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose, with former fiancee Michelle Williams.

Just this past weekend, Heath was in London filming the Terry Gilliam-directed movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. The last pictures of Heath were taken this past Saturday–he was dressed in a clown costume.

The Australian-born actor was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005 for his role as gay cowboy Ennis in Brokeback Mountain. He also finished filming his role as The Joker in the new Batman film, The Dark Knight.

UPDATE 1: According to The New York Times, “At 3:31 p.m., a masseuse arrived at Apartment 5A in the building for an appointment with Mr. Ledger, the police said. The masseuse was let in to the home by a housekeeper, who then knocked on the door of Mr. Ledger’s bedroom. When no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger unconscious. They shook him, but he did not respond. They immediately called the authorities. The police said they did not suspect foul play. Officials said pills were found near the body.”

UPDATE 2: Heath was found in his bed, naked and face down. There were prescription bottles left uncovered near the deceased–prescription sleeping medication.

Heath Ledger slips into a black-and-white clown costume while filming the Terry Gilliam-directed film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in London on Saturday.

Heath and Terry also worked together in 2005’s The Brothers Grimm.

The Brokeback Mountain star is currently dating Aussie model Gemma Ward, according to UK’s The Sun. The pair were recently spotted holding hands at a restaurant in their hometown of Perth, Australia.

The restaurant manager said: “It’s pretty obvious they’re an item.”

Style king Heath Ledger takes stripes to the extreme as he reviews his lines for the the new Terry Gilliam fantasy adventure The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus on Sunday in London.

The 28-year-old actor was seen wearing black-and-red-striped fingerless gloves as well as orange-black-gray-and-white socks over his jeans. Top that off with an oversized purple beanie and purple shoes with orange laces… and you’ve got one striped-crazed Heath Ledger!

Model Lily Cole and 2′8″ costar Verne Troyer were also spotted on set. Heath’s jeans by Ksubi.

10+ pictures inside of Heath Ledger of a different stripe… More Here! »

Which celebrity is the mysterious man behind the mask?

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