The premature death of Heath Ledger on the 22nd January 2008 has left an impression upon many people’s minds. It has been a topic that has flared into discussions as to why we feel such empathy towards Ledger and most importantly what this shock has done to put our own mortality into perspective.
On the day that the 2007 Oscar nominations were announced Heath Ledger was found dead in his Manhattan apartment at the tragic age of 28. Ledger was found by his masseuse laid face down on his bed cold and naked. It is still unsure as to what the cause of death is, as reports from the toxicologists are due back in a matter of days. However, the New York Police Department announced that prescription sleeping pills were found in the vicinity as Ledger was apparently suffering from extreme insomnia prior to his death. Ledger’s family announced his death as “the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda, who was found in a peaceful sleep in his New York apartment”. Yet there was no indication in Ledger’s apartment as to whether he took his own life, accidentally overdosed or whether he died of natural causes.
Heath Ledger has starred in many distinguished Hollywood films such as teen flick 10 Things I Hate About You and the Oscar-winning Brokeback Mountain. In Brokeback Mountain Ledger starred as a homosexual cowboy who has a secret love affair with Jack Twist, who was played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Ledger performance was unforgettable and innovative. He was one half of the first onscreen gay romance in which his character in the film, Ennis, helped to break down the cultural barriers within Hollywood as a minority continue to feel ambivalent towards homosexuality.
Ledger put not only his acting skills into his roles but also emotion and meaning. His onscreen performances have wrenched the hearts of viewers all across the world and no one can deny that Brokeback Mountain didn’t bring a tear to their eye. Ledger’s death is not just the death of an actor, but the death of a young artist who we identified with not only because of his age but also because of his poignant performances.
People continue to question why Ledger is increasingly gaining heroic status which can be likened to that of James Dean and River Phoenix. Ledger may have kept his personal life private and did not appear to have any obvious narcotic problems or an affinity for fast cars; but is this not a reason to recognise the ordinary, reputable and humble people more when they pass away? One must acknowledge that Ledger was a household name and the big screen allows us to become involved with not only the narrative, but also with the actor. Regardless of how distant a love affair between two American cowboys may seem to us as students in Edinburgh, the inner turmoil and the deep love that Ledger and Gyllenhaal displayed on the big screen penetrated us.
The most central issue, however, that has caused our fixation with Ledger’s untimely death is because it simply has reminded us of our own mortality. Like the students of Edinburgh University, Ledger was in the prime of his life, extremely talented and had a successful career ahead of him. This was unfortunately taken away by a premature death that has led to the consensus that a life has been wasted. It is not only tragic that someone so young and successful has dies, but the daunting reminder that one day we will die too. As the director of Brokeback Mountain Ang Lee stated: Ledgers’ death is “heartbreaking”.
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