R.I.P. Heath Ledger 1979-2008

January 23, 2008

Australian-born actor Heath Ledger, 28, was found dead in his SoHo apartment yesterday, naked in his bed. As of this writing, his autopsy has yet to be performed, but as mediainfo.com first pointed out yesterday that has not stopped mainstream media outlets from running trumped up stories, full of errors and inconsistencies.

When news of Heath's death first broke, it was widely reported that he was found dead in an apartment belonging to Mary-Kate Olsen. However, New York City police have since revealed that initial information was incorrect. According to police, a housekeeper found Heath unresponsive, in his bed, at approximately 3:26 p.m. yesterday.

A simple mistake by the media? Perhaps, but as soon as it was reveled that sleeping pills were found near his body the media once again went hog wild and began reporting Heath might have died as a result of suicide or drug overdose. Never mind the fact that in a recent interview he admitted to taking sleeping pills to help him fall asleep.

"Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," Heath said in an interview with the NY Times. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going."

Also forget the fact that, according to family members, he was ill with pneumonia when he died. But there again, pneumonia does not make for the same catchy headline that suicide does.

According to TMZ.com, Heath's family is angry by the speculation that he committed suicide. The website reports:

"TMZ has been contacted by a rep from Heath's family. The cops told the family Heath's death was accidental and there is no evidence to support the buzz that he may have committed suicide. They are particularly distraught over media reports that he may have taken his own life. The family says he was not that kind of person."

Heath's father also referred to his son's death as an accident in an interview with news.com.au yesterday.

"We, Heath's family can confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda," his father said. "He was down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving, unselfish, individual (and) extremely inspirational to many."

Interestingly enough, Heath touched upon the subject of his death in two recent interviews. Heath told Fox News he felt "good about dying" because he would be able to live on through his two-year-old daughter.

"I think you also look at death differently," he said. "It's like a Catch-22 - I feel good about dying now because I feel like I'm alive in her. But at the same time you don't want to die because you want to be around for the rest of her life. It's kind of like an interesting kind of little set up."

Heath also spoke of death in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph.

"When I die, my money's not gonna come with me," he said. "My movies will live on - for people to judge what I was as a person. I just want to stay curious."

Heath's autopsy is to be conducted sometime today. In the mean time, those in the media who have added fuel to the rumor mill fire should be ashamed.