Heath Ledger is dead

[strandinthewind]

What the fukc kind of crazy shiitte is this :confused:

January 22, 2008, 4:42 pm

Actor Heath Ledger Is Found Dead

By Sewell Chan

The actor Heath Ledger was found dead this afternoon in an apartment building at 421 Broome Street in SoHo, according to the New York City police. Mr. Ledger was 28.
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 and said they found pills near body.
Mr. Ledger, a native of Australia, won acclaim for his role as a co-star in “Brokeback Mountain”, a 2005 film. The film, based on a novel by Larry McMurtry about two cowboys who fall in love, won critical acclaim. Reviewing the film in The New York Times, the critic Stephen Holden wrote, “Mr. Ledger magically and mysteriously disappears beneath the skin of his lean, sinewy character. It is a great screen performance, as good as the best of Marlon Brando and Sean Penn.”

Thomas J. Lueck contributed reporting.

www.nytimes.com

[mikeschmike]

holy sh*t! :distress:

[JazmenFlowers]

crickey! he has a small child, no? that's awful.

[carrie721]

WHAT?!?!?!

jesus. i just watched brokeback again the other night. wtf.

[Sarah]

O_O

holy crap!

[GODDESS6]

holy **** is all i can say~he was a wonderful actor:(~

[strandinthewind]

holy **** is all i can say~he was a wonderful actor:(~

I agree. Also, I remember hearing that he had a serious drug problem and that it caused problems with his relationship with Michelle Williams. Also, I saw a few really bad pics of him last year.

Just so sad.

[#1LiddyBuckFan]

I'm in shock! So much going for him and his little girl...:(

[danax6]

I just read about this. That's... :distress:

[CelticGypsy]

I am shocked and sadded. He was a very talented young man. So sad:(

[Steviefan49]

I'm in shock! So much going for him and his little girl...:(

OMG.. I just was told about this, and am in total shock! I SOOO agree that he had SO much going for him.. and he has his little year old daughter, Matilda. What a sad day...:shocked::(

[SuzeQuze]

What the fukc kind of crazy shiitte is this :confused:

January 22, 2008, 4:42 pm

Actor Heath Ledger Is Found Dead

By Sewell Chan

The actor Heath Ledger was found dead this afternoon in an apartment building at 421 Broome Street in SoHo, according to the New York City police. Mr. Ledger was 28.
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 and said they found pills near body.
Mr. Ledger, a native of Australia, won acclaim for his role as a co-star in “Brokeback Mountain”, a 2005 film. The film, based on a novel by Larry McMurtry about two cowboys who fall in love, won critical acclaim. Reviewing the film in The New York Times, the critic Stephen Holden wrote, “Mr. Ledger magically and mysteriously disappears beneath the skin of his lean, sinewy character. It is a great screen performance, as good as the best of Marlon Brando and Sean Penn.”

Thomas J. Lueck contributed reporting.

www.nytimes.com

I just saw this on Yahoo news and couldn't believe my eyes. It is shocking and I thought I was too jaded for anything Hollywood to shock me. He was so dreamy in A Knight's Tale, I had a huge crush on him. RIP Heath. :angel:

[darklinensuit]

I don't believe I have ever seen any of his movies, but there is no ignoring his reputation as a great actor at such a young age. So sad for the family. The whole drug thing (if that is indeed the cause) gives flashbacks of River Phoenix's death, and too many others.

- Jake

[MacMan]

I don't believe I have ever seen any of his movies, but there is no ignoring his reputation as a great actor at such a young age. So sad for the family. The whole drug thing (if that is indeed the cause) gives flashbacks of River Phoenix's death, and too many others.

- Jake


I've only seen two of his, I think... Broke Back and Casanova... Both great films. It's really too bad!

[GardenStateGirlie]

i'm wondering if this won't be ruled an accidental overdose. it's kind of seeming as though it is. absolutely horrible.

[gretchen]

Just terrible. He was a fabulous actor. I feel so bad for his little girl and all who loved him. :distress::distress:

[DrummerDeanna]

^^

Police are saying it's a possible suicide :distress:

It's very shocking and sad.

[rbs3676]

2 bottles of sleeping pills were found. One of them Ambien, another an over-the counter brand.

Really sad. He was a great actor, a handsome guy and way too young to go.

rbs

[darklinensuit]

^^

Police are saying it's a possible suicide :distress:

It's very shocking and sad.

Now flashbacks to Owen Wilson.:distress:

- Jake

[SuzeQuze]

Now flashbacks to Owen Wilson.:distress:

- Jake

Yeah we're lucky he survived. I just can't believe Heath did not. So incredibly sad. :(

[strandinthewind]

No illegal drugs were found and there was no evidence he had been drinking. So, that weighs against any addict behaviour. There, were, however, the sleeping pills, but no evidence he took too many. It also is reported that he had pneumonia.
__________________________________________________

January 22, 2008

Heath Ledger, Actor, Is Found Dead at 28

By JOHN SULLIVAN and SEWELL CHAN

The actor Heath Ledger was found dead in a Manhattan apartment on Tuesday afternoon, the New York City police said.

The police said Mr. Ledger, 28, was discovered facedown in bed in an apartment at 421 Broome Street in SoHo. Police officials said that a bottle of prescription sleeping pills were found on a nearby night table, but that they did not know whether they played a role in Mr. Ledger’s death.

Mr. Ledger, the star of “Brokeback Mountain” and other films, was discovered by a housekeeper and a masseuse, the police said. The housekeeper had been in the apartment for some time before Mr. Ledger’s body was discovered, and she let the masseuse in when she at the apartment for a 3:31 p.m. appointment with Mr. Ledger, the police said. They said they did not know when Mr. Ledger scheduled the appointment.

When Mr. Ledger did not respond to a knock on the bedroom door, 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 and moved Mr. Ledger to the floor, the police said.

“There was no indication of a disturbance,” Deputy Police Commissioner Paul J. Browne said. He said officers who checked the apartment found other prescription medications it in the bathroom. He said that there was no sign that Mr. Ledger had been drinking and that no illegal drugs were found in the apartment.

Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the city’s chief medical examiner, said that investigators were on the scene on Tuesday afternoon and that an autopsy would be performed on Wednesday to determine the cause of death. His body was removed from the apartment at 6:30 p.m.

Julie McIntosh, a stylist in a neighboring salon, said she saw Mr. Ledger once or twice a week and thought had been living in the apartment for about six months.

“I think it’s really sad,” she said. “He’s a really nice guy. He seemed happy.”

A native of Perth, Australia, Mr. Ledger, known for his wry grin and uncontrolled blondish hair, defied typecasting throughout his career. Mr. Ledger, who was born on April 4, 1979, gained roles in children’s television after he first appeared in a play for a local theater company. He decided to pursue acting as a career, appearing in Australian soap operas before moving to Hollywood in pursuit of a girlfriend.

The relationship did not last, but the move led to his first major role, opposite Julia Stiles in the teenage romance “10 Things I Hate About You,” and Mr. Ledger seemed poised for a future as a heartthrob. But Mr. Ledger defied that expectation and, although he still appeared in light romantic roles in such films as “A Knight’s Tale,” he sought out darker, more substantive work, appearing as a prison guard in “Monster’s Ball,” and a heroin addict spiraling out of control in “Candy.”

“People always feel compelled to sum you up, to presume that they have you and describe you,” Mr. Ledger told The New York Times in an interview last year. “But there are many stories inside of me and a lot I want to achieve outside of one flat note.”

Mr. Ledger’s more recent films were also his most notable. His appearances as a reluctantly gay cowboy in “Brokeback Mountain” and as Bob Dylan in “I’m Not There” were both received with critical acclaim. The films were also important personally. Mr. Ledger met the actress Michelle Williams during the filming of “Brokeback Mountain.” The couple have a daughter, Matilda. Although they have since separated, they appeared together in “I’m Not There” and Mr. Ledger praised Ms. Williams’s performance in the film.

Elliott Puckett, an artist who lives near Ms. Williams’s apartment in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, said she saw the couple walking in the neighborhood.

“I used to see them with their dry cleaning and their baby,” she said.

Mr. Ledger told The Times last November that his favorite thing to do was hang out at home with his daughter. Leaving her for work, he said, was “kind of like your body has a lump in his throat.”

Reporting was contributed by Thomas J. Lueck, Al Baker, John Eligon and David Hirschman.

www.nytimes.com

[Beachwood Mac]

Such a great loss. He filmed parts of Lords of Dogtown here in Imperial Beach. It's so sad that someone who loved acting but tried to keep his personal life private is now on every news station with rumors and speculation about the cause of his death. May he rest in peace.

[David]

Such a great loss. He filmed parts of Lords of Dogtown here in Imperial Beach.I never saw that, but I saw Stacy Peralta's followup, Riding Giants, which I consider a contemporary classic & one of the most suspenseful, beautiful films in recent times.

[Standback383]

This is such a tragedy...my brother is the same age and has a 4 year old...I cannot even imagine what his family is going through.....my God...

[David]

Just terrible. He was a fabulous actor.I don't think I've seen any Heath Ledger movies except "Casanova," with its stultifying production design for Venice. The color of interiors & sunlit objects (like billowing sails) & the play of light seemed to me more Vermeer than Age of Enlightenment (Casanova's time). But it was so florid & elaborate that the effect was like being choked. I think the production designer wanted to make some sort of statement against the contemporary trend to magnify society's squalid underbelly (for example, "La Reine Margot").

[BombaySapphire3]

A terrible and tragic waste ..I always liked him but was blown away by his Ennis Delmar in Brokeback .so sad and it for some reason it came as a shock to me as well.

[GODDESS6]

a reporter for the new york times had interviewed him 6 weeks ago about his joker role & heath said the darkness of the role was disturbing him along w/ the roll he was filming at the moment~ the reporter was very shocked at his appearance, it looked as if he hadn't bathed in days & he was jumpy, but the reporter chalked up the jumpiness to him being a chain smoker & needing a smoke~ but the reporter did say that heath had had trouble sleeping as of late & was taking ambien, stating once he took 2 of them & he only slept an hour~ they also said he had been in 3 different time zones in the past week & possibly was suffering from pnemonia~ i'm leaning more & more towards an accidental overdose~ it is till so surreal & sad~ you know i was sad for brad renfro, but his death wasn't shoking w/ the heroin abuse & such~ but heath's death is heartbreaking~ i keep thinking of poor michelle & their little matilda~

[kathy1]

i watching the news when i found out. that is so sad. i was a fan of his and he will be missed. his family will be in my prayers.

[strandinthewind]

I don't think I've seen any Heath Ledger movies except "Casanova," with its stultifying production design for Venice. The color of interiors & sunlit objects (like billowing sails) & the play of light seemed to me more Vermeer than Age of Enlightenment (Casanova's time) . . . .

I agree they took license with the use of props. But, I thought the sets themselves were nice, save for the masked ball.

[strandinthewind]

I am literally speechless - but not surprised at this unChristianlike fool and those that follow him:

The "Reverend" Fred Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church announced plans to protest at the funeral of Heath Ledger.

Why?

The "God Hates Fags" hatemongers will picket the decease Aussie actor's funeral because he is a pervert who promoted homosexuality by appearing as a gay man in Brokeback Mountain.

We wish we could laugh at this stupidity, but it just makes us angry!

Heath may not have been perfect, but he doesn't deserve this.

www.perezhilton.com

[SuzeQuze]

I am literally speechless - but not surprised at this unChristianlike fool and those that follow him:

The "Reverend" Fred Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church announced plans to protest at the funeral of Heath Ledger.

Why?

The "God Hates Fags" hatemongers will picket the decease Aussie actor's funeral because he is a pervert who promoted homosexuality by appearing as a gay man in Brokeback Mountain.

We wish we could laugh at this stupidity, but it just makes us angry!

Heath may not have been perfect, but he doesn't deserve this.

www.perezhilton.com

I feel like shooting this man. What a menace to society.

[rubytuesday]

I am literally speechless - but not surprised at this unChristianlike fool and those that follow him:

The "Reverend" Fred Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church announced plans to protest at the funeral of Heath Ledger.

Why?

The "God Hates Fags" hatemongers will picket the decease Aussie actor's funeral because he is a pervert who promoted homosexuality by appearing as a gay man in Brokeback Mountain.

We wish we could laugh at this stupidity, but it just makes us angry!

Heath may not have been perfect, but he doesn't deserve this.

www.perezhilton.com

That makes me so angry but also makes me lol thinking of what will go down. I've lived in Australia long enough to know that they won't take as much **** as yanks have had to tolerate. In a morbid way I'd like to see the Aussies give it to that crowd of wackos 'cause there's a few nutty people everywhere but nothing like this group down here. They don't see the likes of hate groups like this one in such a public way.

The reaction here is very strong, people are devastated as it is and that just won't be tolerated. It wouldn't be surprising to see them pelted by beer cans into submission just by landing at the airport. If they have to fly here and come into Melbourne first I'd happily be one of those out there throwing whatever objects I could at them.

The whole thing is so sad and then this? A whole 28 years (short as that may be) of life and because he appeared in one 2 hour film that promoted love they want to put his family and friends through that? I'm telling you though, Aussies won't put up with that.

[Sarah]

That makes me so angry but also makes me lol thinking of what will go down. I've lived in Australia long enough to know that they won't take as much **** as yanks have had to tolerate. In a morbid way I'd like to see the Aussies give it to that crowd of wackos 'cause there's a few nutty people everywhere but nothing like this group down here. They don't see the likes of hate groups like this one in such a public way.

The reaction here is very strong, people are devastated as it is and that just won't be tolerated. It wouldn't be surprising to see them pelted by beer cans into submission just by landing at the airport. If they have to fly here and come into Melbourne first I'd happily be one of those out there throwing whatever objects I could at them.

The whole thing is so sad and then this? A whole 28 years (short as that may be) of life and because he appeared in one 2 hour film that promoted love they want to put his family and friends through that? I'm telling you though, Aussies won't put up with that.

For real. I have half a mind to fly to Australia to drink some beer and pelt some cans with you.

Those assholes threatened to come to my town a long time ago, but they never showed up. I definitely would have started some trouble.

[Gypsy4Doves]

Heath Ledger Autopsy Inconclusive
Jan. 23, 2008, 10:01 AM EST
NEW YORK (AP) -- An autopsy on Heath Ledger was inconclusive, and more tests are needed, the medical examiner's office said Wednesday, a day after the 28-year-old actor was found dead with sleeping pills nearby.

Video:http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&vid=2e4edd77-5d38-4f57-bc0d-ebccb0738282&playlist=videoByTag:tag:celebrity:ns:Gallery:mk:us:vs:1&from=msnemovies&tab=m1201054123472

It will take about 10 days to complete the investigation, said Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner.

Earlier, police said the death was caused by a possible drug overdose and appeared to be accidental.

Fans left flowers and candles outside the apartment building in Manhattan's SoHo where the body of the Oscar-nominated star of "Brokeback Mountain" was found.

Khaled Ali, 41, a stage manager for a Broadway show, dropped off a candle on his way to work. He said he and his fellow cast members were devastated by the news of Ledger's death.

Search for more on Ledger
View results for:
Heath LedgerHeath Ledger moviesHeath Ledger photos"I felt a connection with him as an actor, as a fellow in the theater community," he said. "With 'Brokeback Mountain' he touched me personally in telling the story of my community. It was very touching."

Ledger was known for grueling, intense roles that became his trademark after he got his start in teen movies like "10 Things I Hate About You."

The Australian-born actor was found dead Tuesday by his housekeeper and masseuse — lying naked and face-down at the foot of his bed, with prescription sleeping pills nearby, police said.

It was a shocking end to a career built on unpredictability. Ledger avoided the safe path in favor of roles that forced him to bury his Australian accent and downplay his leading-man looks: a tormented gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain," a drug addict in "Candy," an incarnation of Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There."

In what may be his final finished performance, he took a rare role in a guaranteed summer blockbuster, playing Batman's nemesis, the Joker, in the upcoming "The Dark Knight." But the role was nothing he could phone in; it forced him to rebrand a character last played on the big screen by Jack Nicholson.

"I had such great hope for him," Mel Gibson, who played Ledger's father in "The Patriot," said in a statement. "He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss."

Ledger split last year with Michelle Williams, who played his wife on the set of "Brokeback Mountain." The two had a daughter, the now 2-year-old Matilda, and had lived together in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill neighborhood.

Early Wednesday, Williams and Matilda left Trollhattan, Sweden, where the 27-year-old actress had been shooting scenes for the upcoming film "Mammoth," said Martin Stromberg, a spokesman for film production company Memfis Film.

"She received the news at her hotel late last night," Stromberg said, adding he had not spoken to the actress after she learned of Ledger's death.

The actor's personal strife was accompanied by professional anxiety.

Ledger said in an interview in November that "Dark Knight" and last year's "I'm Not There," took a heavy toll. He said he "stressed out a little too much" during the Dylan film, and had trouble sleeping while portraying the Joker, whom he called a "psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy."

"Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," Ledger told The New York Times. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going." He said he took two Ambien pills, which only worked for an hour.

News of Ledger's death spread quickly, from the crowd of 300 people that gathered Tuesday outside his Manhattan apartment to the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, where those with close ties to the actor included Naomi Watts, who dated him after they met on the set of "Lords of Dogtown," a fictionalized story about the birth of modern skateboarding.

Ledger was born in 1979 in the western Australian city of Perth to a mining engineer and a French teacher, and got his first acting role playing Peter Pan at age 10 at a local theater company. He began acting in independent films as a 16-year-old in Sydney and played a cyclist hoping to land a spot on an Olympic team in a 1996 television show, "Seat."

Speaking in Perth, Ledger's father called the actor's death "tragic, untimely and accidental."

Kim Ledger called his son "down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving, unselfish" and "extremely inspirational to many."

"Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life," he said. "Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."

After several independent films, Ledger moved to Los Angeles at age 19 and starred opposite Julia Stiles in "10 Things I Hate About You," a reworking of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." Offers for other teen flicks came his way, but Ledger turned them down, preferring to remain idle than sign on for projects he didn't like.

"It wasn't a hard decision for me," Ledger told The Associated Press in 2001. "It was hard for everyone else around me to understand. Agents were like, `You're crazy,' my parents were like, 'Come on, you have to eat.'"

He began to gravitate toward more independent films after roles in "Monster's Ball," "The Patriot" and "A Knight's Tale." His work in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain" earned him an Academy Award nomination for best actor.

In the 2006 film "Candy," Ledger played a poet wrestling with a heroin addiction along with his girlfriend. Neil Armfield, who directed Ledger in the film, said the actor had "handled his career incredibly well," steering himself toward more challenging roles.

"He made a decision about four years ago to stop being led by producers and managers and to forge his own way," Armfield told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

He brought the same intensity to "Dark Knight." Glimpsed in early teaser trailers, Ledger is more depraved and dark than comical. The film's director, Christopher Nolan, said this month that Ledger's Joker would be wildly different from Nicholson's.

"It was a very great challenge for Heath," Nolan said. "He's extremely original, extremely frightening, tremendously edgy. A very young character, a very anarchic presence that taps into a lot of our basic fears and panic."

Ledger was a widely recognized figure in his SoHo neighborhood, where Michelle Vella said she frequently saw him carrying his 2-year-old daughter on his shoulders, or having ice cream with her.

"It's a shock; he's so young," said Taren Dolbashian, who also had seen Ledger with his daughter. "He always seems so happy."

Near the entrance to the building housing his loft, about two dozen bouquets and a dozen candles formed a makeshift memorial.

[Gypsy4Doves]

Now flashbacks to Owen Wilson.:distress:

- JakeHe's NOT dead !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Wilson

[Steviefan49]

I am literally speechless - but not surprised at this unChristianlike fool and those that follow him:

The "Reverend" Fred Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church announced plans to protest at the funeral of Heath Ledger.

Why?

The "God Hates Fags" hatemongers will picket the decease Aussie actor's funeral because he is a pervert who promoted homosexuality by appearing as a gay man in Brokeback Mountain.

We wish we could laugh at this stupidity, but it just makes us angry!

Heath may not have been perfect, but he doesn't deserve this.

www.perezhilton.com

OMG.. I SOO can't believe I'm even reading something like this...

[The Catdancer]

Here's their press release. These people are disgusting.

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/0803/The_Catdancer/?action=view&current=heath.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/The_Catdancer/heath.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[strandinthewind]

^^^

That is just creepy. It is worded like a fifth grader so angry that they cannot speak the limited English they know in any coherent manner.

The world scares me often these days.

[JazmenFlowers]

^^^
amen

For real. I have half a mind to fly to Australia to drink some beer and pelt some cans with you.
oh and...amen

[Sarah]

^^^ Let's do it. I haven't reallylost my temper in about 2 or 3 years... I could stand to rage on at least one of these fools. Get rid of some of that.. tension. :mad:

[Steviefan49]

Here's their press release. These people are disgusting.

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/0803/The_Catdancer/?action=view&current=heath.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/The_Catdancer/heath.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

OMG... This SOOO scares me that people really think this way, in the year 2008. This reminds me all over again of the Holocaust, Segregation, and all of that bs taking place again... I wouldn't even give these idiots the glory of calling them "disgusting".. they don't even deserve that in my book.. Sheesh:confused:

[Steviefan49]

^^^ Let's do it. I haven't reallylost my temper in about 2 or 3 years... I could stand to rage on at least one of these fools. Get rid of some of that.. tension. :mad:

Between my job, and that article... you can count me in! LOLOL:blob1:

[SuzeQuze]

Between my job, and that article... you can count me in! LOLOL:blob1:

I'm in. Although we have to shotgun the beers first.

[strandinthewind]

^^^

Moreover, why would any Christian rejoice in anything other than the words of Jesus, the one and only source of redemption. Instead, they rejoice in someone being in Hell for all of eternity. Christ certainly never rejoiced at that. If anything, he lamented that and tried to show the world that forgiveness is the way to be righteous. I have often said that if Jesus were alive today, I think He would be horrified by what is being done in His name. In fact, what is being done in His name ironically is exactly what was done to Him.

[Steviefan49]

I'm in. Although we have to shotgun the beers first.

WOOHOO.. that would let us release a little more frustration! How cool! LOLOL:woohoo:

[Steviefan49]

^^^

Moreover, why would any Christian rejoice in anything other than the words of Jesus, the one and only source of redemption. Instead, they rejoice in someone being in Hell for all of eternity. Christ certainly never rejoiced at that. If anything, he lamented that and tried to show the world that forgiveness is the way to be righteous. I have often said that if Jesus were alive today, I think He would be horrified by what is being done in His name. In fact, what is being done in His name ironically is exactly what was done to Him.

Amen to this one too! LOL.. I think he'd be turning over in his grave for sure!

[strandinthewind]

. . . I think he'd be turning over in his grave for sure!

Technically, He, the Risen One, has no grave :D But, if He did, He'd be a rollin' for sure :nod:

[Steviefan49]

Technically, He, the Risen One, has no grave :D But, if He did, He'd be a rollin' for sure :nod:

Well.. yeah, sorry.... LOLOL.. (I need to edit that other post) ROTFL::lol:

[strandinthewind]

Well.. yeah, sorry.... LOLOL.. (I need to edit that other post) ROTFL::lol:

Nah - there are many who think that Christ never rose from the dead and the whole Resurrection is a myth perpetuated by the Church to solidify the Divinity of Christ. I do not believe that, but the arguments are interesting to read, to wit:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/resurrec.htm

[darklinensuit]

He's NOT dead !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Wilson

What the hell is with the caps? When did I say he was?

- Jake

[Sarah]

^^^

Moreover, why would any Christian rejoice in anything other than the words of Jesus, the one and only source of redemption. Instead, they rejoice in someone being in Hell for all of eternity. Christ certainly never rejoiced at that. If anything, he lamented that and tried to show the world that forgiveness is the way to be righteous. I have often said that if Jesus were alive today, I think He would be horrified by what is being done in His name. In fact, what is being done in His name ironically is exactly what was done to Him.

I'd hesitate to call the people of Westboro Baptist Church "Christians". I'm not an expert and it's not really my place to judge, but I was raised in church with a Reverend for a grandfather. This is not "Christianity". This is more like a cult thriving on whatever attention it can get. It's pretty rare that I say I actually want someone to die; I'll say things of the sort jokingly. But I gotta say, if the bus these bumpkins trolled around in blew up, I'd be pretty effing happy about it. And, if I happened to be in proximity, I'd take the opportunity to give ol' Fred Phelps one good ram in the keister with a strapon.

What? I'm just sayin', damn. :shrug:

[darklinensuit]

One of the terrible things about the Fred Phelps nonsense is that this handful of nutjobs will divert media & popular attention away from where it should be suddenly the funeral will be (with the best intentions) about fighting them, rather than just about the tragic loss of one young man.

- Jake

[Steviefan49]

Nah - there are many who think that Christ never rose from the dead and the whole Resurrection is a myth perpetuated by the Church to solidify the Divinity of Christ. I do not believe that, but the arguments are interesting to read, to wit:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/resurrec.htm

Wow.. interesting article to say the least.. My vote is with you on this one..;)

[Steviefan49]

One of the terrible things about the Fred Phelps nonsense is that this handful of nutjobs will divert media & popular attention away from where it should be suddenly the funeral will be (with the best intentions) about fighting them, rather than just about the tragic loss of one young man.

- Jake

Another thing that makes me sad.. and sick.. IMO, I feel that above anything else, Heath Ledger was an incredibly talented actor, and person.. and definitely feel that all eyes, including the media, should be focused on that right now, instead of some 3-ring circus bs..

[Gypsy4Doves]

What the hell is with the caps? When did I say he was?

- Jake
:sorry: I thought that :distress:

[strandinthewind]

More on these freaks. Sadly, most people will equate these actions with the actions of all Christians, which is unfair because certainly not all Christians believe God killed Heath Ledger because he portrayed a homosexual in a movie.
_________________________________________________________________

Kansas Baptist Church Intends to Picket Heath Ledger's Funeral Because He Played Gay Character
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

A radical Baptist church in Kansas known for picketing the funerals of soldiers who perished in Iraq said it intends to protest Heath Ledger's memorial service with signs claiming the actor died and is in Hell because he played a gay character in “Brokeback Mountain.”

Shirley Phelps-Roper of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka said that she and other members will picket Ledger’s United States memorial services, not those held in his native Australia.

“You cannot live in defiance of God,” she said. “He got on that big screen with a big, fat message: God is a liar and it’s OK to be gay.”

A press release circulated by the church references Leviticus 18:22 in the Bible, which states that “thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

“Heath Ledger is now in Hell, and has begun serving his eternal sentence there,” the Westboro Baptist announcement says.

Click here to see the flier.

Started 1955, the Topeka, Kan.-based church has conducted over 34,000 peaceful demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle, according to their Web site, GodHatesFags.com.

The organization runs various Web sites, including GodHatesAmerica.com and others that condemn lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, Muslims, Roman Catholics and Jews as well as certain nationalities, according to Wikipedia.

The Southern Poverty Law Center classifies the church as a hate group and the organization is monitored by the Anti-Defamation League, according to its Wikipedia entry.

Phelps-Roper said the church group will also be picketing the Academy Awards this year.

Both the printed release and Phelps-Roper’s verbal diatribe about Ledger were rife with homophobic slurs. She said that those who call her and other members of Westboro Baptist Church bigots must also think God is a bigot.

“God hates fags,” she said. “The wrath of God has been revealed before the eyes of this nation with the death of Heath Ledger. … This nation worships the dead almost as much as they worship their filthy sex acts. America is doomed.”

[wondergirl9847]

I would like to think that God/Jesus will be standing at the Gates when Fred Phelps passes and He will say "I don't know you. Goodbye."

He is foul and does NOT represent Christians.

I am very sad about Heath's passing. He was a fantastic actor. I've only seen a couple of his movies and was REALLY looking forward to The Dark Knight. Now, there will be a dark cloud over that film. :(

My prayers are with his family/friends and fans.

[Villavic]

that's sad.

and though they already broke up, I feel sad for Michelle Williams.

[SuzeQuze]

One thing that would be great is if the media stopped calling this group a church. Why would the Baptists let them call themselves a Baptist church?

[michelle2677]

how the fukc does he know who God hates?

God doesn't hate anyone. This creep has some nerve and it pisses me off when people make Christians look worse than they already make themselves look :mad:

it's one thing to say "I think he deserves to go to hell because of this". that's just your personal opinion. it's a stupid one...in MY opinion. but still. Don't bring God into it. you don't know jack **** asshole.


sorry. I'm really PMSing right now, and not in the mood for people to be talking ****.


RIP heath. it's a shame your funeral is going to be filled with this bullcrap :(

[bretonbanquet]

I see that these freaks don't have the guts to go to Australia to protest at the actual funeral, because a) they're too cheap for the air fare and b) they know that there'd be a very long queue of Aussies who would cheerfully kill the lot of them :laugh: They really would have an extremely hard time if they tried to protest like that over there. I really don't get how these people are allowed to get away with that stuff in the US :shrug:

[michelle2677]

^^ because we aren't communists and have freedom of speech :lol: :laugh: :p

okay, that was a joke, but it's true. I know most other countries do as well, but I feel america takes it to the extremes. We (they) use it as a crutch to be able to say and do whatever they please.

[bretonbanquet]

^^ because we aren't communists and have freedom of speech :lol: :laugh: :p

okay, that was a joke, but it's true. I know most other countries do as well, but I feel america takes it to the extremes. We (they) use it as a crutch to be able to say and do whatever they please.

:mad: :p

Yeah.. freedom of speech is a balancing act. It's okay to say what you like, but people (should) have a right not to be grossly offended by a tiny minority... I'm sure those weirdos would not be allowed to spout that crap here. Or print that flyer.

[mylittledemon]

WHAT?!?!?!

jesus. i just watched brokeback again the other night. wtf.

Great movie. It was really sad.

What a damn shame he's dead. I loved him in 10 Things...I have a feeling he'll be remembered for his Joker portrayal.

[strandinthewind]

how the fukc does he know who God hates?

God doesn't hate anyone. This creep has some nerve and it pisses me off when people make Christians look worse than they already make themselves look :mad:

it's one thing to say "I think he deserves to go to hell because of this". that's just your personal opinion. it's a stupid one...in MY opinion. but still. Don't bring God into it. you don't know jack **** asshole.


sorry. I'm really PMSing right now, and not in the mood for people to be talking ****.


RIP heath. it's a shame your funeral is going to be filled with this bullcrap :(


I am not agreeing with them or in any way condoning them. But, here is their point of reference in The Bible. A quick reading of this complex topic here

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibh.htm

reveals they are incorrect, esp. considering Jesus Christ was the "New Convenant" with mankind, thus rendering the Old Testament or the Laws of Moses somewhat irrelevant as the way to enter Heaven becaue Jesus said salvation and the entrance to Heaven was only obtained through acceptance of Him as a person's saviour.

[michelle2677]

I am not agreeing with them or in any way condoning them. But, here is their point of reference in The Bible. A quick reading of this complex topic here

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibh.htm

reveals they are incorrect, esp. considering Jesus Christ was the "New Convenant" with mankind, thus rendering the Old Testament or the Laws of Moses somewhat irrelevant as the way to enter Heaven becaue Jesus said salvation and the entrance to Heaven was only obtained through acceptance of Him as a person's saviour.


my beef is when christians pass judgement on others, when it's really not their place.. I think that's where Christians get a bad rep. It's not so much what God has said, or what he's going to do, it's man saying "god is sending you to hell because you did this". I would never (seriously) claim to know what God is going to do. Religion is a very personal thing and it's none of my business. I've never been that "pushy" christian saying "you better beleive this or you will burn in hell for eternity".

that was more or less what I was saying :)

[strandinthewind]

^^^

I know.

But, I do think any religion has the right to set tenets of behavior within itself based on its foundations. In Christianity, that foundation is The Bible, which does address homosexuality (mostly in the Old Testament) - which is forbidden along with many other things that everyone ignores - sex with a woman too soon after or during her period is one that comes to mind. So, an individual has a choice. They can practice Christianity in a Chruch and ignore that fact. To me, this is really no big deal because all Christians by definition are sinners and almost are unrepentent in that they pick and choose which lkaws to follow as if they are choosing food in a cafeteria. Also, no "degree of severity in sin" exists in The Bible - a sin is a sin. The problem is the axiom "if you want to fill your pews and, therefore, your coffers, preach hate." No group is more reviled than fags. That is ashame, but true.

Interestingly, the next most persecuted is adultering women (not really men). So, in the end, it is white males controling the world for gain through fear. Sad, but very true.

This is not to say that organized religion has not done great things like feeding the poor and tending to the sick. But, even that is tainted depending on your point of view. A good example is Mother Theresa - Was she a saint or was she responsible for the suffering and death of hundreds of thousands of unwanted, uneeded children whose births could have been prevented with the use of birth control, which she never advocated and could never advocate and remain true to the Church, which was her greatest call. It creeps me out to talk about human life like that, but then I think about the horrible conditions thousands of children in India nd elsewhere her Order worked were born into (remember women are not worth much) and died in pain. In an intellectual argument, would it have been better to prevent those children's conception? Who can say. But, depending on your answer, one likely will either love or hate Mother Theresa.

[michelle2677]

^^^

I know.

But, I do think any religion has the right to set tenets of behavior within itself based on its foundations. In Christianity, that foundation is The Bible, which does address homosexuality (mostly in the Old Testament) - which is forbidden along with many other things that everyone ignores - sex with a woman too soon after or during her period is one that comes to mind. So, an individual has a choice. They can practice Christianity in a Chruch and ignore that fact. To me, this is really no big deal because all Christians by definition are sinners and almost are unrepentent in that they pick and choose which lkaws to follow as if they are choosing food in a cafeteria. Also, no "degree of severity in sin" exists in The Bible - a sin is a sin. The problem is the axiom "if you want to fill your pews and, therefore, your coffers, preach hate." No group is more reviled than fags. That is ashame, but true.

Interestingly, the next most persecuted is adultering women (not really men). So, in the end, it is white males controling the world for gain through fear. Sad, but very true.

This is not to say that organized religion has not done great things like feeding the poor and tending to the sick. But, even that is tainted depending on your point of view. A good example is Mother Theresa - Was she a saint or was she responsible for the suffering and death of hundreds of thousands of unwanted, uneeded children whose births could have been prevented with the use of birth control, which she never advocated and could never advocate and remain true to the Church, which was her greatest call. It creeps me out to talk about human life like that, but then I think about the horrible conditions thousands of children in India nd elsewhere her Order worked were born into (remember women are not worth much) and died in pain. In an intellectual argument, would it have been better to prevent those children's conception? Who can say. But, depending on your answer, one likely will either love or hate Mother Theresa.

i see what you're saying. believe me I do. and there have been christian groups that have done lots of good, but there are also other groups that do wonderful things as well. I dont' have a problem with organized religion, and the different denominations. everyone has different beliefs and you have to find what suits you the best, even under Christianity. And i understand that for the most part, people use fear to get people to convert. Im just saying it would be a wonderful world (and a fukcing miracle :laugh: ) if it were the other way around. Why not try and talk about the good things? Back to Phelps...really, what is that going to solve? I'm sure they have some motive, but if I weren't a Christian, and i saw that behaviour, it would turn me off faster than anything. hell, I AM a Christian and it turns me off. I don't understand why they don't see that.

[strandinthewind]

^^^

IMO Phelps' sole objective is money, which he achieves though notariety. I mean the man has advised very influential people, likely though the threat of protests. Personally, I think old Freddie boy is a closet case.

[DavidMn]

I am literally speechless - but not surprised at this unChristianlike fool and those that follow him:

The "Reverend" Fred Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church announced plans to protest at the funeral of Heath Ledger.

Why?

The "God Hates Fags" hatemongers will picket the decease Aussie actor's funeral because he is a pervert who promoted homosexuality by appearing as a gay man in Brokeback Mountain.

We wish we could laugh at this stupidity, but it just makes us angry!

Heath may not have been perfect, but he doesn't deserve this.

www.perezhilton.comIt was just a matter of time before this ass reared his head again.:mad: I am tempted to dismiss these individuals as simply "crazy" but there is one thing that scares me. I know the leaders of this "Religious institution" "(almost)always stop just short of breaking most laws, specifically directly calling for the out and out murder of gay people, but here's the rub. I'll make a comparison between these people and the anti-abortion crowd. Some of them say abortion is murder and stuff like that, but while they themselves dont go ouy and kill or specifically call for the killing of abortion providers, you have this lunatic fringe of people like the guy in Buffalo New York several years ago that killed the one doctor there. Who's to say some follower of these Wesboro idiots wouldnt someday walk into some gay bar somewhere and shoot the place up?? Thats what gives me pause.

[strandinthewind]

For a truly sickening read on Phelps and his flock - go here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

Here's a choice quote from this "man of God" who attributes all bad acts in the world to homosexuals:

Whatever righteous cause the Jewish victims of the 1930s-40s Nazi Holocaust had... has been drowned in sodomite semen. American taxpayers are financing this unholy monument to Jewish mendacity and greed and to filthy fag lust. Homosexuals and Jews dominated Nazi Germany . . . . The Jews now wander the earth despised, smitten with moral and spiritual blindness by a divine judicial stroke . . . . And God has smitten Jews with a certain unique madness . . . Jews, thus perverted, out of all proportion to their numbers energize the militant sodomite agenda... Jews are the real Nazis.

Nice :rolleyes:

[CelticGypsy]

Another thing that makes me sad.. and sick.. IMO, I feel that above anything else, Heath Ledger was an incredibly talented actor, and person.. and definitely feel that all eyes, including the media, should be focused on that right now, instead of some 3-ring circus bs..


That so called "church" is a cult. They are NOT Christians. They don't even know what it means to be a Christian. They're a bunch of unstable and ignorant fools.

Let Heath rest in peace. Heath will be remembered for his wonderful work in the film industry and that he was a loving father to Matilda. I hope his family in Australia will know how much America and the world loved Heath's work.

A friend of mine sent this to me. Heath directed it.

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rqbcV39Sq1o&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rqbcV39Sq1o&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

[rubytuesday]

I see that these freaks don't have the guts to go to Australia to protest at the actual funeral, because a) they're too cheap for the air fare and b) they know that there'd be a very long queue of Aussies who would cheerfully kill the lot of them :laugh: They really would have an extremely hard time if they tried to protest like that over there. I really don't get how these people are allowed to get away with that stuff in the US :shrug:Yeah I really hate that freedom of speech thing or "it's a free country" that those sorts of Americans constantly pull out as there defence for anything. It's not limitless, when it is used in defence of acts of aggression intended to cause harm then it's a lot more complex than just "freedom of speech!". Anyway, there's more freedom of speech back in the UK and in Australia I think but like you say, I'd like to see that group come up against a crowd of average Aussies. REally though I'm glad they don't have the guts to go to Perth because that's the last thing his friends and family need.

[Steviefan49]

That so called "church" is a cult. They are NOT Christians. They don't even know what it means to be a Christian. They're a bunch of unstable and ignorant fools.

Let Heath rest in peace. Heath will be remembered for his wonderful work in the film industry and that he was a loving father to Matilda. I hope his family in Australia will know how much America and the world loved Heath's work.

A friend of mine sent this to me. Heath directed it.

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rqbcV39Sq1o&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rqbcV39Sq1o&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

Absolutely... Very true to all of this.. It's all just really sad..

[strandinthewind]

^^

What a cool vid. -- thanks for posting.

Also and in general -- here is John Gibson of Fox news laughing, yes LAUGHING at Ledger's death. What an a$$ :mad:

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/23/gibson-mocks-ledger/

John Gibson Mocks ‘Weirdo’ Heath Ledger’s Death: ‘He Found Out How To Quit You’

Opening his radio show with funeral music yesterday, Fox News host John Gibson callously mocked the death of actor Heath Ledger, calling him a “weirdo” with a “serious drug problem.”

Playing an audio clip of the iconic quote, “I wish I knew how to quit you” from Ledger’s gay romance movie Brokeback Mountain, Gibson disdainfully quipped, “Well, he found out how to quit you.” Laughing, Gibson then played another clip from Brokeback Mountain in which Ledger said, “We’re dead,” followed by his own, mocking “We’re dead” before playing the clip again.

Listen to it:


Throughout the course of the show, Gibson continued to bring up Ledger’s death while discussing current events, jokingly claiming that current events may have caused him to commit suicide.

On yesterday’s drop in the stock market:

GIBSON: Maybe he had a serious position in the market.

TOM SULLIVAN: And possibly today, he looked at the window and said…

GIBSON: “Oh my God.”

SULLIVAN: His name’s not Keith Bledger, right?

GIBSON: He was depressed about yesterday’s downturn in the world stock markets.

On the Democratic debate in South Carolina:

GIBSON: Apparently Heath Ledger was suicidal and his friends saw it coming. I think he watched the Clinton-Obama debate last night. I think he was an Edwards guy, cause he saw his Edwards guy was just completely irrelevant.

In reality, New York City Police spokesman Paul J. Browne told the New York Times that there was “no obvious indication of suicide.”

You stay classy, John Gibson.

UPDATE: In 2006, when Brokeback Mountain was released, Gibson repeatedly made fun of the film, calling it “a gay agenda movie.”

Digg It!

_____________________________________________________________

Pathetic and obviously this effete freak hates fags, which makes me believe there are some latent traits there.

I just sent this a$$wipe a blistering email

[sara1998]

^^^

Moreover, why would any Christian rejoice in anything other than the words of Jesus, the one and only source of redemption. Instead, they rejoice in someone being in Hell for all of eternity. Christ certainly never rejoiced at that. If anything, he lamented that and tried to show the world that forgiveness is the way to be righteous. I have often said that if Jesus were alive today, I think He would be horrified by what is being done in His name. In fact, what is being done in His name ironically is exactly what was done to Him.

I? Love you. This is so true. I hope Heath rests in peace, and I hope the Aussies will kick those "religitards" (thanks Brian) asses. Such bull****.

[rubytuesday]

I? Love you. This is so true. I hope Heath rests in peace, and I hope the Aussies will kick those "religitards" (thanks Brian) asses. Such bull****.That woman who represents them was on the national broadcast top 40 station earlier tonight. Oh my god what a nutcase. She was calling not just this gay caller but all the presenters such nasty things and they politely stayed relatively calm (she was just screaming the word "fag" and whatnot at them constantly) until the very end when one of the presenters had enough and said “I’d rather be in hell than be a big, fat, whore bigot like you”. It's the top 40 for kids and teenagers when that kind of agression is censored but for this woman they let it slide and said that the only time they'll let calling someone a whore pass because she deserved it. She hung up on them which is even more pathetic, one insult her way and it won't be tolerated.

They won't be able to kick her arse though 'cause when they asked if they'd come to Perth to protest she said she wouldn't go anywhere near that filthy country. Ha. Such a lovely woman. She's not worth the time of day but that their message could reach his family and upset them further makes it worth it to stone her before she gets a chance to attend this memorial thing for him in the US which she says she'll be attending. And the Oscars she said she'd protest at 'cause they'll honour him. It's one thing at a citizen's funeral but at a superstar's memorial, she's going to encounter masses like she won't have before and might be in for a surprise.

[Sarah]

Someone should hit them up with some molotov cocktails.

Just sayin'. :shrug:

[jannieC]

In spite of working in the mental health field and seeing bad, horrible things quite frequently, this almost has me speechless. I don't have anything more to add to what everyone else has been saying- I'm just amazed and horified by the behavior of the people in that cult and that a-hole on Fox news. What the hell is *wrong* with people?? :distress:

[Mywyldhrt]

Someone should hit them up with some molotov cocktails.

Just sayin'. :shrug:

That guy is ****ed up! I don't understand why some still believe that being gay is a choice. I mean really....now that supposively we are more accepted-it is easier for young-uns to identify and accept their sexuality and live as they are comfortable(I myself because of how I was raised-wouldn't even consider it until I was 36). It is not gays that need to change-it's society that has to. We all have a right to be who we are-live and let live. Someone has to pounce on that puritan asshole!! Not to mention-this man wasn't even gay, he portayed a gay man living in a time and place that you just couldn't be....and he did a fabulous job of it. Leave him alone.

[David]

Could those Phelps nuts ever turn violent? I wonder whether law enforcement keeps tabs on them.

[sara1998]

Can we start a site fagshatephelps.com???

[Steviefan49]

Can we start a site fagshatephelps.com???

Better yet.. how about "Peoplehatingphelps.com".. ?? LOL ;)

[strandinthewind]

I guess the email and uproar worked - John Gibson apologized. Personally, I think he carefully chose his words and is still an a$$ -- after all, Gibson was still joking about it today and before issuing this statement.
_____________________________________________________________

I have received comments regarding remarks I made on my radio show the other night after the shocking death of Heath Ledger.

I'm sorry that some gay groups and others took my comments as anti-gay and insensitive.

I'm aware that Ledger has a family and many fans, who were grief-stricken by his sudden death. As I speak, a crowd is gathering at the funeral home where Ledger's services will be held.

Those who knew him say he was a good actor and a loving dad and what happened to him was terrible, but was evidently an accident.

Once again, to anyone offended by my comments, I'm sorry. But I'm also sorry that Heath Ledger is no longer alive and with us.

And that is My Word.

www.foxnews.com

[Serrart]

It's such a tragedy. He was so young and talented.


Romy

[skcin]

Seems to me like his death was probably an accident. Many medications (typically painkillers & sleeping pills) can cause your breathing to slow. When you take similar types of meds around the same time, it can compound this effect. That coupled with pneumonia? God, what a shame. :(

[Sahara]

These people calling themselves Christians really upsets me. It's one thing to have your beliefs about what's right and wrong -- as Christains should -- but causing this kind of sorrow to a bereaved family is about as un-Christian as it gets.

I have particular Christian views regarding homosexuality and abortion that are unpopular but I would never dare to presume to know what a person's destiny is or to judge people. That's between the individual concerned and God, nobody else.

Seriously .... not all Christians are like that!
RIP Heath. :(

[Nico]

This is such a shocking and terribly sad thing. I really liked Heath Ledger as an actor, particularly in "Brokeback" and "Casanova." He seemed like a very good father to his child and a very decent person. It's such a shame when people who have so much to give are gone too soon. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. This is no doubt an extremely difficult trial for them and I really hope the press can respect their privacy during this time.

[i_am_legend]

this is very sad news. he was so talented too.

[strandinthewind]

. . .

I have particular Christian views regarding homosexuality and abortion that are unpopular but I would never dare to presume to know what a person's destiny is or to judge people. That's between the individual concerned and God, nobody else.

Seriously .... not all Christians are like that!
RIP Heath. :(

I agree with you in that anyone is free to think what they want and to follow whatever religion they want. It is when people use religion to deny everyone the same rights that it gets all messed up and IMO unChristian like. When did Christ ever say the govt. had to sponsor His teachings. He didn't :shrug: In fact and to the contrary, He said to give Ceasar (the govt.) what what was due it. But, like you said, not all Christians, thankfully, are like these crazies.

[SuzeQuze]

Could those Phelps nuts ever turn violent? I wonder whether law enforcement keeps tabs on them.

Oh I'm sure the FBI has a file.

[BTFLCHLD]

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgDNcFSJ5vHeEZXDWu0LGcC3BMkg


Drug cocktail killed Heath Ledger

NEW YORK (AFP) — Hollywood star Heath Ledger, found dead in his New York apartment two weeks ago, died of accidental intoxication caused by a cocktail of painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs, officials said Wednesday.

Ledger, who scored critical acclaim for his performance as a repressed gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain" in 2005, had six prescription medicines including the drugs marketed as Xanax and Valium in his system when he died.

"Mr Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine," the New York chief medical examiner's office said in a statement.

"We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications," it added.

The cause of the 28-year-old Australian's death had been shrouded in mystery since his death on January 22, with an initial autopsy proving inconclusive and conflicting speculation that he was a drug user and suffering from pneumonia.

He had been found naked and unresponsive in his Manhattan apartment, with police saying that prescription medications were found in the residence but that a rolled-up 20 dollar bill near the body had tested negative for drugs.

His family insisted throughout that he would not have taken his own life.

Ledger's father Kim, said he hoped the official toxicology results would end rumors surrounding his son's death and appealed for privacy.

"Today's results put an end to speculation, but our son's beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts," he said in a statement.

"While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy," he said, adding "we respectfully request the worldwide media allow us time to grieve privately."

"Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage," he added.

Ledger told The New York Times in November, during the shooting of the latest Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," in which he plays The Joker, that he often took Ambien, a prescription sleeping pill, to help with insomnia.

"Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," he said. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted and my mind was still going."

He was reported to have said that taking one pill had no effect on him and that he'd take a second one to fall asleep, only to wake up an hour later with his "mind still racing."

Ledger was seen as a rising star in Hollywood and his death sent shockwaves through the film industry. His memorial service in Los Angeles drew an A-list of mourners including Tom Cruise and wife Katie Holmes.

Arrangements for Ledger's burial in Perth have not been made public, but it is expected his family will hold a private funeral later this week at which they will bury their son in a family plot.

Ledger first came to prominence by acting as a homosexual athlete in a little-known Australian soap opera, "Sweat," in 1996.

At 19, he left Sydney for Hollywood, where his talent was spotted by Mel Gibson when auditioning 500 actors for the role of his son in "The Patriot" -- a break that led to his leading role in "A Knight's Tale."

He was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his "Brokeback Mountain" role and had recently been working on "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," directed by Terry Gilliam, and which was originally due out next year.

[SuzeQuze]

So tragic and so much like Marilyn, except 8 years younger. I wonder if the meds were prescribed by different physicians. 6 different anti-anxiety/pain meds is a lot. :( This is so incredibly sad for his daughter and friends and family.

[BombaySapphire3]

if they were all prescribed by the same physician and to be taken concurrently he should at the least lose his license.

[skcin]

I read this morning that it's quite possible that he didn't take all of these types of pills on the same day - could have been days apart. People don't realize that these things happen all too often, complete accidents, because most aren't aware of the dangers. :distress: The brain simply forgets to tell you to breathe, or to roll over if you're face down in a pillow. The nervous system is too depressed to do its job.