Heath Andrew Ledger
1979-2008
Many of us have followed Heath since early in his career. We feel as if we have watched him grow up, develop as a dedicated talented actor and watch him grow as a loving, caring father. His impact on our lives is immeasurable. This fanbase is a close knit family in itself and we were all brought together due to our interest in this special individual. While we may never totally get over the loss of Heath and we mourn the fact that we will not be able to witness his continued growth as an actor and human being, we will never forget him or our friends that we have met at this site.
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The admins at Heathbaby.com would like to apologize for the downtime. We have been in the process of moving the site to a new server and it took longer than expected.
Right now only the main site is up and running. We are still working on the databases for the forum, gallery and news.
We thank you for your patience.
We have set up a temporary forum at yuku.com.
You can access the forum here:Heathbabydotcom at yuku.
We will let you know as soon as the other portions of the site are working.
You can contact me at mary (AT) heathbaby.com.
Vanity Fair Photos Added to Gallery
We’ve added the photos from Vanity Fair to the Gallery.
You can see them here: Vanity Fair Album
The Last of Heath
Why was Heath Ledger so ambivalent about his own stardom, and what happened at the end of his life? Vanity Fair contributing editor Peter Biskind sheds new light on these difficult-to-answer questions as he writes about the actor’s remarkable talent and untimely death in the August cover story, “The Last of Heath.â€
In his article, Biskind explores Ledger’s final movie role, his uncertainty about Hollywood, his devotion to his young daughter, and what happened in the days and weeks leading up to his death as he battled chronic insomnia, pneumonia, and exhaustion. Here are some of the revelations contained in Biskind’s story.
How he cleaned up his act
• Cinematographer Nicola Pecorini, who worked with Ledger on his last film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, says Ledger “used to smoke marijuana on a regular basis, like probably 50 percent of Americans.†But after it became an issue, Ledger “went clean as a whistle.†And vocal coach Gerry Grennell, who worked and lived with the actor during the filming of The Dark Knight, says Ledger even stopped drinking: “Heath would happily go to the bar, buy a round of drinks for friends, and come back and have a soda or juice, never once drinking alcohol.â€
How chronic insomnia may have led to his death
• Ledger’s use of sleeping medication to combat chronic insomnia at the end of his life was of more concern to Grennell. “I’d say, ‘If you can possibly bear it to stop taking the medications, do, because they don’t seem to be doing you any good.’ He agreed. It is very difficult for me to imagine how close he came to not taking them.â€
Ledger would typically spend night after night awake, diverting himself with time killers, Biskind reports, such as re-arranging the furniture in whatever space he happened to be living in at the moment. Grennell coached him in the Alexander Technique, which helped him to sleep for a few hours at a time, but he still struggled.
“Everyone has a different view of how he passed away,†Grennell tells Biskind. “From my perspective, and knowing him as well as I did, and being around him as much as I was, it was a combination of exhaustion, sleeping medication … and perhaps the aftereffects of the flu. I guess his body just stopped breathing.â€
His devotion to the job
• The strife in his personal life coincided with the shoot for Gilliam’s Parnassus, but rather than distract him from his work, Gilliam believes it helped him concentrate on the task at hand, he tells Biskind. He appeared one day on set “clearly bloody sick,†Gilliam says. The doctor told him it was the beginning of pneumonia and that he ought to take antibiotics and go home and rest. According to Gilliam, Ledger said, “No way. I’m not going to go home, because I can’t sleep, and I’ll be just thinking about the situation. I’d rather stay here and work.â€
Although “he would arrive in the morning completely knackered,†Gilliam says, “by the end of the day he was beaming, glowing with energy. It was like everything was put into the work, because that was the joy; that’s what he loved to do. The words were just pouring out. It was like he was channeling.â€
Ledger’s apathy for stardom
• Ledger’s friend and agent, Steven Alexander, tells Biskind that Heath “was always hesitant to be in a summer blockbuster, with the dolls and action figures and everything else that comes with one of those movies. He was afraid it would define him and limit his choices.†According to friends of Ledger’s, one of the reasons he agreed to do Dark Knight was that the unusually long shoot would give him an excuse to turn down other offers.
Alexander tells Biskind that Ledger had a pay-or-play deal on The Dark Knight—meaning he’d get compensated no matter what—so he felt he had the freedom to do whatever he wanted as the Joker. According to Pecorini, Ledger hoped his performance would be so far-out he’d be fired, and thus become the beneficiary of a lengthy, paid vacation.
“He was ready to bust out of the gate, but he didn’t want to step on the gas and become something that he didn’t want to become: a matinee idol,†says Alexander. “He was a private person, and he didn’t want to share his personal history with the press. It just wasn’t up for sale. That’s part of the reason he initially tore down his career. He wasn’t motivated by money or stardom, but by the respect of his peers, and for people to walk out of a movie theater after they’d seen something that he’d worked on and say, ‘Wow, he really disappeared into that character.’ He was striving to become an ‘illusionist,’ as he called it, able to create characters that weren’t there.â€
New Release Dates For “The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus”
Goods news for UK and other European fans of Heath Ledger and Terry Gilliam: ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ which also stars Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell, will be released in cinemas after all.
We received word on Friday from Lionsgate that an October date has finally been set for the theatrical release of the film in The UK (which I have been promised I will be attending an advanced screening of, hopefully shortly). I hope to have an exact date in a reply shortly.
No US date has yet been set, but I strongly agree with The Playlist (via Hey U Guys) it’s highly possible that the division of Lionsgate on the other end of the Atlantic will secure a similar deal for a limited run.
Thank you to Sylvia for the e-mail tip regarding the other Euro dates.
According to IMDB, the following additional European release dates are also scheduled:
Italy 4 September 2009
Romania 18 September 2009
New Zealand 24 September 2009
Czech Republic 1 October 2009
Australia 29 October 2009
Belgium 11 November 2009
France 11 November 2009
Germany 3 December 2009
Netherlands 3 December 2009
The film, set in the present day, follows the immortal 1,000-year-old Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) as he leads a travelling theatre troupe that offers audience members a chance to go beyond reality through a magical mirror in his possession. Members of the troupe include a sleight of hand expert, Anton (Andrew Garfield), and a dwarf, Percy (Verne Troyer); Parnassus had been able to guide the imagination of others through a deal with the Devil (Tom Waits), who now comes to collect on the arrangement, targeting the doctor’s daughter (Lily Cole). The troupe, which is joined by a mysterious outsider named Tony (portrayed by Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell), embark through parallel worlds to rescue the girl.
~source:thecinemapost
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” has screened in Cannes
Terry Gilliam has always seemed like the last apostle of unfettered fantasy in an age insistent on prosaic reality. The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus is a typically staunch defence of the transformative power of the imagination and its ability to change the world.
This is the purest expression of Gilliam’s distinctive sensibility in a long while, complete with outbursts of Pythonesque humour, entrancing dream landscapes, strange creatures, a dapper devil and a wise midget. It is an incredibly rich stew of a film and an often wilfully eccentric proposition for a mainstream audience. Despite the attractions of a stellar cast, its appeal will be largely confined to loyal Gilliam fans and those seeking a last look at the legacy of the late Heath Ledger, who died during the film’s production. The end credits for Imaginarium bill it as a film from Heath Ledger and friends.
A reunion of Gilliam with Charles McKeown, his screenwriter collaborator on Brazil (1985) and The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen (1988), Imaginarium features many of the preoccupying themes and visual trademarks of Gilliam’s career. In many respects it has the air of a fond and perhaps final return to some very familiar ground. Christopher Plummer’s Dr Parnassus even feels like the kind of doddering seer of a figure who would seem very much at home in the company of Gilliam’s liars, rogues and vagabonds like Munchausen and Don Quixote.
Parnassus is thousands of years old and immortal. He now runs a ramshackle travelling magic show with his daughter Valentina (Lily Cole), eager assistant Anton (Andrew Garfield) and dwarf Percy (Verne Troyer). But Parnassus has made a deal with the devil, called Mr. Nick (Tom Waits) to pursue the great love of his love. The price was that the devil would come to reclaim the soul of their child on her sixteenth birthday which in the case of Valentina, is just days away.
Always a betting man, the Devil offers Parnassus a further wager. The first of them to claim five souls wins the prize of Valentina. The wager takes place as the troupe save the life of disgraced charity boss Tony (Heath Ledger), who they find hanging from a bridge.
Parnassus takes place in a contemporary London that Gilliam paints as a grim city populated by narrow-minded individuals with no sense of imagination. It is a despairing, old man’s vision of a world that needs a little magic and hope more than ever. Those qualities arise in the various journeys undertaken to secure the five souls and save Valentina. If an individual can be persuaded to step through the mirror of the imaginarium, they pass into an
idyllic fantasy of their happiest imagining whether that’s a Willy Wonka land of chocolates and sweets for a child or a land of enticing consumer goods and gliding gondolas for one older woman.
These sequences give full reign to Gilliam’s visual imagination as a huge head of Parnassus appears from the sand or the devil transforms himself into a giant, slithering snake. In one bizarre moment, a band of cross-dressing policemen embark on a song’n’dance routine to entice new recruits with an appetite for violence. It is the most obvious nod to Gilliam’s Python past in the film.
Parnassus is a visual treat but one that many will find lacking in coherence or self-discipline.
The death of Heath Ledger has prompted an elegant solution that works in terms of the film’s narrative as Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell all assume the role of Tony during the narrative. These transitions take place during the visits through the Parnassus looking glass so it seems entirely believable that Tony might change physical shape as he enters a different world and more of his true personality is stripped away to reveal the villain beneath.
In one sequence tiny boats bearing images of Rudolph Valentino, James Dean and Princess Diana float by and there is an eerily resonant tribute paid to those who die young and will never grow old or feeble.
Ledger’s final performance once again underlines his considerable screen presence and winning way with comedy but the film’s best turn comes from a dazzling Andrew Garfield as Anton. Deeply in love with Valentina and deeply jealous of her affection for Tony, he captures all the eagerness and wounded pride of his character in a totally delightful performance that is a further testimony to the versatility of an actor who seems comes up with something fresh in every film (Boy A, Lions For Lambs etc).
To anyone not sympathetic to Gilliam’s flights of fantasy, Parnassus will reek of rambling self-indulgence but fans will welcome it as a return to what he does best.
First look at “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” at Cannes opening
A long-awaited sneak peek into Heath Ledger’s final work is finally here.
At the opening ceremony of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, an 18-second clip from the Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus was played for the lucky audience. Dressed in a white costume, Heath addresses the audience of his traveling Imaginarium.
In the movie, Heath plays the leader of a magical theatre troupe who has made a deal with the devil, and take their audience on a journey through their own imaginations. Heath was in the middle of filming the fantasy film when he tragically passed away last January.
Ledger’s role was recast with Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Johnny Depp, as they play his character Tony as he travels through a dream world. All three actors are donating their salaries from the movie to Ledgers’s young daughter, Matilda.
Currently, the film does not have a release date.
“Dark Knight” Nominated for MTV Movie Award
MTV’s 2009 Movie Award Nominations Are Packed With Comic Book Nods — Vote Now!
Voting is officially open for the 2009 MTV Movie Awards, and you’ve never had more opportunities to let your votes do the talking when it comes to comic book movies.
Last year’s wealth of films based on comic book properties is indeed reflected in this year’s list of MTV Movie Award nominees, with 11 nominations spread over 7 categories — from the grand “Best Movie†all the way to the most head-scratching “Best WTF Moment.â€
You can log in and cast your votes for all of the categories before Wednesday, May 27, but voting for “Best Movie†will remain open right up until the big show on Sunday, May 31. Read on for a roundup of the categories and nominees comic book fans should pay extra attention to this year.
BEST MOVIE: “The Dark Knight†takes on “Iron Man†in this category — but the real question is whether either film will be able to compete with “Twilight†in the MTV audience. Come on, comic book crew, give ‘em heck!
BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE: Angelina Jolie’s role as the super-sexy Fox in “Wanted†nabbed her a nomination for best female performance. Are you going to be the one to deny Fox a vote (or anything else, for that matter)? I didn’t think so.
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE: It’s Batman vs. Iron Man as Christian Bale’s performance in “The Dark Knight†receives a nomination alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s “Iron Man,†Tony Stark. Can either of them beat Zac Efron, though?
BEST VILLAIN: Sure, the late, great Heath Ledger is likely to have his great performance as The Joker in “The Dark Knight†recognized by fans, but Luke Goss is also in the running for his “Hellboy II: The Golden Army†role.
BEST KISS: “Wanted†gets another nomination for its steamy lip-lock between Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy. But was it more memorable than the vampire-human makeout session in “Twilight� Only you can decide!
BEST FIGHT: It’s another comic book twosome, but instead of locking lips, these comic book duets are fighting to be recognized as the best brawl of 2008. Christian Bale and Heath Ledger worked out their anger issues in “The Dark Knight,†but Ron Perlman and Luke Goss got downright supernatural in their “Hellboy II†battle.
BEST WTF MOMENT: It’s a big ol’ spoiler, so we’ll understand if you refrain from checking this one out — but there’s a lot to be said for the “Wanted†moment that’s vying for this head-scratching award. Sure, it was a bit of a departure from the comic book story, but it was still a big part of this hit adaptation. If you’ve seen the film, go ahead and vote it up, folks.
Head over to the official MTV Movie Movie Awards page for all of the categories, as well as video nominations and information about this year’s big event.
~source:MTV Splash Page
You can vote here:Official MTV Movie Awards Page
Heath Ledger’s Music Videos Come To Light
Two music videos which represent actor Heath Ledger’s last directorial work before his death in January 2008 will be released this year.
Modest Mouse plans to release the animated video for “King Rat,” a bonus track from the band’s 2007 “We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank,” Billboard has confirmed. The news was first reported by Spin magazine on its website. A video for Grace Woodroofe’s cover of David Bowie’s “Quicksand” is also set for release this year, along with her Ben Harper-produced debut album, the L.A. Weekly reports.
The Oscar-winning actor directed “King Rat” for Modest Mouse after meeting singer Isaac Brock in Australia. “Heath and I have a mutual friend and when we were in Australia, my fiancé and some of us in the band went out on a boat with him and his family and friends and talked about the idea,” Brock told VH1 in 2007 interview. “The idea sort of dropped, but then he just sent me an email saying that he wanted to do it.”
It was illustrated by Daniel Auber, a member of Ledger’s art collective the Massive.
Modest Mouse are meanwhile planning a series of singles to precede No One’s First and You’re Next, an eight-song EP due in August.
Sneak Peek at Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Terry Gilliam has made this little “sneak peek” for The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.
Gives you a good feel for what the film will be like!
EW Scans: “Heath’s Last Film”
We’ve just added the following scans to the gallery from this week’s Entertainment Weekly
You can view the large versions here: EW 13 Mar 09 Album
