A Loving Tribute to Heath Ledger

Saturday, January 26th, 2008
A Loving Tribute to Heath Ledger
Man Father Brother Son Lover Actor Friend
1979 ~ 2008
In celebration of the life and career of the much loved and respected Heath Ledger, who passed from
this life far too soon. Heath left a legacy that has touched and encouraged countless lives as a gifted
actor, generous friend, devoted father, and unique individual.
Heath was born in Perth, Western Australia, and named after one of the main characters in Emily
Bronte's Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff. He attended Grammar School, where he had his first acting
experiences, starring in a school production as Peter Pan at age 10. At sixteen, Heath took early
graduation exams, and left school to pursue an acting career in Sydney. He returned to Perth for the
TV series Sweat in which he played a gay cyclist. Biography from Wikipedia.
"Heath will be our generation's James Dean now. Gifted,
beautiful, mesmerizing, and taken from us far too young with so
much still ahead." ~Madlori~
"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." ~Warner Brothers Alan Horn and Jeff
Robinov~
"Heath's portrayal of Ennis was truly 'the stuff of Hollywood
legend' as the NYT review said. What a brave and heart-rending
performance. Can't think of anything comparable — penetrating
the core of a loveable yet tragically conflicted, homophobic gay
man — brilliant psychological/emotional insight into the heart
and soul of a tortured individual. God bless you Heathcliff!"
~Sebastian~
"He has made a lasting impression on my life, as has the movie
itself. In that, his impact and memory will live in me for years to
come, as I believe he will live in so many peoples lives. What he
gave with his extra-ordinary talent and grace will be carried in
our hearts and memories." ~valkyrie~
"Heath's death seems eerily reminiscent of BBM itself: a promising life taken pointlessly and all too
early, great opportunities lost... As if this were life imitating art and reinforcing its message.... Thank
you for Ennis, Heath. May God rest your beautiful soul." ~mariska~
"His Ennis changed my life, and many of our lives, forever. Peace be with you, Heath." ~pwday~
By PatSinnott
"We knew him not for being big, but for risking and being small... for the little moments,
looks, thoughts, truths. That's why we're sad, crying, grieving." ~Alma~
"Saying goodbye to Heath is saying goodbye to something that might have been."
~Bobby19in1963~
"One of the finest actors of his generation.'' ~Fellow actor Noni Hazlehurst~
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Do Not Stand by My Grave and Weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
by Mary Elizabeth Frye
Submitted by Trekfan
Heath, you touched more lives in your short time on earth than you could possibly imagine. ~WLAGuy~
"There's no words…." ~Winterbird~
"Thank you for taking on the role of Ennis Del Mar, and for being a part of a movie
that touched us all here. It is through your acting that many people were awakened
to take action in their own lives, make changes, move on, and become different."
~CellarDweller115~
"Heath was so much Brokeback to me. He was the embodiment. He was Ennis." ~jstephens9~
Dear Heath, the sun sets over your life and I don't
pretend to know or understand why you should not
see another sunrise, and I cry me a river of tears
today thinking of you--thinking of my co-worker
who met you last August and told you that Brokeback Mountain
had changed his life and you told him that was so nice to hear,
and I wonder if you knew how many people wished they could
thank you for that... Was your work here done? If things happen
for a reason, why did this happen? Was it a good reason?
I don't pretend to know, but it hurts...
~Lyle (Mooska)~
By Trinket
"It was first and utmost Heath Ledger's heart rendering portrayal
of Ennis that shook me to the core." ~Valkyrie~
"To me, Heath Ledger is Ennis Del Mar. And when I finally read the Proulx story,
Ennis will be Heath. The sheer strength and beauty of that richly textured performance,
which doesn't quite seem like a performance at all, is forever etched in my heart."
~ KZ~
."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."
~Mel Gibson~
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Heath was known and respected as a man
of resounding integrity who chose his
acting roles for the personal and creative
challenge they posed, unfettered by desires
for fame, fortune and notoriety. The very
definition of a true artist.
Heath had aspirations of becoming a film
director and started a record company
directing three music videos:Morning
Yearning with co-owner Ben Harper and
two video clips for Australian hip-hop
artist N'fa -Cause an Effect and Seduction
Is Evil (She's Hot). He also wanted to make
a film about the British troubadour Nick
Drake who died tragically young at the age
of 26 in 1974, creating and appearing in a
short film Black Eyed Dog.
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"Working with Heath was one of the purest joys
of my life. He brought to the role of Ennis more
than any of us could have imagined — a thirst for
life, for love and for truth, and a vulnerability that
made everyone who knew him love him. His
death is heartbreaking."
~Ang Lee~
"Watching any of his movies, even the ones I
don't care for will become an act of celebration.
Not to watch him on the screen will be a snub I
care not to make... and every tear that falls will
be well spent in memory of one who will never
know the depths that his art went in the lives of
ordinary (and not so ordinary) folks. I miss you
already Heath." ~Andy~
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Heath's Film Career
Paws, playing Oberon
Blackrock, playing Toby
10 Things I hate About You, playing Patrick Verona
Two Hands, playing Jimmy
The Patriot, playing Gabriel Martin
Monster’s Ball, playing Sonny Grotowski
A Knight’s Tale, playing Sir William Thatcher/Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein
of Gelderland
The Four Feathers, playing Harry Faversham
The Order, playing Alex Bernier
Ned Kelly, playing Ned Kelly
The Brothers Grimm, playing Jacob Grimm
Lords of Dogtown, playing Skip Engblom
Brokeback Mountain, playing Ennis delMar
Casanova, playing Giacomo Casanova
Candy, playing Dan
I’m Not There, playing Robbie Clark
Black Eyed Dog, character was unnamed
The Dark Knight, playing the Joker
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, in production at the time of his
death
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“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.”
“I adored him. I don't know how to
compare his talent to others, but he's
touched me deeply as a talent and, it’s a
great loss.” ~John Travolta~
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"Heath Ledger did so much for so
many including me. It seems like
we have to say goodbye to him the
way that he said goodbye to Jack
Twist - no chance to hold him or
help him or even say goodbye
properly at all." ~Zach~
So now the man who was Ennis
belongs to the ages. But no one can
ever take from him, or from you, the
fact that his performance and your
movie are immortal. They will never
die.
~Josh Indiana~
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I watched Casanova (where) he was
capable of lighter-than-air comedy.
Sure, he had his dark side, but he could
be charming and debonnair as well. In
his too-brief journey through this
world, he made his mark. He gave a lot
of people something priceless,
something no one else could have
given them. ~PaulH ~
By EDelMar
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"He was always a complex
and complicated man to work
with but ... just a master. ~
Neil Armfield, director of
Candy~
"I feel so sad and just weirdly
privileged to have been
involved with him. What
amazed me about Heath was
his amazing tactile, emotional
response to a script and other
actors." ~Luke Davies,
scriptwriter of Candy~
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He has been described as a bit of a "renegade,"
"outsider," edgy and even "bohemian" or
perhaps someone who seemed to be still soul
searching as to who and what he wants to be in
life. ~Noelmichael~
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Daddy and Me
Awards and Achievements
Academy Awards
2006 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Brokeback
Mountain (Nominated)
Australian Film Institute Awards
1999 - Best Lead Actor, Two Hands (Nominated)
2003 - Best Lead Actor, Ned Kelly (Nominated)
2006 - Best Lead Actor, Candy (Nominated)
BAFTA
2006 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Brokeback
Mountain (Nominated)
Golden Globe Awards
2006 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama,
Brokeback Mountain (Nominated)
Independent Spirit Awards
2008 - Robert Altman Award, I'm Not There. (Won) *shared w/ cast
and crew.
2006 - Best Male Lead, Brokeback Mountain (Nominated)
MTV Movie Awards
2006 - Best Kiss, Brokeback Mountain (Won) *shared w/ Jake
Gyllenhaal
2002 - Best Kiss, A Knight's Tale (Nominated) *shared w/ Shannyn
Sossamon
2002 - Best Musical Sequence A Knight's Tale (Nominated) *shared
w/ Shannyn Sossamon
2000 - Best Musical Sequence 10 Things I Hate About You
(Nominated)
Screen Actors Guild Awards
2006 - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture,
Brokeback Mountain (Nominated)
2006 - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role,
Brokeback Mountain (Nominated)
Information compiled by Wikipedia
Heath, thank you for giving us Ennis and so much more. We'll miss you forever and a day. By xqsmwa
oh heath, why did you leave so damn soon?
i loved you the first time i saw your face
i miss you so much already, dear boy.
and will never forget your warmth
fly your soul to a happier place
go on now and be yourself
and rest your weary head.
and bathe in the light.
by gnash
Heath, we mourn for the years you will not have, for your daughter, your family, your friends. We
mourn for performances that would have spoken to the heart and awakened the soul. We thank you,
with words that can not truly express our gratitude for bringing Ennis del Mar to life, in one of the
finest and most meaningful portrayals in acting history.
Heath, we swear…
By tfmisc
* The TDS tribute to Jackie - Paintedshoes - will be posted on Sunday. *
Forum Posts of the Day
Beautifully posted in the Farewell to Heath thread
"Heath's portrayal of Ennis in Brokeback Mountain was one of the most moving performances I've
ever seen. He made the character so real to me that for months afterward, I worried about "Ennis" and
how he was doing. It was a feeling I couldn't shake; that's how powerful Heath's performance was."
~CBY~
Quote of the Day:
Both Mr. Ledger and Mr. Gyllenhaal make this anguished love story physically palpable. 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.
~ Stephen Holden, New York Times ~
Photo Captions of the Day
From Photo Captioning Fun 3
God : Time to get goin', Cowboy.
By Doodler
For a moment in time, we ALL are Ennis on that dusty quiet street......
By CANSTANDIT
We've got to stand it.