Heath Ledger Died Of Accidental Overdose
The actor Heath Ledger died accidentally as the result of “acute intoxication” caused by his abuse of six different prescription drugs including oxycodone and hydrocodone, a Wednesday report by the New York City Chief Medical Examiner said.
Ledger died of “the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine,” Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office, said in a brief news release.
“We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications.”
Oxycodone and hydrocodone are narcotic painkillers. The other four drugs have sedative effects and are used to treat a variety of symptoms including insomnia and the anxiety that accompanies clinical depression.
Ledger, 28, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in “Brokeback Mountain,” died on Jan. 22 in his New York City apartment, where his body was discovered by his housekeeper after his masseuse showed up for an appointment.
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Fantastic Sale Of Heath Ledger Films
Three movies featuring Heath Ledger shot into Amazon.com’s top seller’s in past days, headed by his early comedy ‘10 Things I Hate About You’.
‘A Knight’s Tale’ and the critically acclaimed ‘Brokeback Mountain’ have also found renewed popularity from customers of the website.
Aside from Ledger’s past films, a Youtube clip featuring Ledger speaking about his upcoming role as the Joker in the new Batman film has received over a million hits in recent days.
As yet Warner Bros have announced no change to the release date of ‘The Dark Knight’, which is due to hit cinema screens on the 18 July.
Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers, says, “Certainly The Dark Knight is one of the most anticipated films of the year.
“I think Warners is just going to stay the course and keep marketing the film.”
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Ledger’s funeral arrangements a mystery
Details about funeral arrangements for actor Heath Ledger remained secret as his body was taken from a Manhattan funeral home.
Ledger’s publicist, Mara Buxbaum, said Friday the arrangements “will continue to be kept private at the family’s request.”
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said his government would do whatever was needed to help the family bring back the 28-year-old Ledger’s body to Australia.
His body was moved from the police-barricaded funeral home amid a swarm of cameras and reporters at about 4 p.m. Friday. Meanwhile, police insisted they have no interest in interviewing actress Mary-Kate Olsen, who was the first person a masseuse called after finding an unresponsive Ledger in a Manhattan apartment Tuesday.
In her first comment since the Australian-born actor’s death, Olsen issued a statement that read: “Heath was a friend. His death is a tragic loss. My thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time.”
Police said the masseuse who found Ledger’s body spent nine minutes making three calls to the “Full House” actress before dialing 911 for help, then called Olsen a fourth time after paramedics arrived. At some point during the flurry of calls, Olsen, who was in California, summoned her personal security guards to the apartment to help, police said.
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Johnny Depp to replace Heath Ledger in ‘Dr Parnassus’?
Director Terry Gilliam is determined to finish shooting Heath Ledger’s last film ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ with Johnny Depp in his place.
Filming on the set of the fantasy movie was allegedly abandoned following the death of the actor, who was found dead in his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon (22Jan08).
But reports now claim Gilliam is keen to have the Pirates of the Caribbean star stand in for the tragic Ledger to complete the remaining scenes.
A studio source tells The Sun:‘There is a point in the film when Heath falls through a magic mirror. He could change into another character after that and that is where Johnny would come in. It’s a weird, fantasy, time-travel movie so Heath’s character could easily change appearance. It would be a poignant moment.’
‘Johnny’s not working at the moment so everyone is praying he will do it.’
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Heath Ledger’s death shuts down Gilliam’s ‘Parnassus’
Heath Ledger’s death has caused production on Terry Gilliam’s indie film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus to temporarily shut down.
Variety reports Ledger’s death has left Gilliam’s “Parnassus” film with the option of replacing the actor, shooting around him, or abandoning the film completely. The film (which is set for a $30 million budget) is being produced by Samuel Hadida, Bill Vince and Amy Gilliam.
It is largely financed through Hadida’s Paris-based Davis Film, and Ledger’s involvement on the project was said to be a key to getting the money for the film.
Ledger was one of the biggest names signed to the film – which also includes Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole and Tom Waits. The film’s plot follows an ancient traveling show that goes to modern London with a magic mirror with the ability to take its audience into fantastical realms of the imagination.
Plummer had signed for the role of Dr. Parnassus, and Ledger had taken the role of the mysterious outsider who joins the troupe on a quest through parallel worlds to save the doctor’s daughter (Cole) from the devil (Waits)
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Heath’s autopsy report is in…
The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office have released some details of Heath Ledger’s autopsy – and the results are “inconclusive”. A spokeswoman for the office, Ellen Borakove, says that it will take around ten days to complete a full investigation to determine the cause of death.
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Jack Nicholson On Heath Ledger’s Death: “I Told Him So”
Ledger – who has taken over Nicholson’s role as the Joker in the latest instalment of the Batman franchise - was pronounced dead in New York on Tuesday following a suspected drugs overdose.
Entertainmentwise has learnt that Nicholson – who is in London promoting The Bucket List - was confronted by a fan outside the Wolseley restaurant, who asked the veteran actor what he thought about the 28-year-old’s sudden passing.
“I told him so,” the 70-year-old replied cryptically.
Ledger’s body was discovered by a maid in his Manhattan apartment on Tuesday night.
The actor was reportedly found naked in his bed by the maid and the masseuse with pills scattered across his body.
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