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~ | | | . . . . 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~ | . . 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. | | | |
| | | . . . . . . ."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~ | |
| "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~ | | | |
| . . . . | | 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 |
| | . . . . “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~ | | | | |
| | | | . . "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~ | | |
| | | . . . . 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 ~ | | | | | |
| | | | . . . . . . "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~ | | |
| | . . . . . . 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~ | | | | |
| . . .
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.
| | |
* 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 DayGod : Time to get goin', Cowboy. By DoodlerFor a moment in time, we ALL are Ennis on that dusty quiet street......By CANSTANDITWe've got to stand it.
Contributors: KittyHawk, Tellyouwhat, Whiplash, ROCO, quoted forum members.
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