Heath Ledger found dead in Manhattan Apartment.
02-06-08, 12:36 PM
#701
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Originally Posted by fumanstan
I said this before in this thread, but unless he was intending to kill himself or intending to screw himself up I don't see how it isn't an accident by definition.
I don't know, I guess I don't have much sympathy for addicts, especially when they have kids.
02-06-08, 12:50 PM
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080206/...o/heath_ledger
That last statement just backs up what I said previously.
Chris
Accidental pill overdose killed Ledger
By AMY WESTFELDT, Associated Press Writer
52 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of painkillers, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication and other prescription drugs, the New York City medical examiner said Wednesday.
The cause of death was "acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine," spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said in a statement.
The medical examiner's office only provided generic names, so it is unknown whether he took generic or brand-name drugs. Police had said they found six types of prescription drugs, including sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication, in Ledger's apartment.
Oxycodone is a painkiller marketed as OxyContin and used in other painkillers such as Percodan and Percocet; hydrocodone is used in a number of painkillers, including Vicodin.
Diazepam and alprazolam are the generic names for the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax, and the other two drugs are sleep aids commonly sold under the brands Restoril and Unisom.
Borakove wouldn't say what concentrations of each drug were found in Ledger's blood, or whether one drug played a greater part than another in causing his death.
"What you're looking at here is the cumulative effects of these medications together," she said.
The ruling comes two weeks after the 28-year-old Australian-born actor was found dead in the bed of his rented SoHo apartment.
Ledger's family returned to the actor's hometown of Perth, Australia, on Tuesday to prepare for his funeral. Arrangements were private.
In a statement released through Ledger's publicist, the actor's father, Kim, said Wednesday: "While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage."
Heath Ledger was discovered by his masseuse Jan. 22 after she arrived for an appointment that afternoon. She entered his bedroom to set up for the massage and found him unresponsive, and proceeded to call Mary-Kate Olsen three times over the next 9 minutes before dialing 911. Ledger had been dead for some time, and police say no foul play occurred. Police said they found a rolled-up $20 bill near the bed.
Ledger, nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Brokeback Mountain," had returned to New York from London, where he had been filming a $30 million Terry Gilliam film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," days before his death. He said in a November interview that his roles in the Batman movie "The Dark Knight" and the Bob Dylan biopic "I'm Not There" had taken a toll.
"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 had taken two Ambien pills, which only gave him an hour of sleep.
By AMY WESTFELDT, Associated Press Writer
52 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of painkillers, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication and other prescription drugs, the New York City medical examiner said Wednesday.
The cause of death was "acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine," spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said in a statement.
The medical examiner's office only provided generic names, so it is unknown whether he took generic or brand-name drugs. Police had said they found six types of prescription drugs, including sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication, in Ledger's apartment.
Oxycodone is a painkiller marketed as OxyContin and used in other painkillers such as Percodan and Percocet; hydrocodone is used in a number of painkillers, including Vicodin.
Diazepam and alprazolam are the generic names for the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax, and the other two drugs are sleep aids commonly sold under the brands Restoril and Unisom.
Borakove wouldn't say what concentrations of each drug were found in Ledger's blood, or whether one drug played a greater part than another in causing his death.
"What you're looking at here is the cumulative effects of these medications together," she said.
The ruling comes two weeks after the 28-year-old Australian-born actor was found dead in the bed of his rented SoHo apartment.
Ledger's family returned to the actor's hometown of Perth, Australia, on Tuesday to prepare for his funeral. Arrangements were private.
In a statement released through Ledger's publicist, the actor's father, Kim, said Wednesday: "While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage."
Heath Ledger was discovered by his masseuse Jan. 22 after she arrived for an appointment that afternoon. She entered his bedroom to set up for the massage and found him unresponsive, and proceeded to call Mary-Kate Olsen three times over the next 9 minutes before dialing 911. Ledger had been dead for some time, and police say no foul play occurred. Police said they found a rolled-up $20 bill near the bed.
Ledger, nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Brokeback Mountain," had returned to New York from London, where he had been filming a $30 million Terry Gilliam film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," days before his death. He said in a November interview that his roles in the Batman movie "The Dark Knight" and the Bob Dylan biopic "I'm Not There" had taken a toll.
"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 had taken two Ambien pills, which only gave him an hour of sleep.
That last statement just backs up what I said previously.
Chris
02-06-08, 01:25 PM
#703
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I'm pretty sure he died of a drug overdose...an accidental one. The guy was having trouble sleeping, just flew back from London...(so now you are dealing with a time zone difference as well as a long flight) According to an interview I was reading with Christopher Plummer...he was sick as well and was due to fly out to British Columbia this weekend. He took too may different medications, his system was already comprimised by being ill...and he died from some sore of accute intoxication. It happens to people....that is how Gerald Levert died...although everyone thought it was a heart attack...it wasn't. Oh yeah, Levert was also ill with pneumonia.
The man had a massage therapist coming and had dinner plans. It's not like he was River Freaking Phoenix who was doing speedballs. Give it a rest people.
Ditto. Poor me, I don't know how to quote myself....
The man had a massage therapist coming and had dinner plans. It's not like he was River Freaking Phoenix who was doing speedballs. Give it a rest people.
Ditto. Poor me, I don't know how to quote myself....
Last edited by zoomgirl; 02-06-08 at 01:44 PM.
02-06-08, 01:41 PM
#704
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I don't think there's been a person here, that I can recall, who has said that he offed himself on purpose, at least not in an "I'm so tired of living" sort of way. He did take a lot of drugs, obviously, and he may have gotten them from various sources, but even though he intentionally took them, he most likely didn't intend to kill himself. When people get sick, especially where sleep deprivation is involved, they're not exactly in their right state of mind. They just want the pain to go away. He was taking what made him feel better, and in his state, it probably didn't cross his mind that he could actually be hurting himself. Does that make him an addict? By simplest definition, probably so. He was probably addicted to the medications that helped his problems. But I doubt that he did it on purpose.
Last edited by The_Infidel; 02-06-08 at 01:49 PM.
02-06-08, 11:06 PM
#705
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The cumulative effect of all those drugs, esp the benzos (the Valium, Ativan, Xanax)was the major thing that did him in. Factor in the heavy smoking history and the respiratory infection and you have a bad bad situation.
My understanding is, if you take a 10 mg Valium today, tomorrow 5 mg will still be in your system, so if you take another 10, you essentially have 15 mg, and so on and so on. Do this with such an array of drugs, add booze, which potentiates most drugs, the compromised respiratory system, and you have a road map to death.
This was a terrible, terrible waste. And the lesson is don't fuck with prescription pills. A young man like this, barring some kind of traumatic injury, should not have been in enough pain to warrant that much medication. And if he had that much anxiety, or insomnia, he could have gone to the greatest sleep clinic in NYC, or pursued any number of therapists or specialists. Popping pharmaceuticals like they are Pez is nothing but a one way ticket to the Valley of the Dolls.
My understanding is, if you take a 10 mg Valium today, tomorrow 5 mg will still be in your system, so if you take another 10, you essentially have 15 mg, and so on and so on. Do this with such an array of drugs, add booze, which potentiates most drugs, the compromised respiratory system, and you have a road map to death.
This was a terrible, terrible waste. And the lesson is don't fuck with prescription pills. A young man like this, barring some kind of traumatic injury, should not have been in enough pain to warrant that much medication. And if he had that much anxiety, or insomnia, he could have gone to the greatest sleep clinic in NYC, or pursued any number of therapists or specialists. Popping pharmaceuticals like they are Pez is nothing but a one way ticket to the Valley of the Dolls.
02-07-08, 11:26 AM
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Are the press just being nice by calling it "accidental?" Is it totally ruled out that it wasn't a suicide? Is it or isn't abnormal to take a drug cocktail of at least four different drugs if you are normal healthy person? I have no idea, i'm no expert on drug cocktails, but do people normally do that or it's just something a sick person, old person, or dying person would do - take a combination of at least 4 different drugs? As stressed as someone may be, isn't that just common knowledge not to mix so many different drugs?
02-07-08, 11:55 AM
#707
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Originally Posted by toddly6666
Are the press just being nice by calling it "accidental?" Is it totally ruled out that it wasn't a suicide? Is it or isn't abnormal to take a drug cocktail of at least four different drugs if you are normal healthy person? I have no idea, i'm no expert on drug cocktails, but do people normally do that or it's just something a sick person, old person, or dying person would do - take a combination of at least 4 different drugs? As stressed as someone may be, isn't that just common knowledge not to mix so many different drugs?
Basically it looks like he had two tracks of meds -- one from europe, one from the US. Two painkillers (strong, stronger), two anxiety (strong, stronger), two sleep (strong, and arguable as it could be seen as anti-anxiety but it is perscribed for insomnia as well, stronger).
Odds are he tried one set, got mixed results, tried the next set and either died then or got poorer results, switched back and died. It really isn't that uncommon, unfortunately. Additionally, theres nothing saying he took them incorrectly, his system may have simply not complete cleared them out.
It doesn't surprise me, though, as I've had "dangerous" conflicting meds prescribed to me in the past. One from an oral surgeon and the other from my primary. But basically his death can be interpreted anyway you want, call him an addict, call it accidental, call it intentional... Doesn't matter, he's dead and nobody will likely ever know. Additionally, he was apparently sick ("walking pneumonia" was what somebody was quoted I believe) and suffering from long-term insomnia at the time, that's not really "healthy" in my mind.
From the look/sound of it, it was a careless mistake which cost him. (careless being he likely didn't research his meds before taking em. A lot of people tend to do that, hopefully some will start taking notice these days.)
Last edited by RichC2; 02-07-08 at 12:02 PM.
02-18-08, 06:44 PM
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http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/za...,5855224.story
Chris
A-List Trio Replaces Heath Ledger in 'Imaginarium'
Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law will appear in Terry Gilliam directed film
February 18, 2008
"The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," Heath Ledger's last film, will move forward with a trio of A-list actors taking over for the deceased star.
According to Ain't It Cool News, which even scooped trade heavyweight Variety, Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell will play Tony in the Terry Gilliam-directed feature.
The plot revolves around a man (Ledger) who discovers three mirrors, each of which transport him into a different dimension. Law, Depp and Farrell will play the character in those other dimensions.
"Imaginarium," which also stars Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield and Verne Troyer, is intended for a 2009 release. It's unclear when the movie will resume production.
Ledger was found dead from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in his Manhattan apartment on Jan. 22.
Depp, up for an Oscar for "Sweeney Todd," will shoot Michael Mann's "Public Enemies" next.
Most recently seen in "Sleuth," Law has "My Blueberry Nights" and "Repossession Mambo" on tap.
If you live in the right places, you can currently see Farrell in "Cassandra's Dream" and "In Bruge." He's already completed work on the 2009 release "Pride and Glory."
Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law will appear in Terry Gilliam directed film
February 18, 2008
"The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," Heath Ledger's last film, will move forward with a trio of A-list actors taking over for the deceased star.
According to Ain't It Cool News, which even scooped trade heavyweight Variety, Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell will play Tony in the Terry Gilliam-directed feature.
The plot revolves around a man (Ledger) who discovers three mirrors, each of which transport him into a different dimension. Law, Depp and Farrell will play the character in those other dimensions.
"Imaginarium," which also stars Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield and Verne Troyer, is intended for a 2009 release. It's unclear when the movie will resume production.
Ledger was found dead from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in his Manhattan apartment on Jan. 22.
Depp, up for an Oscar for "Sweeney Todd," will shoot Michael Mann's "Public Enemies" next.
Most recently seen in "Sleuth," Law has "My Blueberry Nights" and "Repossession Mambo" on tap.
If you live in the right places, you can currently see Farrell in "Cassandra's Dream" and "In Bruge." He's already completed work on the 2009 release "Pride and Glory."
Chris
02-18-08, 08:02 PM
#709
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^^ so was Heath originally intended to play all three parts or were three actors always going to do it?
It seems odd that they'd replace him with 3 people if that wasn't the original plan.
It seems odd that they'd replace him with 3 people if that wasn't the original plan.
02-18-08, 08:57 PM
#710
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by GoldenJCJ
^^ so was Heath originally intended to play all three parts or were three actors always going to do it?
It seems odd that they'd replace him with 3 people if that wasn't the original plan.
It seems odd that they'd replace him with 3 people if that wasn't the original plan.
02-18-08, 10:11 PM
#711
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Originally Posted by Drexl
I think he was supposed to play all the parts. The way I understand it, the character goes into these mirrors and comes out as someone else (but it was going to be with the same general appearance), so with him not being available now, they decided to have other actors play the alter egos.
02-19-08, 04:03 AM
#712
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Originally Posted by Superman07
Well, if he went to multiple doctors with the purpose to get more/different items to help with "the problem", then I feel the blame lies with him. He may not have know the full extent of what may happen, but he would have known enough that he was doctor hopping.
However, I wonder where the pharmacy comes into play here. Or are they only operation under the information that you give them v what is in a database?
However, I wonder where the pharmacy comes into play here. Or are they only operation under the information that you give them v what is in a database?
Unfortunately the pharmacy would only know information that was available to them i.e. what you tell them and what you have filled in the past and any other information your doctor can provide if that information is pursued. That is why electronic records of people's medical history is a very important step in healthcare becoming much safer.
Also remember that just because a medication is over the counter doesn't make it safe. The same goes for a lot of these "natural" herbs. OTC doesn't mean safe, both tylenol and advil kill tens of thousands of people every year. People have to be safe with EVERY drug they take and only take it as directed and beware of possible side effects.
02-21-08, 01:26 AM
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Untitled Heath Ledger Project
A great analysis of the media's gun-jumping reports, as well as the supposed 'double life' of the man, who if one believes what is written here, didn't actually have a double life at all.
It's a very good and thoughtful read, the antithesis of cheap tabloid gossip.
A great analysis of the media's gun-jumping reports, as well as the supposed 'double life' of the man, who if one believes what is written here, didn't actually have a double life at all.
It's a very good and thoughtful read, the antithesis of cheap tabloid gossip.
02-28-08, 11:53 AM
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http://www.tmz.com/2008/02/28/feds-i...ibed-to-heath/
Chris
Feds Investigating Docs Who Prescribed to Heath
Posted Feb 28th 2008 10:44AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has confirmed that federal drug enforcement agents are investigating at least two MDs who prescribed drugs to Heath Ledger.
Immediately following the actor's death, DEA reportedly subpoenaed several documents from the NYPD and the Medical Examiner to try to determine exactly where Ledger got his cocktail of prescriptions that eventually caused his death. The agents are looking into whether these drugs were properly prescribed by physicians.
Story developing ...
Posted Feb 28th 2008 10:44AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has confirmed that federal drug enforcement agents are investigating at least two MDs who prescribed drugs to Heath Ledger.
Immediately following the actor's death, DEA reportedly subpoenaed several documents from the NYPD and the Medical Examiner to try to determine exactly where Ledger got his cocktail of prescriptions that eventually caused his death. The agents are looking into whether these drugs were properly prescribed by physicians.
Story developing ...
Chris
02-28-08, 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Drexl
I think he was supposed to play all the parts. The way I understand it, the character goes into these mirrors and comes out as someone else (but it was going to be with the same general appearance), so with him not being available now, they decided to have other actors play the alter egos.
08-04-08, 11:58 AM
#716
DVD Talk Legend
I thought this was interesting, if nothing else:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08042008...eal_122918.htm
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08042008...eal_122918.htm
Pint-size actress Mary-Kate Olsen has refused to be interviewed by federal investigators probing the accidental drug death of her close friend Heath Ledger unless she receives immunity from prosecution, The Post has learned.
The actress' lawyer has repeatedly rebuffed attempts by the feds to question Olsen, who was the first person called after her masseuse discovered Ledger's body in his SoHo apartment in January.
Frustrated federal officials could obtain a grand-jury subpoena to compel the funky "Full House" actress to tell them whatever she knows about the "Dark Knight" star's behavior, his possible drug use and the events of that fateful morning, according to sources.
Probers have interviewed everyone connected to Ledger and his death, including his doctors, the masseuse, bodyguards, housekeepers, business associates and even the mother of his 2-year-old daughter, Matilda, his "Brokeback Mountain" co-star Michelle Williams.
"Ms. Williams was extremely nice and cooperative," a source said.
Another added, "Everyone has been very eager to help, saying what a great guy Heath Ledger was, everyone except Mary-Kate, who has refused to speak."
That source explained that Olsen would be the final witness they need to conclude their investigation into where he got his drugs and medicines.
Ledger - whose performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" has ignited Oscar buzz - died of a potent cocktail of prescription drugs and OxyContin, the latter of which was likely obtained illegally.
His death was ruled an accidental drug overdose by the medical examiner.
And NYPD investigators closed their probe without interviewing Olsen because, they said, they got all the cooperation they needed from others. That decision, however, surprised some observers, considering Olsen's role as a potential witness.
Instead of calling emergency responders after getting the call from her masseuse, Olsen telephoned her bodyguards in the Big Apple, telling them to race to Ledger's Broome Street home, where they arrived just as paramedics got to the scene.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration, which opened an investigation to determine the sources of Ledger's drugs, was not as sanguine as the NYPD about talking to the 4-foot-11, 90-pound Olsen.
The feds contacted her lawyer, Michael Miller, several times recently seeking her cooperation, but Miller has told the feds Olsen won't be interviewed unless she gets immunity, exercising her constitutional rights.
According to sources, all of the drugs in Ledger's body and discovered nearby in prescription bottles were legally obtained from two physicians - with the exception of OxyContin, a powerful painkiller.
Investigators "are trying to ID the source of the OxyContin," a source said. "Did it come from a dealer, from a friend? If he had a bottle from a friend, was it taken by someone else before police responded? That is what is trying to be determined."
The DEA probers were also aggressive with the NYPD, the sources said, and were forced to threaten to obtain a grand-jury subpoena before getting the department's Ledger files.
An NYPD spokesman said the department never balked at handing over the files and did so after receiving a routine federal administrative subpoena.
Asked whether he asked for immunity for his client, Olsen's lawyer said, "We are not going to comment on whether there is a criminal investigation," and declined to speak further.
The sources said Ledger's employees reached out to Olsen because they panicked at finding his body and did not know what to do.
As for the bodyguards, they claimed they responded only to offer help.
The actress' lawyer has repeatedly rebuffed attempts by the feds to question Olsen, who was the first person called after her masseuse discovered Ledger's body in his SoHo apartment in January.
Frustrated federal officials could obtain a grand-jury subpoena to compel the funky "Full House" actress to tell them whatever she knows about the "Dark Knight" star's behavior, his possible drug use and the events of that fateful morning, according to sources.
Probers have interviewed everyone connected to Ledger and his death, including his doctors, the masseuse, bodyguards, housekeepers, business associates and even the mother of his 2-year-old daughter, Matilda, his "Brokeback Mountain" co-star Michelle Williams.
"Ms. Williams was extremely nice and cooperative," a source said.
Another added, "Everyone has been very eager to help, saying what a great guy Heath Ledger was, everyone except Mary-Kate, who has refused to speak."
That source explained that Olsen would be the final witness they need to conclude their investigation into where he got his drugs and medicines.
Ledger - whose performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" has ignited Oscar buzz - died of a potent cocktail of prescription drugs and OxyContin, the latter of which was likely obtained illegally.
His death was ruled an accidental drug overdose by the medical examiner.
And NYPD investigators closed their probe without interviewing Olsen because, they said, they got all the cooperation they needed from others. That decision, however, surprised some observers, considering Olsen's role as a potential witness.
Instead of calling emergency responders after getting the call from her masseuse, Olsen telephoned her bodyguards in the Big Apple, telling them to race to Ledger's Broome Street home, where they arrived just as paramedics got to the scene.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration, which opened an investigation to determine the sources of Ledger's drugs, was not as sanguine as the NYPD about talking to the 4-foot-11, 90-pound Olsen.
The feds contacted her lawyer, Michael Miller, several times recently seeking her cooperation, but Miller has told the feds Olsen won't be interviewed unless she gets immunity, exercising her constitutional rights.
According to sources, all of the drugs in Ledger's body and discovered nearby in prescription bottles were legally obtained from two physicians - with the exception of OxyContin, a powerful painkiller.
Investigators "are trying to ID the source of the OxyContin," a source said. "Did it come from a dealer, from a friend? If he had a bottle from a friend, was it taken by someone else before police responded? That is what is trying to be determined."
The DEA probers were also aggressive with the NYPD, the sources said, and were forced to threaten to obtain a grand-jury subpoena before getting the department's Ledger files.
An NYPD spokesman said the department never balked at handing over the files and did so after receiving a routine federal administrative subpoena.
Asked whether he asked for immunity for his client, Olsen's lawyer said, "We are not going to comment on whether there is a criminal investigation," and declined to speak further.
The sources said Ledger's employees reached out to Olsen because they panicked at finding his body and did not know what to do.
As for the bodyguards, they claimed they responded only to offer help.
