Distant tragedy
Jan. 22nd, 2008 09:24 pmWhen I was a young girl, I had a terrible crush on an actor. I mean, DUH, I was an adolescent girl living in the United States during the 80s.
Which actor?
I'm not remotely embarrassed to admit that my big "movie star" crush was River Phoenix. I adored him. I watched just about every piece of crap film he was in *just because he was in it.* (Ok, I did NOT see My Private Idaho, but I really do NOT like Keanu Reeves.)
When he died, it was really shocking. He didn't seem to me to be the type to do all that scary wild partying with drugs and strangers and craziness. He was an activist for various causes and an outspoken vegan. *THIS* guy died outside of a club due to a drug overdose? WTF? He was 23.
A couple of years ago, I noticed an up-and-coming fellow. He did some small time films and a TV series. Jonathan Brandis was a cutie with great intensity and those amazing eyes. He killed himself in 2003. He was 25.
Today I went to check my email, and Yahoo had a breaking story:
Actor Heath Ledger dies at 28.
Here is a link to a story. When the news broke, the story seemed to be that he had been found by his housekeeper when she went to tell him that his massage therapist was there for his appointment, and that a bottle of pills had been found nearby.
The latest stories are saying that he was found naked, face down, "surrounded by pill bottles" and most news agencies are already calling it a "drug-related death." Seriously, folks. Do a google search, and stare into the abyss that passes for the media in this country. Bleah.
I'm very annoyed by this. I want information, but I am not interested in hearing the media's gleeful assumptions. I adored Heath Ledger, and I'm not one of these Johnny-come-latelies who dig him because he's the new Joker, or because he played a gay cowboy eatin' pudding. I loved him in Roar. I loved him in A Knight's Tale. I loved him in 10 Things I Hate About You.
The autopsy report won't be available until Wednesday.
Another report manages to explain that the bottles of pills he was "surrounded by" consist of two bottles: one over the counter and the other prescription. The pills were sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication. (Psst: Minidoc! You got any theories here?)
At any rate, apparently I shouldn't develop a crush on a movie star unless he's over the age of 30.
(Mental note to self: Quit looking at those Weasley Twins, damn it!)
Which actor?
I'm not remotely embarrassed to admit that my big "movie star" crush was River Phoenix. I adored him. I watched just about every piece of crap film he was in *just because he was in it.* (Ok, I did NOT see My Private Idaho, but I really do NOT like Keanu Reeves.)
When he died, it was really shocking. He didn't seem to me to be the type to do all that scary wild partying with drugs and strangers and craziness. He was an activist for various causes and an outspoken vegan. *THIS* guy died outside of a club due to a drug overdose? WTF? He was 23.
A couple of years ago, I noticed an up-and-coming fellow. He did some small time films and a TV series. Jonathan Brandis was a cutie with great intensity and those amazing eyes. He killed himself in 2003. He was 25.
Today I went to check my email, and Yahoo had a breaking story:
Actor Heath Ledger dies at 28.
Here is a link to a story. When the news broke, the story seemed to be that he had been found by his housekeeper when she went to tell him that his massage therapist was there for his appointment, and that a bottle of pills had been found nearby.
The latest stories are saying that he was found naked, face down, "surrounded by pill bottles" and most news agencies are already calling it a "drug-related death." Seriously, folks. Do a google search, and stare into the abyss that passes for the media in this country. Bleah.
I'm very annoyed by this. I want information, but I am not interested in hearing the media's gleeful assumptions. I adored Heath Ledger, and I'm not one of these Johnny-come-latelies who dig him because he's the new Joker, or because he played a gay cowboy eatin' pudding. I loved him in Roar. I loved him in A Knight's Tale. I loved him in 10 Things I Hate About You.
The autopsy report won't be available until Wednesday.
Another report manages to explain that the bottles of pills he was "surrounded by" consist of two bottles: one over the counter and the other prescription. The pills were sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication. (Psst: Minidoc! You got any theories here?)
At any rate, apparently I shouldn't develop a crush on a movie star unless he's over the age of 30.
(Mental note to self: Quit looking at those Weasley Twins, damn it!)