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Jack Nicholson: I warned Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger Rex Features

Jack Nicholson has hinted he warned Heath Ledger about taking on such a dark role as The Joker.

When asked by a photographer in London about the actor’s tragic passing, Nicholson replied ambiguously: ‘I told him so.’ The actor himself played the role in Batman.

In an interview with the New York Times, Heath spoke of how the role of The Joker in his last completed film, The Dark Knight, left him unable to sleep and relying on sleeping pills that are, at this time, thought to be the reason behind his suspected accidental overdose.

Of his Joker role, he said: ‘I stressed out a little too much.’ The part of the ‘psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy’ left him unable to sleep. ‘Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going.’

Along with his split from the mother of his daughter, Michelle Williams, last September, demanding roles and the American ‘media machine’ were thought to have left the talented star suffering with anxiety; according to sources, he hated the spotlight, self-marketing and rootlessness that his profession brought with it.

Upon becoming a star after his big break, A Knight’s Tale, Ledger already had misgivings about the acting industry. In one interview, he explained: ‘I pretty much had anxiety attacks about leaving the house.’

Prescription anxiety drugs, Valim and Zoloft, as well as the sleeping mediaction, Ambien, were found in the vicinity of Ledger’s body.

An initial autopsy carried out by the New York City Medical examiner was ‘inconclusive’, but his family have strongly rejected speculation that he committed suicide.

From Heath’s home town, Perth, his father, Kim, said: ‘We confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda.’

And reports that he asked a friend to call and ‘wake me up’ in the morning, support this theory.

Film director Shekhar Kapur said Ledger had asked him to call the next morning during a conversation on the eve of the tragedy.

Kapur, who directed Ledger in The Four Feathers, telephoned him on Monday after arriving in New York from London.

‘I last spoke to him the night before he died. He said he could not see me that night but really wanted to meet me the next day. He made me promise that I would call him in the morning and wake him up. I tried. Little did I know that his soul had already left his body,’ he said.

He added: ‘He was one of the most gentle, most honest, most caring, and most compassionate persons I had met.’

Meanwhile, reports have emerged that the masseuse who, along with a housekeeper, found Heath unconscious in his apartment, called Mary-Kate Olsen before calling the emergency services. Mary-Kate told the masseuse she would send over her private security and the massage therapist then dialed 911.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR HEATH LEDGER RETROSPECTIVE

Thursday 24 January 2008


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My heart goes out not only to Heath Ledger's family but Heath.

In september 2006 I lost my Dad, then in Novemebr I lost my Nephew through suicide, Then January 2007 I lost my First cousin and 2 weeks later I lost my Uncle. Then October 2007 I lost a cousin again through Suicide.

I still hurt thinking of how lonely it must be to die alone. Poor poor Heath. I just hope his family, the media, public remember his smile and happy times and not dwell on the dark. No one will ever know and its easier to cherish the smile.

May his soul rest in peace
Comment by Fiona Mutale on January 24 10:08

ist appsears that the movie industry is not the moment ssecure of all careers and if he felt that he was not in right place he should have spoken to someone before he had his sad untimely death, and preferably if he did believe in G-dft he should have asked him for confirmation. about his career and sort of films he was acting in. sad
Comment by valerie sutcliffe on January 24 09:34

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