A Ledger's Tale

Everybody was thrown for a loop when Heath Ledger died yesterday, except me.

The most complete and subversive coverage of everything can be found at What Would Tyler Durden Do?, which I'm sure will have more posts beyond what's collected here over the next couple of days.

HEATH LEDGER IS DEAD

"HIS ABILITIES ARE RARE"

LEDGER WAS NAKED, FACE DOWN

THE FINAL PICTURES

BEST BUY IS SENSITIVE

MICHELLE WILLIAMS IS DEVASTATED

HEATH LEDGER IS NOW IN HELL

1979 - 2008

LEDGERS AUTOPSY: "INCONCLUSIVE"

LEDGER WAS ON AMBIEN

If you recall, slightly more than a week ago, another young actor was found dead - that was Brad Renfro. It mattered little to me then but it's very important now. You see, both Ledger and Renfro were young, talented actors who died prematurely in connection to drugs, but they've received far different responses. Is this seemingly out-of-the-blue death really just provoking a shocked reaction or are we just showing bigger fan support?

Renfro was never as acclaimed as Ledger, or had as high a profile in Hollywood, even though he could easily lay claim to a resume of co-stars equally as impressive. Renfro came across as trashy while Ledger cut a more elegant figure, roles notwithstanding, which must play a part. Was Ledger benefiting from being more handsome? Even his name is more pleasant than Renfro's. And lest we not ignore the criminal background on Renfro that clearly charted his demise. Is this the wattage of starpower?

Whether our celebrities go suddenly (Kurt Cobain), toe the line for a while (Robert Downey Jr.), or live forever (Keith Richards) , we're all expecting their lifestyle, to some degree, to determine their deathstyle. Some are easier to predict, some are right outta left field, but celebrities die too - and in the same ways as your average person. Let us not forget that, otherwise we deify them beyond the build of their fame.

And hey, there's still Charlie Hunnam (the poor man's Heath Ledger?).