tagged w/ Heath Ledger
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EVERY cent of Heath Ledger's estimated $20 million fortune will go to his daughter, Matilda Rose, the dead star's father has revealed.
In Ledger's will, which has been probated behind closed doors at the Supreme Court in Perth, the actor left everything to his parents and three sisters.
Observers expected Ledger's former partner, Michelle Williams, to lodge a claim on the will, which was signed by the actor on April 12, 2003, two years before Matilda was born.
But Ledger's father, Kim, says there will be no challenge. Everything has been given to Matilda, he says.
The will left half the estate to Ledger's sisters, Kate and Olivia Ledger and Ashleigh Bell. The remainder was to go to his father and mother Sally Bell, after debts had been paid.
"There is no claim," Mr Ledger says. "Our family has gifted everything to Matilda."
Adelaide accountant Mark Dyson, an executor of the Ledger estate, says he cannot reveal what Matilda will inherit. But the author of a new biography on Ledger predicts that regardless of how much she inherits, blonde-haired Matilda will have a tough childhood.
British author Brian J. Robb says Matilda, who turns three on October 28, is destined to be as famous a celebrity child as Michael Hutchence's daughter, Tiger Lily.
Matilda Rose was only two when her father was found dead in his New York apartment.EVERY cent of Heath Ledger's estimated $20 million fortune will go to his... more
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ivxx
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Pulitzer prize-winning author Annie Proulx calls the film adaptation of Brokeback Mountain "a source of constant irritation" as she's bombarded with pornographic fan literature.
The fact that Brokeback Mountain contained very little sex was applauded at the time of the film's release as a masterstroke of discretion on the part of director Ang Lee. Some Brokeback fans, however, evidently yearned for a more graphic approach, and have taken steps to compensate for the film's lack of explicit sexuality.
Numerous steamy rewrites of the love tale have been sent to author Annie Proulx, who wrote the short story Lee's film was based on, and she's not happy about it. "There are countless people out there who think the story is open range to explore their fantasies and to correct what they see as an unbearably disappointing story," she told The Wall Street Journal. "They constantly send ghastly manuscripts and pornish rewrites of the story to me, expecting me to reply with praise and applause for 'fixing' the story. They certainly don't get the message that if you can't fix it, you've got to stand it."Pulitzer prize-winning author Annie Proulx calls the film adaptation of Brokeback... more
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‘The Dark Knight’ could become the most successful movie in the world, but why exactly?
1. A dead man in a starring role – a James Dean romance.
2. Batman, every kid’s hero, shows his bad boy edge as a playboy millionaire.
3. It’s a comic book thriller for adults.
4. The myth of Batman’s living in a cave - the eponymous Batcave - is shattered. This time around, the hero lives in a glass penthouse.
5. ‘The Dark Knight’ has been filmed for IMAX movies, putting the action in 3D.
6. Music by the German ‘Mozart of the Oscars’, Hans Zimmer (‘The DaVinci Code, ‘Simpsons’, etc.)
7. The movie is so different that you don’t want it to stop, despite a running legnth of two and a half
8. Heroes die and show their evil sides: “Either you die as a hero or you live long enough to become bad!”
9. Superstar Christian Bale (34) is the best Batman ever. There have been seven.
10. After the European premiere in London, Bale got in trouble with the police when his mother accused him of abuse. She reportedly demanded $200,000 from him.
Is The Dark Knight the best Batman movie ever?‘The Dark Knight’ could become the most successful movie in the world, but... more
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Jaeger
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The late Heath Ledger's daughter Matilda was spotted skipping along the streets of NYC yesterday with her mom Michelle Williams in the cutest pink sundress. Every time I see a photo of the 2-year-old I can't believe how much she looks like her dad. He definitely lives on through her.
As most of you probably know, Heath was filming Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus" at the time of his death. Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell stepped in to complete Heath's role, playing different versions of his character "Tim."
When the three actors learned that Ledger's will had not been updated to include his daughter, the generous trio decided to donate all the money they earned from the film to little Matilda!
It's good to know that there are a few nice guys in Hollywood. The late Heath Ledger's daughter Matilda was spotted skipping along the streets... more
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Searches are up for dark knight curse, after yet another actor from the new Batman movie appears to have been struck by a supposed curse on the film.Searches are up for dark knight curse, after yet another actor from the new Batman... more
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A nautical-themed bar-restaurant, a venture which was part owned by Heath Ledger, is to open in Brooklyn, New York.
The establishment's interior will include features designed by the actor.A nautical-themed bar-restaurant, a venture which was part owned by Heath Ledger, is... more
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rwylie
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Following rumors that actress Mary-Kate Olsen was refusing to speak with federal prosecutors about her connection to the criminal drug case linked to the death of Heath Ledger, the criminal inquiry has been dropped. Heath Ledger's death has been attributed to a toxic mixture including illegally obtained painkillers.Following rumors that actress Mary-Kate Olsen was refusing to speak with federal... more
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The box-office behemoth, expected to pass the $400 million mark this week, is notorious as being the late Heath Ledger’s last completed movie.
Now Morgan Freeman, the 71-year-old actor who plays Batman’s techie Lucius Fox, is in serious condition following a car accident in Mississippi late Sunday night.
The Oscar-winning actor was driving his wife’s friend Demaris Meyer’s 1997 Nissan Maxima when it rolled off Tallahatchie County Highway 32, flipping over several times. Meyer was treated for minor injuries and released.
Freeman, who was driving to his Charleston home, reportedly suffered broken ribs and was air-lifted to Regional Medical Center in Tennessee.
This tragedy follows assault allegations made last month by the mother and sister of “Dark Knight” star Christian Bale. The 34-year-old Bale denied the charges. He’ll be back in court next month.
“Dark Knight,” is dedicated to both the 28-year-old Ledger, who died of an accidental overdose last Jan. 22, and Conway Wickliffe, 41, a stunt supervisor who died in a freak accident in London while setting up a car crash.
“The Dark Knight” joins a grim list of “cursed” flicks. The “Superman” hex struck Christopher Reeve, who shot to fame after starring in the 1978 movie, after he broke his neck in a horse riding accident. Television’s original “Superman,” George Reeves died in an apparent suicide in 1969.
The 1982 horror classic “Poltergeist” was haunted by the premature deaths of two of its female stars. Vanity Fair celebrity scribe Dominick Dunne’s daughter Dominique was murdered by her live-in lover soon after the film was finished. And Heather O’Rourke, the film’s child star, died in 1988 at age 12 of cardiopulmonary arrest prompted by Crohn’s disease.
The box-office behemoth, expected to pass the $400 million mark this week, is... more
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As the investigation surrounding Heath Ledger’s accidental overdose continues, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration office in New York has confirmed to “Access Hollywood” that they have issued a subpoena that would force Mary-Kate Olsen to testify in front of a grand jury.
Five medications were found in Ledger’s body at the time of his death, according to the DEA, three of which he’d obtained via doctors in Texas and Los Angeles. At the center of the investigation is how he acquired Oxycontin and Vicodin without a legal prescription.
Olsen was the first person called by the masseuse who discovered Ledger’s body after the “The Dark Knight” actor’s untimely death.As the investigation surrounding Heath Ledger’s accidental overdose continues,... more
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ivxx
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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.
Pint-size actress Mary-Kate Olsen has refused to be interviewed by federal... more
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The Dark Knight, the latest in a new series of films based on the popular DC Comics character Batman, has had the good fortune of grossing almost $400 million dollars through this past weekend. That good fortune has not rang true for some of its actors.
The Dark Knight received much fanfare months before its release due to the tragic death of Heath Ledger, who plays the latest incarnation of the Joker in the film. Many critiques have noted that this was Ledger's best work in an illustrious, albiet sadly cut short acting career.
Ledger was found unconscious in his apartment,in New York City on January 22, 2008. Emergency crews arrived soon after but were unable to revive him. His death occurred while The Dark Knight was in post production.
The Dark Knight was released on July 18, 2008 in North America and grossed $67,165,092 on its opening day, beating the previous record of $59.8 million held by Spider-Man 3(2007). Through this past weekend it has grossed over $397 million dollars.
On July 22, 2008, Christian Bale, who reprises his role as Batman appeared at a London police station by and was arrested in connection with an alleged verbal assault on his mother and sister. After being held for more than four hours, he was released on bail, pending further investigation. He has denied these allegations.
In the latest incident, Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman was injured in a car accident late Sunday night scene in Tallahatchie County in the Mississippi Delta. He is currently in a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He is listed in serious condition.
These incidents are obviously not linked, but we as a society like the intrigue of curses and I must feed the fire some. It should also be noted the the film is dedicated in part to Ledger and to technician Conway Wickliffe who was killed during a car accident while preparing one of the film's stunts.
The Dark Knight, the latest in a new series of films based on the popular DC Comics... more
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Moopak
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Federal investigators want to question Mary-Kate Olsen about how Heath Ledger got two powerful painkillers that contributed to his accidental overdose death, but she's refusing to talk without immunity, a law enforcement official said Monday.
Olsen's lawyer has twice refused requests for her to speak with investigators, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. The lawyer, Michael C. Miller, said the "Full House" actress has nothing to do with the drugs, and has already told the government everything she knows.
"We have provided the government with relevant information including facts in the chronology of events surrounding Mr. Ledger's death," Miller said in a statement Monday, "and the fact that Ms. Olsen does not know the source of the drugs Mr. Ledger consumed."
The official confirmed a report that Olsen wants a promise of immunity from prosecution before speaking to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Olsen was a close friend of Ledger's, and was the first person called by a masseuse who found the 28-year-old "Dark Knight" actor's lifeless body in his Manhattan apartment.
Authorities have obtained a subpoena that could force Olsen to appear before a grand jury if negotiations with her lawyer fail, the official said. Other potential witnesses all have answered questions voluntarily, including doctors, Ledger's ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams and anyone who was in his apartment around the time of his death, the official added.
DEA investigators suspect the painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone found in Ledger's system were obtained with phony prescriptions or other illegal means, the official said. Oxycodone is sold as OxyContin; and hydrocodone as Vicodin.
The other drugs, including anti-anxiety medication and sleeping pills, were prescribed legally by doctors in California and Texas, the official said.NEW YORK (AP) -- Federal investigators want to question Mary-Kate Olsen about how... more
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ivxx
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Mary-Kate Olsen has refused to talk to federal investigators regarding Heath Ledger's death in January unless she gets immunity from prosecution first, according to the New York Post. The actress was the first person Ledger's housekeeper called after his masseuse found the actor dead from an accidental overdose in his SoHo apartment January 22.
A lawyer for Olsen has "repeatedly rebuffed attempts by the feds" to speak to his client, the paper reported. Investigators are hoping that Olsen, who was allegedly dating the actor around the time of his death, can help with a few details, like where he got the drugs that caused the overdose and the events that led up to it.
Federal agents have identified the two doctors who prescribed Ledger the drugs that were found in his home at the time of his death, however, they still don't know how he obtained OxyContin, a powerful painkiller that showed up in the actor's autopsy. New York Police Department officials closed their case without talking to Olsen, but the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reportedly wants to speak to her regarding her involvement with the actor.
Olsen's lawyer, Michael Miller, told the Post, "We are not going to comment on whether there is a criminal investigation." Mary-Kate Olsen has refused to talk to federal investigators regarding Heath... more
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Terry Gilliam, who directed Heath Ledger's final, incomplete, movie appearence has said that finishing off his scenes using three different actors has worked "great".
Even though some are sceptical about using four actors to play a single role, according to the director the three other actors; Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrel are "heroes".Terry Gilliam, who directed Heath Ledger's final, incomplete, movie appearence... more
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rwylie
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Could The Dark Knight overtake Titanic to become the largest grossing domestic movie of all time? In just 13 days, The Dark Knight has taken in over $342.6 million domestically, and another $128.3 million internationally. The film is already in the top 15 films of all time, and is adding millions more each day. But will Batman be able to top Titanic’s $600.7 million record? Box office analysts admit that it isn’t out of the question. Most people expect the film to take in at least another $80 million, but who knows how much more.Could The Dark Knight overtake Titanic to become the largest grossing domestic movie... more
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Fatal medication errors increased to 22,770 in 2004 from 3,954 in 1983, according to a study.
Heath Ledger’s accidental overdose from a combination of painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs and sleep aids was part of a dramatic rise in documented accidental deaths from medication mistakes at home.
Researchers from the University of California at San Diego found that deaths from fatal medication errors increased to 22,770 in 2004 from 3,954 in 1983, according to a study in the current Archives of Internal Medicine. Of those deaths, the steepest climb was in people at home who’d combined medications with alcohol or street drugs. There was also a significant increase in domestic errors that didn’t involve alcohol or street drugs. The findings are based on nearly 50 million U.S. death certificates.
Abuse of prescription drugs is playing a role, but valid prescriptions taken in error — especially narcotics, as prescribing of painkillers has become commonplace — are also having an impact, the Associated Press reports. As we’ve explained, even taking medicine in the amounts prescribed by doctors for legitimate medical purposes can sometimes be problematic. That’s especially the case when drugs are mixed.
“When we see overdoses, we’re seeing many more mixed drug overdoses,” Jeffrey Jentzen, president of the National Association of Medical Examiners, told the AP. He added that autopsies are much more likely to include toxicology tests now than they were in the past, contributing to finding more fatal medication errors as cause of death.
Permalink | Trackback URL: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/07/29/deadly-drug-flubs-rise-at-home/trackback/ Fatal medication errors increased to 22,770 in 2004 from 3,954 in 1983, according to a... more
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It's been three years, and the sequal to Batman Begins is finally here, and it's breaking box office records. Is it worth all the hype? How is Heath Ledger's performance? Current viewers give their review of the new movie, The Dark Knight.It's been three years, and the sequal to Batman Begins is finally here, and... more
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How silly is this? The media swooning for a story and Bale is arrested for mouthing off to his family. If that was the rule here in America, we would all be in the clink.How silly is this? The media swooning for a story and Bale is arrested for mouthing... more
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