Goodbye Heath.

[adamblast]

I can't tell you how shocking and sad this is. Damn. Damn.

His portrayal of Ennis DelMar meant the world to me.

Bye, Heath. We love you.

:grouphug:

[Maven]

1. This is so sad.

:(

[CurtEastPoint]

2. Ditto. I was so touched by his portrayal. This is such a shame.

It appears drug-related, but it is still early. When will these young folks (and some not so young) learn? We will miss Heath?

[Chipper Chat]

3. I'm sick.

I was having such a good day and suddenly Wolf Blitzer 'broke' the news to me. He was one of my favorite actors - so intelligent. He supposedly made many suggestions to Ang Lee while filming. Farewell, and I will always love you Heath.

[swimmernsecretsea]

4. Talented and far too young.

He leaves a child behind.

I have heard stories of actors who rejected the role because of fear. I heard stories of teen suicides prevented, older men and women recalling how identical to the story in "Brokeback Mountain" their lives were to his character. I heard of social groups and online groups formed around fans who could not get the story out of their heads long after they'd left the movie theater.

Popular art can have a way to do so much good and influence lives in so many ways more than entertaining us. I will miss his work, and forever wonder what contributions he might have brought us all had he lived longer.

[dbackjon]

5. I wonder how many non-LGBTers

Really realize how groundbreaking Brokeback Mountain was, and how good it was to see actors like Heath and Jake take those roles, and pour their heart and souls into them.

[swimmernsecretsea]

7. They do.

I've even had people I've known for years ask me "Is that what it's like?" To which I'll respond, "Sometimes it's not even like you could imagine." I have talked to others older than I in an effort to understand how it felt to be closeted in the years before Stonewall. They can't describe it. They often say hiding their personal life became such an instinct that even today they use euphemisms and are vague in their descriptions without meaning to be.

I hope his taking on this role helped at least a few more actors to take on roles they otherwise would not have.

[Meldread]

6. This is horrible.

And that does not even go far enough to describe it. He was so talented and intelligent. I don't think it was drug use. I think it was an accidental overdose. He threw himself into the role as the Joker, and apparently threw himself so far into it he was having trouble sleeping. He began to really stress out. He's admitted to taking more than one sleeping pill, and that they haven't been working very well for him. It's possible that he became so sleep deprived and stressed out, that in a disoriented state of mind that he accidentally overdosed. That's what I think happened.

I hope it wasn't a drug problem. That wasn't like Heath.

It's so sad. My heart breaks for his daughter - she'll never know how awesome her father truly was and how much he loved her.

[Meldread]

10. They are saying the following:

1. The cops say it does not look like suicide.

2. He also had pneumonia.

So it looks like I could be right. It was an accident - if you combine the lack of sleep, the pneumonia, plus the stress... It's just asking for an accident.

Some how that makes it all the more tragic.

[bliss_eternal]

8. I'm beyond stunned...

:cry::(

Bless him for his brave, honest work in Brokeback Mountain. I wish his work in the film had been honored, it was deserved.
May he rest in peace.

[Ayesha]

9. So Sad

His portrayal of Ennis touched me. I also loved him in A Knight's Tale.

I've had this video in my favorites list for a while, and this news has made it even more heartbreaking and powerful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynxkMjeo1jA

[bigscott]

13. thanks for the Vid Ayesha

May Heath Rest In Peace. he will be missed by many:cry:

[Tresalisa]

11. This is awful!!!!

28 years old, his whole life ahead of him, and leaving behind a young daughter who will never know her dad.

[Chovexani]

12. I cried today when I found out.

I feel the same way as you. Not only was he a tremendous talent but what he did touched the lives of so many GLBT people, especially those in rural areas who thought they were alone until they saw their lives on screen for the first time.

[Der Blaue Engel]

15. It really affected me too

Like the loss of River Phoenix years ago. Two amazingly talented young actors who clearly put their souls into their work.

I'm just stunned. :cry:

[bigwillq]

14. RIP Heath

:cry:

[ThomCat]

16. He will always be loved by a lot of people in the Gay community.

He and Jake Gyllenhaal broke some serious ground and represented us very well in Brokeback Mountain.