good night heathcliff

i was shocked when one of my roomies texted me when i was on my way back home battling traffic at the lincoln tunnel. "heath ledger is dead." i texted back. "how". then i was told that it could be accidental overdose. ah, the life of the rich and the very rich.

i had an event near tribeca this afternoon and on my way back, i strolled along soho, stopping by lafayette. less than 10 blocks away from where i sipped my coffee to combat the biting cold, almost 300 people congregated at 421 broome street. on the 4th floor of that building, police found heath dead.

i don't know if this will have a rico yan effect, or even river phoenix. he's really not the matinee idol type. that's not to say that he is a bad actor. on the contrary, he is really good. i was looking forward to his take on Joker and I have placed Dark Knight on my to watch list.

this is too tragic. mostly for his young daughter matilda who will grow up not knowing who and what heath ledger was. depression is an illness and many of us are ignorant to what depression brings. if indeed, this is suicide, then it's an utter waste of precious life and talent.

it's crazy how us normal people think that they have everything - fame and money included, but yet these tragic stuff happen. how we wish we could experience they kind of life they live and not work 50 plus hours a week just to get by.

a few weeks back it was brad renfro. then heath. ahh, the price of fame and fortune.

new york times article here.