Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

[Guest guest]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2008/01/24/jack-nicholson-s-warned-heath-ledger-\

89520-20296415/

Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

Acting legend warned of pill threat as star battled his private hell

By Tom Pettifor And Fiona Cummins, Showbiz Reporter Tom.Pettifor@...

24/01/2008

He was one of the greatest actors of his generation - but tragic Heath Ledger

could not hide his anguish at being parted from his daughter.

Sick at heart and exhausted by crippling insomnia, the Brokeback Mountain star

tried to stave off his mounting depression with cocktails of prescription pills.

On Tuesday he was found dead from a suspected accidental overdose.

Drugs nearby included Ambien and Zopiclone sleeping aids, the anti-depressant

Zoloft, antianxiety drugs Xanax and Valium and antihistamine Donormyl.

Yesterday as tributes poured in Jack Nicholson - who has spoken out against

Ambien - said grimly: " I warned him to stop.

" I tell people about Ambien. Somebody said 'Take this, it's mild'. I almost

drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house. "

-nominated Heath, 28, was so besotted with two-year-old daughter Matilda

Rose that he said after her birth: " I feel in a sense ready to die because you

live on in your child. "

He was felled by grief at not being able to see her after splitting with fiancee

and Brokeback Mountain co-star , 27. Weeping Maggie Gilliam,

wife of director Terry Gilliam who was working with Heath on his latest movie,

said: " He was on prescription drugs because he was dealing with tragedy in his

life.

" It was not being with his daughter. It was very, very hard for him. It's a

tragedy for everybody who knew him. "

Despite Heath's despair, Maggie insisted he was not suicidal.

She and Terry met him for dinner in London a week ago. She said: " He was on

great form, sparkling and really relaxed. He was speaking about Matilda.

" He was a fabulous and generous person who threw himself 100 per cent into

everything whether it was being a father or an actor. "

But fellow actor Zarin told of the dark undercurrents in his friend's

life. He said: " I'd been hearing for a while that he was in a really bad place. "

Heath's naked body was discovered at his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon

by his housekeeper Theresa and masseuse Diane Lee. A postmortem was

inconclusive and toxicology tests are still being carried out.

Sources claimed the apartment was in a " brokedown " state, virtually unfurnished

with a mattress on the floor serving as a bed.

In one of his last interviews Heath confessed to taking one Ambien pill after

another while filming the new Batman movie The Dark Knight - only to wake an

hour later.

He said: " My body was exhausted and my mind was still racing. "

At the time of his death he had pneumonia.

Ambien is not recommended for people with respiratory diseases.

Patients prescribed Ambien, sold in the UK as Zolpidem, have driven their cars

and had eating binges while still unconscious.

Britain's official medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency, recorded 68 incidents of adverse reactions to Zolpidem

between 2001 and 2005.

flew to New York with Matilda from Sweden after learning the grim news

of Heath's death.

She left the star after three years, reportedly concerned by his increasing use

of drugs including heroin. Her father Larry said: " My heart goes out to everyone

in Heath's family.

" The saddest thing is his daughter who he loved so dearly. "

Heath's distraught father Kim paid tribute with his weeping ex-wife Sally and

daughter Kate at his side.

Speaking outside the family home in Perth, Australia, he said: " Heath touched so

many people. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, lifeloving and

selfless individual. "

Supermodel Helena Christensen, 39, was on her way to visit Heath when told of

his death.

She said: " I am beyond sad and shocked. I had just left him a message and heard

his voice on the machine. He was genuine person, so extraordinarily talented,

raw and honest. "

Mel Gibson, who played Heath's father in The Patriot, said: " He was just taking

off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. "

Kidman said: " What a terrible, terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his

family. "

Former co-star Cate Blanchett added: " I deeply respect Heath's work and always

admired him. "

Warner Bros said: " The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The

entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. "

Australian Premier Rudd said: " We've lost one of our nation's finest

actors in the prime of his life. "

Heath's death forced President Bush to postpone the launch of a campaign aimed

at preventing the abuse of prescription drugs.

The White House said: " We thought it'd be better to postpone the event rather

than run the risk of anyone thinking we were opportunistic. "

One fundamentalist US church plans to picket the star's funeral because of his

role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.

ng Heath a " pervert " , the rampantly homophobic Baptist Church in Kansas

said: " He is now in Hell. "

What he was on..

AMBIEN

Sleeping pill. Patients report binge-eating and driving while unconscious after

taking. Known in Britain as Zolpidem.

VALIUM

Used for insomnia and anxiety. Can cause dizziness and depression.

Should not be taken with anti-depressants.

ZOLOFT

Most popular antidepressant in US. Said to carry lower risk of suicide than

other drugs. Also known as Sertraline.

XANAX

Treats anxiety disorders. Success is reduced if taken for more than eight weeks.

Highly addictive.

Can cause hallucinations.

ZOPLICONE

One of the most addictive sleeping pills. Patients can suffer increased heart

rate, mood changes, anxiety and fatigue.

DONORMYL

Antihistamine with common side-effects of drowsi - ness, insomnia and anxiety.

Users should check before taking with others drugs.

3am's Caroline recalls meeting Heath Ledger

Brooding, anxious and charged with testosterone - when you met Heath Ledger,

there was never any doubt you were in the company of a star.

You would be blindsided by his beauty - his purposefully dishevelled hair and

often unkempt clothes doing little to distract from those chiselled features and

his penetrating stare.

I was fortunate enough to have had several encounters with Heath during his

all-too-short career. And while he was undoubtedly one of the finest actors of

his generation, it was the recognition of his extraordinary talent - and the

fame that accompanied it - that seemed to fuel his inner demons.

The last time I saw Heath was at a Calvin gig in a tiny, dingy venue in

Ladbroke Grove, West London last May.

Publicists for the event clucked and fretted before his arrival. When he did

show up, late and shrouded in a hoodie, he tried to hide amongst a group of his

friends in the upstairs balcony.

A brave fan approached him for a chat. She left, crestfallen, after being told

bluntly that he was enjoying the gig and didn't want to be bothered.

The previous year, Heath was riding high on the success of Brokeback Mountain -

but his elevation into the A-list certainly didn't make him happy.

At the 2006 BAFTAs, Brokeback earned nine nominations. Heath, who was up for

Best Actor, attended the event with his co-star-turned-lover -

and it was clear he wasn't revelling in his success.

He sped down the red carpet, ignoring pleas from fans and photographers to pose

and play the star. He looked uncomfortable in his tuxedo, and making small-talk

just wasn't his thing.

At a post-s soiree at the Chateau Marmont hotel in LA later that same year,

Heath was his usual introverted self. He had missed out on the trophy, but the

plaudits he had garnered for his Academy Award nomination had done little to

salve his torment.

He sat, pensive, consciously not partaking of the self-congratulatory

back-slapping going on all around him.

One party-goer said: " I wish he could lighten up and enjoy his success. "

It was a sentiment I'd felt every time I'd met him.

[Guest guest]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2008/01/24/jack-nicholson-s-warned-heath-ledger-\

89520-20296415/

Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

Acting legend warned of pill threat as star battled his private hell

By Tom Pettifor And Fiona Cummins, Showbiz Reporter Tom.Pettifor@...

24/01/2008

He was one of the greatest actors of his generation - but tragic Heath Ledger

could not hide his anguish at being parted from his daughter.

Sick at heart and exhausted by crippling insomnia, the Brokeback Mountain star

tried to stave off his mounting depression with cocktails of prescription pills.

On Tuesday he was found dead from a suspected accidental overdose.

Drugs nearby included Ambien and Zopiclone sleeping aids, the anti-depressant

Zoloft, antianxiety drugs Xanax and Valium and antihistamine Donormyl.

Yesterday as tributes poured in Jack Nicholson - who has spoken out against

Ambien - said grimly: " I warned him to stop.

" I tell people about Ambien. Somebody said 'Take this, it's mild'. I almost

drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house. "

-nominated Heath, 28, was so besotted with two-year-old daughter Matilda

Rose that he said after her birth: " I feel in a sense ready to die because you

live on in your child. "

He was felled by grief at not being able to see her after splitting with fiancee

and Brokeback Mountain co-star , 27. Weeping Maggie Gilliam,

wife of director Terry Gilliam who was working with Heath on his latest movie,

said: " He was on prescription drugs because he was dealing with tragedy in his

life.

" It was not being with his daughter. It was very, very hard for him. It's a

tragedy for everybody who knew him. "

Despite Heath's despair, Maggie insisted he was not suicidal.

She and Terry met him for dinner in London a week ago. She said: " He was on

great form, sparkling and really relaxed. He was speaking about Matilda.

" He was a fabulous and generous person who threw himself 100 per cent into

everything whether it was being a father or an actor. "

But fellow actor Zarin told of the dark undercurrents in his friend's

life. He said: " I'd been hearing for a while that he was in a really bad place. "

Heath's naked body was discovered at his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon

by his housekeeper Theresa and masseuse Diane Lee. A postmortem was

inconclusive and toxicology tests are still being carried out.

Sources claimed the apartment was in a " brokedown " state, virtually unfurnished

with a mattress on the floor serving as a bed.

In one of his last interviews Heath confessed to taking one Ambien pill after

another while filming the new Batman movie The Dark Knight - only to wake an

hour later.

He said: " My body was exhausted and my mind was still racing. "

At the time of his death he had pneumonia.

Ambien is not recommended for people with respiratory diseases.

Patients prescribed Ambien, sold in the UK as Zolpidem, have driven their cars

and had eating binges while still unconscious.

Britain's official medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency, recorded 68 incidents of adverse reactions to Zolpidem

between 2001 and 2005.

flew to New York with Matilda from Sweden after learning the grim news

of Heath's death.

She left the star after three years, reportedly concerned by his increasing use

of drugs including heroin. Her father Larry said: " My heart goes out to everyone

in Heath's family.

" The saddest thing is his daughter who he loved so dearly. "

Heath's distraught father Kim paid tribute with his weeping ex-wife Sally and

daughter Kate at his side.

Speaking outside the family home in Perth, Australia, he said: " Heath touched so

many people. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, lifeloving and

selfless individual. "

Supermodel Helena Christensen, 39, was on her way to visit Heath when told of

his death.

She said: " I am beyond sad and shocked. I had just left him a message and heard

his voice on the machine. He was genuine person, so extraordinarily talented,

raw and honest. "

Mel Gibson, who played Heath's father in The Patriot, said: " He was just taking

off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. "

Kidman said: " What a terrible, terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his

family. "

Former co-star Cate Blanchett added: " I deeply respect Heath's work and always

admired him. "

Warner Bros said: " The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The

entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. "

Australian Premier Rudd said: " We've lost one of our nation's finest

actors in the prime of his life. "

Heath's death forced President Bush to postpone the launch of a campaign aimed

at preventing the abuse of prescription drugs.

The White House said: " We thought it'd be better to postpone the event rather

than run the risk of anyone thinking we were opportunistic. "

One fundamentalist US church plans to picket the star's funeral because of his

role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.

ng Heath a " pervert " , the rampantly homophobic Baptist Church in Kansas

said: " He is now in Hell. "

What he was on..

AMBIEN

Sleeping pill. Patients report binge-eating and driving while unconscious after

taking. Known in Britain as Zolpidem.

VALIUM

Used for insomnia and anxiety. Can cause dizziness and depression.

Should not be taken with anti-depressants.

ZOLOFT

Most popular antidepressant in US. Said to carry lower risk of suicide than

other drugs. Also known as Sertraline.

XANAX

Treats anxiety disorders. Success is reduced if taken for more than eight weeks.

Highly addictive.

Can cause hallucinations.

ZOPLICONE

One of the most addictive sleeping pills. Patients can suffer increased heart

rate, mood changes, anxiety and fatigue.

DONORMYL

Antihistamine with common side-effects of drowsi - ness, insomnia and anxiety.

Users should check before taking with others drugs.

3am's Caroline recalls meeting Heath Ledger

Brooding, anxious and charged with testosterone - when you met Heath Ledger,

there was never any doubt you were in the company of a star.

You would be blindsided by his beauty - his purposefully dishevelled hair and

often unkempt clothes doing little to distract from those chiselled features and

his penetrating stare.

I was fortunate enough to have had several encounters with Heath during his

all-too-short career. And while he was undoubtedly one of the finest actors of

his generation, it was the recognition of his extraordinary talent - and the

fame that accompanied it - that seemed to fuel his inner demons.

The last time I saw Heath was at a Calvin gig in a tiny, dingy venue in

Ladbroke Grove, West London last May.

Publicists for the event clucked and fretted before his arrival. When he did

show up, late and shrouded in a hoodie, he tried to hide amongst a group of his

friends in the upstairs balcony.

A brave fan approached him for a chat. She left, crestfallen, after being told

bluntly that he was enjoying the gig and didn't want to be bothered.

The previous year, Heath was riding high on the success of Brokeback Mountain -

but his elevation into the A-list certainly didn't make him happy.

At the 2006 BAFTAs, Brokeback earned nine nominations. Heath, who was up for

Best Actor, attended the event with his co-star-turned-lover -

and it was clear he wasn't revelling in his success.

He sped down the red carpet, ignoring pleas from fans and photographers to pose

and play the star. He looked uncomfortable in his tuxedo, and making small-talk

just wasn't his thing.

At a post-s soiree at the Chateau Marmont hotel in LA later that same year,

Heath was his usual introverted self. He had missed out on the trophy, but the

plaudits he had garnered for his Academy Award nomination had done little to

salve his torment.

He sat, pensive, consciously not partaking of the self-congratulatory

back-slapping going on all around him.

One party-goer said: " I wish he could lighten up and enjoy his success. "

It was a sentiment I'd felt every time I'd met him.

[Guest guest]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2008/01/24/jack-nicholson-s-warned-heath-ledger-\

89520-20296415/

Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

Acting legend warned of pill threat as star battled his private hell

By Tom Pettifor And Fiona Cummins, Showbiz Reporter Tom.Pettifor@...

24/01/2008

He was one of the greatest actors of his generation - but tragic Heath Ledger

could not hide his anguish at being parted from his daughter.

Sick at heart and exhausted by crippling insomnia, the Brokeback Mountain star

tried to stave off his mounting depression with cocktails of prescription pills.

On Tuesday he was found dead from a suspected accidental overdose.

Drugs nearby included Ambien and Zopiclone sleeping aids, the anti-depressant

Zoloft, antianxiety drugs Xanax and Valium and antihistamine Donormyl.

Yesterday as tributes poured in Jack Nicholson - who has spoken out against

Ambien - said grimly: " I warned him to stop.

" I tell people about Ambien. Somebody said 'Take this, it's mild'. I almost

drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house. "

-nominated Heath, 28, was so besotted with two-year-old daughter Matilda

Rose that he said after her birth: " I feel in a sense ready to die because you

live on in your child. "

He was felled by grief at not being able to see her after splitting with fiancee

and Brokeback Mountain co-star , 27. Weeping Maggie Gilliam,

wife of director Terry Gilliam who was working with Heath on his latest movie,

said: " He was on prescription drugs because he was dealing with tragedy in his

life.

" It was not being with his daughter. It was very, very hard for him. It's a

tragedy for everybody who knew him. "

Despite Heath's despair, Maggie insisted he was not suicidal.

She and Terry met him for dinner in London a week ago. She said: " He was on

great form, sparkling and really relaxed. He was speaking about Matilda.

" He was a fabulous and generous person who threw himself 100 per cent into

everything whether it was being a father or an actor. "

But fellow actor Zarin told of the dark undercurrents in his friend's

life. He said: " I'd been hearing for a while that he was in a really bad place. "

Heath's naked body was discovered at his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon

by his housekeeper Theresa and masseuse Diane Lee. A postmortem was

inconclusive and toxicology tests are still being carried out.

Sources claimed the apartment was in a " brokedown " state, virtually unfurnished

with a mattress on the floor serving as a bed.

In one of his last interviews Heath confessed to taking one Ambien pill after

another while filming the new Batman movie The Dark Knight - only to wake an

hour later.

He said: " My body was exhausted and my mind was still racing. "

At the time of his death he had pneumonia.

Ambien is not recommended for people with respiratory diseases.

Patients prescribed Ambien, sold in the UK as Zolpidem, have driven their cars

and had eating binges while still unconscious.

Britain's official medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency, recorded 68 incidents of adverse reactions to Zolpidem

between 2001 and 2005.

flew to New York with Matilda from Sweden after learning the grim news

of Heath's death.

She left the star after three years, reportedly concerned by his increasing use

of drugs including heroin. Her father Larry said: " My heart goes out to everyone

in Heath's family.

" The saddest thing is his daughter who he loved so dearly. "

Heath's distraught father Kim paid tribute with his weeping ex-wife Sally and

daughter Kate at his side.

Speaking outside the family home in Perth, Australia, he said: " Heath touched so

many people. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, lifeloving and

selfless individual. "

Supermodel Helena Christensen, 39, was on her way to visit Heath when told of

his death.

She said: " I am beyond sad and shocked. I had just left him a message and heard

his voice on the machine. He was genuine person, so extraordinarily talented,

raw and honest. "

Mel Gibson, who played Heath's father in The Patriot, said: " He was just taking

off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. "

Kidman said: " What a terrible, terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his

family. "

Former co-star Cate Blanchett added: " I deeply respect Heath's work and always

admired him. "

Warner Bros said: " The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The

entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. "

Australian Premier Rudd said: " We've lost one of our nation's finest

actors in the prime of his life. "

Heath's death forced President Bush to postpone the launch of a campaign aimed

at preventing the abuse of prescription drugs.

The White House said: " We thought it'd be better to postpone the event rather

than run the risk of anyone thinking we were opportunistic. "

One fundamentalist US church plans to picket the star's funeral because of his

role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.

ng Heath a " pervert " , the rampantly homophobic Baptist Church in Kansas

said: " He is now in Hell. "

What he was on..

AMBIEN

Sleeping pill. Patients report binge-eating and driving while unconscious after

taking. Known in Britain as Zolpidem.

VALIUM

Used for insomnia and anxiety. Can cause dizziness and depression.

Should not be taken with anti-depressants.

ZOLOFT

Most popular antidepressant in US. Said to carry lower risk of suicide than

other drugs. Also known as Sertraline.

XANAX

Treats anxiety disorders. Success is reduced if taken for more than eight weeks.

Highly addictive.

Can cause hallucinations.

ZOPLICONE

One of the most addictive sleeping pills. Patients can suffer increased heart

rate, mood changes, anxiety and fatigue.

DONORMYL

Antihistamine with common side-effects of drowsi - ness, insomnia and anxiety.

Users should check before taking with others drugs.

3am's Caroline recalls meeting Heath Ledger

Brooding, anxious and charged with testosterone - when you met Heath Ledger,

there was never any doubt you were in the company of a star.

You would be blindsided by his beauty - his purposefully dishevelled hair and

often unkempt clothes doing little to distract from those chiselled features and

his penetrating stare.

I was fortunate enough to have had several encounters with Heath during his

all-too-short career. And while he was undoubtedly one of the finest actors of

his generation, it was the recognition of his extraordinary talent - and the

fame that accompanied it - that seemed to fuel his inner demons.

The last time I saw Heath was at a Calvin gig in a tiny, dingy venue in

Ladbroke Grove, West London last May.

Publicists for the event clucked and fretted before his arrival. When he did

show up, late and shrouded in a hoodie, he tried to hide amongst a group of his

friends in the upstairs balcony.

A brave fan approached him for a chat. She left, crestfallen, after being told

bluntly that he was enjoying the gig and didn't want to be bothered.

The previous year, Heath was riding high on the success of Brokeback Mountain -

but his elevation into the A-list certainly didn't make him happy.

At the 2006 BAFTAs, Brokeback earned nine nominations. Heath, who was up for

Best Actor, attended the event with his co-star-turned-lover -

and it was clear he wasn't revelling in his success.

He sped down the red carpet, ignoring pleas from fans and photographers to pose

and play the star. He looked uncomfortable in his tuxedo, and making small-talk

just wasn't his thing.

At a post-s soiree at the Chateau Marmont hotel in LA later that same year,

Heath was his usual introverted self. He had missed out on the trophy, but the

plaudits he had garnered for his Academy Award nomination had done little to

salve his torment.

He sat, pensive, consciously not partaking of the self-congratulatory

back-slapping going on all around him.

One party-goer said: " I wish he could lighten up and enjoy his success. "

It was a sentiment I'd felt every time I'd met him.

[Guest guest]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2008/01/24/jack-nicholson-s-warned-heath-ledger-\

89520-20296415/

Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

Acting legend warned of pill threat as star battled his private hell

By Tom Pettifor And Fiona Cummins, Showbiz Reporter Tom.Pettifor@...

24/01/2008

He was one of the greatest actors of his generation - but tragic Heath Ledger

could not hide his anguish at being parted from his daughter.

Sick at heart and exhausted by crippling insomnia, the Brokeback Mountain star

tried to stave off his mounting depression with cocktails of prescription pills.

On Tuesday he was found dead from a suspected accidental overdose.

Drugs nearby included Ambien and Zopiclone sleeping aids, the anti-depressant

Zoloft, antianxiety drugs Xanax and Valium and antihistamine Donormyl.

Yesterday as tributes poured in Jack Nicholson - who has spoken out against

Ambien - said grimly: " I warned him to stop.

" I tell people about Ambien. Somebody said 'Take this, it's mild'. I almost

drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house. "

-nominated Heath, 28, was so besotted with two-year-old daughter Matilda

Rose that he said after her birth: " I feel in a sense ready to die because you

live on in your child. "

He was felled by grief at not being able to see her after splitting with fiancee

and Brokeback Mountain co-star , 27. Weeping Maggie Gilliam,

wife of director Terry Gilliam who was working with Heath on his latest movie,

said: " He was on prescription drugs because he was dealing with tragedy in his

life.

" It was not being with his daughter. It was very, very hard for him. It's a

tragedy for everybody who knew him. "

Despite Heath's despair, Maggie insisted he was not suicidal.

She and Terry met him for dinner in London a week ago. She said: " He was on

great form, sparkling and really relaxed. He was speaking about Matilda.

" He was a fabulous and generous person who threw himself 100 per cent into

everything whether it was being a father or an actor. "

But fellow actor Zarin told of the dark undercurrents in his friend's

life. He said: " I'd been hearing for a while that he was in a really bad place. "

Heath's naked body was discovered at his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon

by his housekeeper Theresa and masseuse Diane Lee. A postmortem was

inconclusive and toxicology tests are still being carried out.

Sources claimed the apartment was in a " brokedown " state, virtually unfurnished

with a mattress on the floor serving as a bed.

In one of his last interviews Heath confessed to taking one Ambien pill after

another while filming the new Batman movie The Dark Knight - only to wake an

hour later.

He said: " My body was exhausted and my mind was still racing. "

At the time of his death he had pneumonia.

Ambien is not recommended for people with respiratory diseases.

Patients prescribed Ambien, sold in the UK as Zolpidem, have driven their cars

and had eating binges while still unconscious.

Britain's official medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency, recorded 68 incidents of adverse reactions to Zolpidem

between 2001 and 2005.

flew to New York with Matilda from Sweden after learning the grim news

of Heath's death.

She left the star after three years, reportedly concerned by his increasing use

of drugs including heroin. Her father Larry said: " My heart goes out to everyone

in Heath's family.

" The saddest thing is his daughter who he loved so dearly. "

Heath's distraught father Kim paid tribute with his weeping ex-wife Sally and

daughter Kate at his side.

Speaking outside the family home in Perth, Australia, he said: " Heath touched so

many people. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, lifeloving and

selfless individual. "

Supermodel Helena Christensen, 39, was on her way to visit Heath when told of

his death.

She said: " I am beyond sad and shocked. I had just left him a message and heard

his voice on the machine. He was genuine person, so extraordinarily talented,

raw and honest. "

Mel Gibson, who played Heath's father in The Patriot, said: " He was just taking

off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. "

Kidman said: " What a terrible, terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his

family. "

Former co-star Cate Blanchett added: " I deeply respect Heath's work and always

admired him. "

Warner Bros said: " The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The

entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. "

Australian Premier Rudd said: " We've lost one of our nation's finest

actors in the prime of his life. "

Heath's death forced President Bush to postpone the launch of a campaign aimed

at preventing the abuse of prescription drugs.

The White House said: " We thought it'd be better to postpone the event rather

than run the risk of anyone thinking we were opportunistic. "

One fundamentalist US church plans to picket the star's funeral because of his

role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.

ng Heath a " pervert " , the rampantly homophobic Baptist Church in Kansas

said: " He is now in Hell. "

What he was on..

AMBIEN

Sleeping pill. Patients report binge-eating and driving while unconscious after

taking. Known in Britain as Zolpidem.

VALIUM

Used for insomnia and anxiety. Can cause dizziness and depression.

Should not be taken with anti-depressants.

ZOLOFT

Most popular antidepressant in US. Said to carry lower risk of suicide than

other drugs. Also known as Sertraline.

XANAX

Treats anxiety disorders. Success is reduced if taken for more than eight weeks.

Highly addictive.

Can cause hallucinations.

ZOPLICONE

One of the most addictive sleeping pills. Patients can suffer increased heart

rate, mood changes, anxiety and fatigue.

DONORMYL

Antihistamine with common side-effects of drowsi - ness, insomnia and anxiety.

Users should check before taking with others drugs.

3am's Caroline recalls meeting Heath Ledger

Brooding, anxious and charged with testosterone - when you met Heath Ledger,

there was never any doubt you were in the company of a star.

You would be blindsided by his beauty - his purposefully dishevelled hair and

often unkempt clothes doing little to distract from those chiselled features and

his penetrating stare.

I was fortunate enough to have had several encounters with Heath during his

all-too-short career. And while he was undoubtedly one of the finest actors of

his generation, it was the recognition of his extraordinary talent - and the

fame that accompanied it - that seemed to fuel his inner demons.

The last time I saw Heath was at a Calvin gig in a tiny, dingy venue in

Ladbroke Grove, West London last May.

Publicists for the event clucked and fretted before his arrival. When he did

show up, late and shrouded in a hoodie, he tried to hide amongst a group of his

friends in the upstairs balcony.

A brave fan approached him for a chat. She left, crestfallen, after being told

bluntly that he was enjoying the gig and didn't want to be bothered.

The previous year, Heath was riding high on the success of Brokeback Mountain -

but his elevation into the A-list certainly didn't make him happy.

At the 2006 BAFTAs, Brokeback earned nine nominations. Heath, who was up for

Best Actor, attended the event with his co-star-turned-lover -

and it was clear he wasn't revelling in his success.

He sped down the red carpet, ignoring pleas from fans and photographers to pose

and play the star. He looked uncomfortable in his tuxedo, and making small-talk

just wasn't his thing.

At a post-s soiree at the Chateau Marmont hotel in LA later that same year,

Heath was his usual introverted self. He had missed out on the trophy, but the

plaudits he had garnered for his Academy Award nomination had done little to

salve his torment.

He sat, pensive, consciously not partaking of the self-congratulatory

back-slapping going on all around him.

One party-goer said: " I wish he could lighten up and enjoy his success. "

It was a sentiment I'd felt every time I'd met him.

[Guest guest]

While I was going through nursing home hell, still trying to work, and fighting

to stop the my mother's abuses; I went to a doctor and asked for Ambien. He gave

me a prescription for only 2 weeks, told me it and all prescription sleeping

pills were very addictive, and had other side effects. He said, I'm not a pill

pusher and I will not prescribe any more.

If only other doctors honored their oaths as much as he did.

;

From: mofunnow@...

Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:40:27 -0600

Subject: Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2008/01/24/jack-nicholson-s-warned-heath-ledger-\

89520-20296415/

Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

Acting legend warned of pill threat as star battled his private hell

By Tom Pettifor And Fiona Cummins, Showbiz Reporter Tom.Pettifor@...

24/01/2008

He was one of the greatest actors of his generation - but tragic Heath Ledger

could not hide his anguish at being parted from his daughter.

Sick at heart and exhausted by crippling insomnia, the Brokeback Mountain star

tried to stave off his mounting depression with cocktails of prescription pills.

On Tuesday he was found dead from a suspected accidental overdose.

Drugs nearby included Ambien and Zopiclone sleeping aids, the anti-depressant

Zoloft, antianxiety drugs Xanax and Valium and antihistamine Donormyl.

Yesterday as tributes poured in Jack Nicholson - who has spoken out against

Ambien - said grimly: " I warned him to stop.

" I tell people about Ambien. Somebody said 'Take this, it's mild'. I almost

drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house. "

-nominated Heath, 28, was so besotted with two-year-old daughter Matilda

Rose that he said after her birth: " I feel in a sense ready to die because you

live on in your child. "

He was felled by grief at not being able to see her after splitting with fiancee

and Brokeback Mountain co-star , 27. Weeping Maggie Gilliam,

wife of director Terry Gilliam who was working with Heath on his latest movie,

said: " He was on prescription drugs because he was dealing with tragedy in his

life.

" It was not being with his daughter. It was very, very hard for him. It's a

tragedy for everybody who knew him. "

Despite Heath's despair, Maggie insisted he was not suicidal.

She and Terry met him for dinner in London a week ago. She said: " He was on

great form, sparkling and really relaxed. He was speaking about Matilda.

" He was a fabulous and generous person who threw himself 100 per cent into

everything whether it was being a father or an actor. "

But fellow actor Zarin told of the dark undercurrents in his friend's

life. He said: " I'd been hearing for a while that he was in a really bad place. "

Heath's naked body was discovered at his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon

by his housekeeper Theresa and masseuse Diane Lee. A postmortem was

inconclusive and toxicology tests are still being carried out.

Sources claimed the apartment was in a " brokedown " state, virtually unfurnished

with a mattress on the floor serving as a bed.

In one of his last interviews Heath confessed to taking one Ambien pill after

another while filming the new Batman movie The Dark Knight - only to wake an

hour later.

He said: " My body was exhausted and my mind was still racing. "

At the time of his death he had pneumonia.

Ambien is not recommended for people with respiratory diseases.

Patients prescribed Ambien, sold in the UK as Zolpidem, have driven their cars

and had eating binges while still unconscious.

Britain's official medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency, recorded 68 incidents of adverse reactions to Zolpidem

between 2001 and 2005.

flew to New York with Matilda from Sweden after learning the grim news

of Heath's death.

She left the star after three years, reportedly concerned by his increasing use

of drugs including heroin. Her father Larry said: " My heart goes out to everyone

in Heath's family.

" The saddest thing is his daughter who he loved so dearly. "

Heath's distraught father Kim paid tribute with his weeping ex-wife Sally and

daughter Kate at his side.

Speaking outside the family home in Perth, Australia, he said: " Heath touched so

many people. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, lifeloving and

selfless individual. "

Supermodel Helena Christensen, 39, was on her way to visit Heath when told of

his death.

She said: " I am beyond sad and shocked. I had just left him a message and heard

his voice on the machine. He was genuine person, so extraordinarily talented,

raw and honest. "

Mel Gibson, who played Heath's father in The Patriot, said: " He was just taking

off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. "

Kidman said: " What a terrible, terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his

family. "

Former co-star Cate Blanchett added: " I deeply respect Heath's work and always

admired him. "

Warner Bros said: " The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The

entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. "

Australian Premier Rudd said: " We've lost one of our nation's finest

actors in the prime of his life. "

Heath's death forced President Bush to postpone the launch of a campaign aimed

at preventing the abuse of prescription drugs.

The White House said: " We thought it'd be better to postpone the event rather

than run the risk of anyone thinking we were opportunistic. "

One fundamentalist US church plans to picket the star's funeral because of his

role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.

ng Heath a " pervert " , the rampantly homophobic Baptist Church in Kansas

said: " He is now in Hell. "

What he was on..

AMBIEN

Sleeping pill. Patients report binge-eating and driving while unconscious after

taking. Known in Britain as Zolpidem.

VALIUM

Used for insomnia and anxiety. Can cause dizziness and depression.

Should not be taken with anti-depressants.

ZOLOFT

Most popular antidepressant in US. Said to carry lower risk of suicide than

other drugs. Also known as Sertraline.

XANAX

Treats anxiety disorders. Success is reduced if taken for more than eight weeks.

Highly addictive.

Can cause hallucinations.

ZOPLICONE

One of the most addictive sleeping pills. Patients can suffer increased heart

rate, mood changes, anxiety and fatigue.

DONORMYL

Antihistamine with common side-effects of drowsi - ness, insomnia and anxiety.

Users should check before taking with others drugs.

3am's Caroline recalls meeting Heath Ledger

Brooding, anxious and charged with testosterone - when you met Heath Ledger,

there was never any doubt you were in the company of a star.

You would be blindsided by his beauty - his purposefully dishevelled hair and

often unkempt clothes doing little to distract from those chiselled features and

his penetrating stare.

I was fortunate enough to have had several encounters with Heath during his

all-too-short career. And while he was undoubtedly one of the finest actors of

his generation, it was the recognition of his extraordinary talent - and the

fame that accompanied it - that seemed to fuel his inner demons.

The last time I saw Heath was at a Calvin gig in a tiny, dingy venue in

Ladbroke Grove, West London last May.

Publicists for the event clucked and fretted before his arrival. When he did

show up, late and shrouded in a hoodie, he tried to hide amongst a group of his

friends in the upstairs balcony.

A brave fan approached him for a chat. She left, crestfallen, after being told

bluntly that he was enjoying the gig and didn't want to be bothered.

The previous year, Heath was riding high on the success of Brokeback Mountain -

but his elevation into the A-list certainly didn't make him happy.

At the 2006 BAFTAs, Brokeback earned nine nominations. Heath, who was up for

Best Actor, attended the event with his co-star-turned-lover -

and it was clear he wasn't revelling in his success.

He sped down the red carpet, ignoring pleas from fans and photographers to pose

and play the star. He looked uncomfortable in his tuxedo, and making small-talk

just wasn't his thing.

At a post-s soiree at the Chateau Marmont hotel in LA later that same year,

Heath was his usual introverted self. He had missed out on the trophy, but the

plaudits he had garnered for his Academy Award nomination had done little to

salve his torment.

He sat, pensive, consciously not partaking of the self-congratulatory

back-slapping going on all around him.

One party-goer said: " I wish he could lighten up and enjoy his success. "

It was a sentiment I'd felt every time I'd met him.

[Guest guest]

While I was going through nursing home hell, still trying to work, and fighting

to stop the my mother's abuses; I went to a doctor and asked for Ambien. He gave

me a prescription for only 2 weeks, told me it and all prescription sleeping

pills were very addictive, and had other side effects. He said, I'm not a pill

pusher and I will not prescribe any more.

If only other doctors honored their oaths as much as he did.

;

From: mofunnow@...

Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:40:27 -0600

Subject: Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2008/01/24/jack-nicholson-s-warned-heath-ledger-\

89520-20296415/

Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

Acting legend warned of pill threat as star battled his private hell

By Tom Pettifor And Fiona Cummins, Showbiz Reporter Tom.Pettifor@...

24/01/2008

He was one of the greatest actors of his generation - but tragic Heath Ledger

could not hide his anguish at being parted from his daughter.

Sick at heart and exhausted by crippling insomnia, the Brokeback Mountain star

tried to stave off his mounting depression with cocktails of prescription pills.

On Tuesday he was found dead from a suspected accidental overdose.

Drugs nearby included Ambien and Zopiclone sleeping aids, the anti-depressant

Zoloft, antianxiety drugs Xanax and Valium and antihistamine Donormyl.

Yesterday as tributes poured in Jack Nicholson - who has spoken out against

Ambien - said grimly: " I warned him to stop.

" I tell people about Ambien. Somebody said 'Take this, it's mild'. I almost

drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house. "

-nominated Heath, 28, was so besotted with two-year-old daughter Matilda

Rose that he said after her birth: " I feel in a sense ready to die because you

live on in your child. "

He was felled by grief at not being able to see her after splitting with fiancee

and Brokeback Mountain co-star , 27. Weeping Maggie Gilliam,

wife of director Terry Gilliam who was working with Heath on his latest movie,

said: " He was on prescription drugs because he was dealing with tragedy in his

life.

" It was not being with his daughter. It was very, very hard for him. It's a

tragedy for everybody who knew him. "

Despite Heath's despair, Maggie insisted he was not suicidal.

She and Terry met him for dinner in London a week ago. She said: " He was on

great form, sparkling and really relaxed. He was speaking about Matilda.

" He was a fabulous and generous person who threw himself 100 per cent into

everything whether it was being a father or an actor. "

But fellow actor Zarin told of the dark undercurrents in his friend's

life. He said: " I'd been hearing for a while that he was in a really bad place. "

Heath's naked body was discovered at his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon

by his housekeeper Theresa and masseuse Diane Lee. A postmortem was

inconclusive and toxicology tests are still being carried out.

Sources claimed the apartment was in a " brokedown " state, virtually unfurnished

with a mattress on the floor serving as a bed.

In one of his last interviews Heath confessed to taking one Ambien pill after

another while filming the new Batman movie The Dark Knight - only to wake an

hour later.

He said: " My body was exhausted and my mind was still racing. "

At the time of his death he had pneumonia.

Ambien is not recommended for people with respiratory diseases.

Patients prescribed Ambien, sold in the UK as Zolpidem, have driven their cars

and had eating binges while still unconscious.

Britain's official medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency, recorded 68 incidents of adverse reactions to Zolpidem

between 2001 and 2005.

flew to New York with Matilda from Sweden after learning the grim news

of Heath's death.

She left the star after three years, reportedly concerned by his increasing use

of drugs including heroin. Her father Larry said: " My heart goes out to everyone

in Heath's family.

" The saddest thing is his daughter who he loved so dearly. "

Heath's distraught father Kim paid tribute with his weeping ex-wife Sally and

daughter Kate at his side.

Speaking outside the family home in Perth, Australia, he said: " Heath touched so

many people. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, lifeloving and

selfless individual. "

Supermodel Helena Christensen, 39, was on her way to visit Heath when told of

his death.

She said: " I am beyond sad and shocked. I had just left him a message and heard

his voice on the machine. He was genuine person, so extraordinarily talented,

raw and honest. "

Mel Gibson, who played Heath's father in The Patriot, said: " He was just taking

off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. "

Kidman said: " What a terrible, terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his

family. "

Former co-star Cate Blanchett added: " I deeply respect Heath's work and always

admired him. "

Warner Bros said: " The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The

entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. "

Australian Premier Rudd said: " We've lost one of our nation's finest

actors in the prime of his life. "

Heath's death forced President Bush to postpone the launch of a campaign aimed

at preventing the abuse of prescription drugs.

The White House said: " We thought it'd be better to postpone the event rather

than run the risk of anyone thinking we were opportunistic. "

One fundamentalist US church plans to picket the star's funeral because of his

role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.

ng Heath a " pervert " , the rampantly homophobic Baptist Church in Kansas

said: " He is now in Hell. "

What he was on..

AMBIEN

Sleeping pill. Patients report binge-eating and driving while unconscious after

taking. Known in Britain as Zolpidem.

VALIUM

Used for insomnia and anxiety. Can cause dizziness and depression.

Should not be taken with anti-depressants.

ZOLOFT

Most popular antidepressant in US. Said to carry lower risk of suicide than

other drugs. Also known as Sertraline.

XANAX

Treats anxiety disorders. Success is reduced if taken for more than eight weeks.

Highly addictive.

Can cause hallucinations.

ZOPLICONE

One of the most addictive sleeping pills. Patients can suffer increased heart

rate, mood changes, anxiety and fatigue.

DONORMYL

Antihistamine with common side-effects of drowsi - ness, insomnia and anxiety.

Users should check before taking with others drugs.

3am's Caroline recalls meeting Heath Ledger

Brooding, anxious and charged with testosterone - when you met Heath Ledger,

there was never any doubt you were in the company of a star.

You would be blindsided by his beauty - his purposefully dishevelled hair and

often unkempt clothes doing little to distract from those chiselled features and

his penetrating stare.

I was fortunate enough to have had several encounters with Heath during his

all-too-short career. And while he was undoubtedly one of the finest actors of

his generation, it was the recognition of his extraordinary talent - and the

fame that accompanied it - that seemed to fuel his inner demons.

The last time I saw Heath was at a Calvin gig in a tiny, dingy venue in

Ladbroke Grove, West London last May.

Publicists for the event clucked and fretted before his arrival. When he did

show up, late and shrouded in a hoodie, he tried to hide amongst a group of his

friends in the upstairs balcony.

A brave fan approached him for a chat. She left, crestfallen, after being told

bluntly that he was enjoying the gig and didn't want to be bothered.

The previous year, Heath was riding high on the success of Brokeback Mountain -

but his elevation into the A-list certainly didn't make him happy.

At the 2006 BAFTAs, Brokeback earned nine nominations. Heath, who was up for

Best Actor, attended the event with his co-star-turned-lover -

and it was clear he wasn't revelling in his success.

He sped down the red carpet, ignoring pleas from fans and photographers to pose

and play the star. He looked uncomfortable in his tuxedo, and making small-talk

just wasn't his thing.

At a post-s soiree at the Chateau Marmont hotel in LA later that same year,

Heath was his usual introverted self. He had missed out on the trophy, but the

plaudits he had garnered for his Academy Award nomination had done little to

salve his torment.

He sat, pensive, consciously not partaking of the self-congratulatory

back-slapping going on all around him.

One party-goer said: " I wish he could lighten up and enjoy his success. "

It was a sentiment I'd felt every time I'd met him.

[Guest guest]

While I was going through nursing home hell, still trying to work, and fighting

to stop the my mother's abuses; I went to a doctor and asked for Ambien. He gave

me a prescription for only 2 weeks, told me it and all prescription sleeping

pills were very addictive, and had other side effects. He said, I'm not a pill

pusher and I will not prescribe any more.

If only other doctors honored their oaths as much as he did.

;

From: mofunnow@...

Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:40:27 -0600

Subject: Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2008/01/24/jack-nicholson-s-warned-heath-ledger-\

89520-20296415/

Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

Acting legend warned of pill threat as star battled his private hell

By Tom Pettifor And Fiona Cummins, Showbiz Reporter Tom.Pettifor@...

24/01/2008

He was one of the greatest actors of his generation - but tragic Heath Ledger

could not hide his anguish at being parted from his daughter.

Sick at heart and exhausted by crippling insomnia, the Brokeback Mountain star

tried to stave off his mounting depression with cocktails of prescription pills.

On Tuesday he was found dead from a suspected accidental overdose.

Drugs nearby included Ambien and Zopiclone sleeping aids, the anti-depressant

Zoloft, antianxiety drugs Xanax and Valium and antihistamine Donormyl.

Yesterday as tributes poured in Jack Nicholson - who has spoken out against

Ambien - said grimly: " I warned him to stop.

" I tell people about Ambien. Somebody said 'Take this, it's mild'. I almost

drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house. "

-nominated Heath, 28, was so besotted with two-year-old daughter Matilda

Rose that he said after her birth: " I feel in a sense ready to die because you

live on in your child. "

He was felled by grief at not being able to see her after splitting with fiancee

and Brokeback Mountain co-star , 27. Weeping Maggie Gilliam,

wife of director Terry Gilliam who was working with Heath on his latest movie,

said: " He was on prescription drugs because he was dealing with tragedy in his

life.

" It was not being with his daughter. It was very, very hard for him. It's a

tragedy for everybody who knew him. "

Despite Heath's despair, Maggie insisted he was not suicidal.

She and Terry met him for dinner in London a week ago. She said: " He was on

great form, sparkling and really relaxed. He was speaking about Matilda.

" He was a fabulous and generous person who threw himself 100 per cent into

everything whether it was being a father or an actor. "

But fellow actor Zarin told of the dark undercurrents in his friend's

life. He said: " I'd been hearing for a while that he was in a really bad place. "

Heath's naked body was discovered at his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon

by his housekeeper Theresa and masseuse Diane Lee. A postmortem was

inconclusive and toxicology tests are still being carried out.

Sources claimed the apartment was in a " brokedown " state, virtually unfurnished

with a mattress on the floor serving as a bed.

In one of his last interviews Heath confessed to taking one Ambien pill after

another while filming the new Batman movie The Dark Knight - only to wake an

hour later.

He said: " My body was exhausted and my mind was still racing. "

At the time of his death he had pneumonia.

Ambien is not recommended for people with respiratory diseases.

Patients prescribed Ambien, sold in the UK as Zolpidem, have driven their cars

and had eating binges while still unconscious.

Britain's official medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency, recorded 68 incidents of adverse reactions to Zolpidem

between 2001 and 2005.

flew to New York with Matilda from Sweden after learning the grim news

of Heath's death.

She left the star after three years, reportedly concerned by his increasing use

of drugs including heroin. Her father Larry said: " My heart goes out to everyone

in Heath's family.

" The saddest thing is his daughter who he loved so dearly. "

Heath's distraught father Kim paid tribute with his weeping ex-wife Sally and

daughter Kate at his side.

Speaking outside the family home in Perth, Australia, he said: " Heath touched so

many people. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, lifeloving and

selfless individual. "

Supermodel Helena Christensen, 39, was on her way to visit Heath when told of

his death.

She said: " I am beyond sad and shocked. I had just left him a message and heard

his voice on the machine. He was genuine person, so extraordinarily talented,

raw and honest. "

Mel Gibson, who played Heath's father in The Patriot, said: " He was just taking

off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. "

Kidman said: " What a terrible, terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his

family. "

Former co-star Cate Blanchett added: " I deeply respect Heath's work and always

admired him. "

Warner Bros said: " The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The

entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. "

Australian Premier Rudd said: " We've lost one of our nation's finest

actors in the prime of his life. "

Heath's death forced President Bush to postpone the launch of a campaign aimed

at preventing the abuse of prescription drugs.

The White House said: " We thought it'd be better to postpone the event rather

than run the risk of anyone thinking we were opportunistic. "

One fundamentalist US church plans to picket the star's funeral because of his

role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.

ng Heath a " pervert " , the rampantly homophobic Baptist Church in Kansas

said: " He is now in Hell. "

What he was on..

AMBIEN

Sleeping pill. Patients report binge-eating and driving while unconscious after

taking. Known in Britain as Zolpidem.

VALIUM

Used for insomnia and anxiety. Can cause dizziness and depression.

Should not be taken with anti-depressants.

ZOLOFT

Most popular antidepressant in US. Said to carry lower risk of suicide than

other drugs. Also known as Sertraline.

XANAX

Treats anxiety disorders. Success is reduced if taken for more than eight weeks.

Highly addictive.

Can cause hallucinations.

ZOPLICONE

One of the most addictive sleeping pills. Patients can suffer increased heart

rate, mood changes, anxiety and fatigue.

DONORMYL

Antihistamine with common side-effects of drowsi - ness, insomnia and anxiety.

Users should check before taking with others drugs.

3am's Caroline recalls meeting Heath Ledger

Brooding, anxious and charged with testosterone - when you met Heath Ledger,

there was never any doubt you were in the company of a star.

You would be blindsided by his beauty - his purposefully dishevelled hair and

often unkempt clothes doing little to distract from those chiselled features and

his penetrating stare.

I was fortunate enough to have had several encounters with Heath during his

all-too-short career. And while he was undoubtedly one of the finest actors of

his generation, it was the recognition of his extraordinary talent - and the

fame that accompanied it - that seemed to fuel his inner demons.

The last time I saw Heath was at a Calvin gig in a tiny, dingy venue in

Ladbroke Grove, West London last May.

Publicists for the event clucked and fretted before his arrival. When he did

show up, late and shrouded in a hoodie, he tried to hide amongst a group of his

friends in the upstairs balcony.

A brave fan approached him for a chat. She left, crestfallen, after being told

bluntly that he was enjoying the gig and didn't want to be bothered.

The previous year, Heath was riding high on the success of Brokeback Mountain -

but his elevation into the A-list certainly didn't make him happy.

At the 2006 BAFTAs, Brokeback earned nine nominations. Heath, who was up for

Best Actor, attended the event with his co-star-turned-lover -

and it was clear he wasn't revelling in his success.

He sped down the red carpet, ignoring pleas from fans and photographers to pose

and play the star. He looked uncomfortable in his tuxedo, and making small-talk

just wasn't his thing.

At a post-s soiree at the Chateau Marmont hotel in LA later that same year,

Heath was his usual introverted self. He had missed out on the trophy, but the

plaudits he had garnered for his Academy Award nomination had done little to

salve his torment.

He sat, pensive, consciously not partaking of the self-congratulatory

back-slapping going on all around him.

One party-goer said: " I wish he could lighten up and enjoy his success. "

It was a sentiment I'd felt every time I'd met him.

[Guest guest]

While I was going through nursing home hell, still trying to work, and fighting

to stop the my mother's abuses; I went to a doctor and asked for Ambien. He gave

me a prescription for only 2 weeks, told me it and all prescription sleeping

pills were very addictive, and had other side effects. He said, I'm not a pill

pusher and I will not prescribe any more.

If only other doctors honored their oaths as much as he did.

;

From: mofunnow@...

Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:40:27 -0600

Subject: Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2008/01/24/jack-nicholson-s-warned-heath-ledger-\

89520-20296415/

Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

Acting legend warned of pill threat as star battled his private hell

By Tom Pettifor And Fiona Cummins, Showbiz Reporter Tom.Pettifor@...

24/01/2008

He was one of the greatest actors of his generation - but tragic Heath Ledger

could not hide his anguish at being parted from his daughter.

Sick at heart and exhausted by crippling insomnia, the Brokeback Mountain star

tried to stave off his mounting depression with cocktails of prescription pills.

On Tuesday he was found dead from a suspected accidental overdose.

Drugs nearby included Ambien and Zopiclone sleeping aids, the anti-depressant

Zoloft, antianxiety drugs Xanax and Valium and antihistamine Donormyl.

Yesterday as tributes poured in Jack Nicholson - who has spoken out against

Ambien - said grimly: " I warned him to stop.

" I tell people about Ambien. Somebody said 'Take this, it's mild'. I almost

drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house. "

-nominated Heath, 28, was so besotted with two-year-old daughter Matilda

Rose that he said after her birth: " I feel in a sense ready to die because you

live on in your child. "

He was felled by grief at not being able to see her after splitting with fiancee

and Brokeback Mountain co-star , 27. Weeping Maggie Gilliam,

wife of director Terry Gilliam who was working with Heath on his latest movie,

said: " He was on prescription drugs because he was dealing with tragedy in his

life.

" It was not being with his daughter. It was very, very hard for him. It's a

tragedy for everybody who knew him. "

Despite Heath's despair, Maggie insisted he was not suicidal.

She and Terry met him for dinner in London a week ago. She said: " He was on

great form, sparkling and really relaxed. He was speaking about Matilda.

" He was a fabulous and generous person who threw himself 100 per cent into

everything whether it was being a father or an actor. "

But fellow actor Zarin told of the dark undercurrents in his friend's

life. He said: " I'd been hearing for a while that he was in a really bad place. "

Heath's naked body was discovered at his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon

by his housekeeper Theresa and masseuse Diane Lee. A postmortem was

inconclusive and toxicology tests are still being carried out.

Sources claimed the apartment was in a " brokedown " state, virtually unfurnished

with a mattress on the floor serving as a bed.

In one of his last interviews Heath confessed to taking one Ambien pill after

another while filming the new Batman movie The Dark Knight - only to wake an

hour later.

He said: " My body was exhausted and my mind was still racing. "

At the time of his death he had pneumonia.

Ambien is not recommended for people with respiratory diseases.

Patients prescribed Ambien, sold in the UK as Zolpidem, have driven their cars

and had eating binges while still unconscious.

Britain's official medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency, recorded 68 incidents of adverse reactions to Zolpidem

between 2001 and 2005.

flew to New York with Matilda from Sweden after learning the grim news

of Heath's death.

She left the star after three years, reportedly concerned by his increasing use

of drugs including heroin. Her father Larry said: " My heart goes out to everyone

in Heath's family.

" The saddest thing is his daughter who he loved so dearly. "

Heath's distraught father Kim paid tribute with his weeping ex-wife Sally and

daughter Kate at his side.

Speaking outside the family home in Perth, Australia, he said: " Heath touched so

many people. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, lifeloving and

selfless individual. "

Supermodel Helena Christensen, 39, was on her way to visit Heath when told of

his death.

She said: " I am beyond sad and shocked. I had just left him a message and heard

his voice on the machine. He was genuine person, so extraordinarily talented,

raw and honest. "

Mel Gibson, who played Heath's father in The Patriot, said: " He was just taking

off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. "

Kidman said: " What a terrible, terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his

family. "

Former co-star Cate Blanchett added: " I deeply respect Heath's work and always

admired him. "

Warner Bros said: " The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The

entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. "

Australian Premier Rudd said: " We've lost one of our nation's finest

actors in the prime of his life. "

Heath's death forced President Bush to postpone the launch of a campaign aimed

at preventing the abuse of prescription drugs.

The White House said: " We thought it'd be better to postpone the event rather

than run the risk of anyone thinking we were opportunistic. "

One fundamentalist US church plans to picket the star's funeral because of his

role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.

ng Heath a " pervert " , the rampantly homophobic Baptist Church in Kansas

said: " He is now in Hell. "

What he was on..

AMBIEN

Sleeping pill. Patients report binge-eating and driving while unconscious after

taking. Known in Britain as Zolpidem.

VALIUM

Used for insomnia and anxiety. Can cause dizziness and depression.

Should not be taken with anti-depressants.

ZOLOFT

Most popular antidepressant in US. Said to carry lower risk of suicide than

other drugs. Also known as Sertraline.

XANAX

Treats anxiety disorders. Success is reduced if taken for more than eight weeks.

Highly addictive.

Can cause hallucinations.

ZOPLICONE

One of the most addictive sleeping pills. Patients can suffer increased heart

rate, mood changes, anxiety and fatigue.

DONORMYL

Antihistamine with common side-effects of drowsi - ness, insomnia and anxiety.

Users should check before taking with others drugs.

3am's Caroline recalls meeting Heath Ledger

Brooding, anxious and charged with testosterone - when you met Heath Ledger,

there was never any doubt you were in the company of a star.

You would be blindsided by his beauty - his purposefully dishevelled hair and

often unkempt clothes doing little to distract from those chiselled features and

his penetrating stare.

I was fortunate enough to have had several encounters with Heath during his

all-too-short career. And while he was undoubtedly one of the finest actors of

his generation, it was the recognition of his extraordinary talent - and the

fame that accompanied it - that seemed to fuel his inner demons.

The last time I saw Heath was at a Calvin gig in a tiny, dingy venue in

Ladbroke Grove, West London last May.

Publicists for the event clucked and fretted before his arrival. When he did

show up, late and shrouded in a hoodie, he tried to hide amongst a group of his

friends in the upstairs balcony.

A brave fan approached him for a chat. She left, crestfallen, after being told

bluntly that he was enjoying the gig and didn't want to be bothered.

The previous year, Heath was riding high on the success of Brokeback Mountain -

but his elevation into the A-list certainly didn't make him happy.

At the 2006 BAFTAs, Brokeback earned nine nominations. Heath, who was up for

Best Actor, attended the event with his co-star-turned-lover -

and it was clear he wasn't revelling in his success.

He sped down the red carpet, ignoring pleas from fans and photographers to pose

and play the star. He looked uncomfortable in his tuxedo, and making small-talk

just wasn't his thing.

At a post-s soiree at the Chateau Marmont hotel in LA later that same year,

Heath was his usual introverted self. He had missed out on the trophy, but the

plaudits he had garnered for his Academy Award nomination had done little to

salve his torment.

He sat, pensive, consciously not partaking of the self-congratulatory

back-slapping going on all around him.

One party-goer said: " I wish he could lighten up and enjoy his success. "

It was a sentiment I'd felt every time I'd met him.

[Guest guest]

I think the bipolar diagnosis is two fold, first off, the prescriptions,

secondly, once you are diagnosed bipolar, you can now be court ordered to stay

on the meds

Re: Re: Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger

> I wonder if the SSRIs he was taking gave him

> insomnia. That is a

> common side effect if I remember correctly.

Yes Insomnia is a side effect, also Nightmares so

bad that My son Nick was Afraid to go to sleep. When

he fell asleep, out of shear exhaustion, he would wake

up very upset. He often could not tell between real

life and nightmares.

> If he was bipolar instead

> of depressed, SSRIs can make a bipolar manic ie.

> racing thoughts and

> sleeplessness..

Not true, A side effect of SSRI is MANIA, Nicks

first Manic episode happened while on SSRI's. The

Doctor told us that the SSRI revealed Nicks true

diagnosis of Bi-polar.

These so called professionals, don't either know or

are oblivious to these side effects. If you start to

show manic behavior, after you are diagnosed as

depressed, then it MUST be the illness not the

medication. The Doctor now changes the diagnoses,

because it is easier than admitting the medication is

at fault.

It is only a educated guess, but I suspect Mr

Ledgers divorce, and sadness that that caused him,

lead his doctor to put him on a " little something " to

help him deal with this part of his life. He may have

developed insomnia, a little sleep deprivation can

cause mania, it used to be called " punch drunk " . He

could have been seen doing a few things that was " out

of character " for him. So the doctor gave him an

antipsychotic. His sleeplessness became more

pronounced, and sleeping pills are now added. He took

the Movie part as " The Joker " , a part that Jack

Nicholson found difficult to play. Now He is on three

types of medication, a challenging, even haunting part

in a movie (People claim he loved to play difficult

parts). He begins having nightmares,Real life and

dreams become muddled. He has more problems sleeping.

he visted his family in Australia, he visited another

country, and arrived back in the states. He now adds

jet lag to his insomnia. Maybe he just wanted

everything to halt for a while. If he could sleep for

a couple of hours, not think, not dream, he could

reset his clock.

This is just a theory, no one will ever really know

what happened. Those of us how have been through this

know how this scenario, or one with similar elements

makes sense.

Margaret.

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