Peoples Heath story: He wanted to quit movies, had Matilda tattoo

The Heath Ledger story is winding down. It’s hard to believe that it’s hasn’t even been a week since the 28 year-old Oscar nominated actor was found dead in his NY apartment. Sources say that initial toxicology reports suggest that he died from natural causes and that no illegal drugs or even alcohol were found on the scene, nor was there time for anyone to dispose of potential evidence.

I read People’s cover article about Ledger and there some details that I thought you might want to know about his life. Many of us have reached saturation on this story, and that’s understandable. To me these are meaningful details about someone who deserves more coverage for his too-short life than others do for their daily foibles:

Heath had a tattoo on his chest that read “Matilda” for his 2 year-old daughter
It was news to me that he had a “Matilda” tattoo. He had it done about a year ago, and the tattoo artist was so touched by his death that he got a tattoo himself for Heath last week:

The man who inked the name “Matilda” on Heath Ledger’s stomach couldn’t wait to see his friend again. “We were always excited when Heath came around; he was the warmest, most down-to-earth dude,” says Joseph Ari Aloi, the Brooklyn tattoo artist who created Ledger’s quirky tribute to his beloved 2-year-old daughter last year – and who had plans to hang out with the actor the night of Jan 22. Instead, Aloi received a terrible call that afternon: His buddy Ledger, just 28 years old, was dead. “It’s profoundly painful and shocking and just really wrong,” a shaken Aloi told People just hours after hearing the news – still bleeding from his calf, where he had tattooed this simple message: “For my brother Heath RIP 1/22/08”

[From People Magazine, print edition, February 4, 2008]

Ledger wanted to quit Hollywood, according to a source:

Part of Ledger’s agitation stemmed from his conflicted view of acting. Despite his obvious talents and dedication to his roles, “he always said that he never wanted to be an actor, but he didn’t know what else he was going to do,” says a drinking buddy. “He was always going to quit acting and leave Hollywood. He didn’t like it here. He wasn’t really a happy guy. He was self contained, a little moody. He had a lot of walls around him.”

[From People Magazine, print edition, February 4, 2008]

Heath was happy over Christmas and said he had a “beautiful time” with friends and family
Although People quote some sources that claim that Heath was understandably down after his breakup with Michelle Williams, they also quote him saying what a great time he had during his two week trip to Australia over Christmas:

But after his split from Williams, Ledger often struck friends as depressed and dissolute. “He’s been down,” says one friend. “He bummed about the breakup.” He was recently spotted with model Helena Christensen, though sources say they were just friends and that he was in no rush to get back into a serious relationship. Still, his spirits seemed brightened by a Christmas trip home to Perth. “I had the most beautiful time… being able to see my friends and family,” he told one Australian newspaper. “It’s really enabled me to be a boy again… and feel like I’d never left.”

[From People Magazine, print edition, February 4, 2008]

Heath’s funeral details in his native Australia have not been revealed to the public. It is thought that he will be buried somewhere in Perth, where he spent a meaningful last visit with his family just three weeks before he died.

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