Heath Ledger on the Cover of Vanity Fair August 2009

Heath Ledger's Vanity Fair Cover — Interesting or Inappropriate?

June 29, 2009

The August cover of Vanity Fair features an old photo of Heath Ledger with more quotes and information about the final days of his life. Heath's friends and colleagues reveal more about his medical and psychological states at the time of his death, while also suggesting that his breakup with Michelle Williams and their custody battle may have played a big role. The article is accompanied by a portfolio of photos of the actor. It's interesting timing to give Heath the cover story, but what do you think of bringing all this new information to light — interesting or inappropriate?

46 Comments

3 years 25 weeks

I am very grateful this article was published. Heath Ledger finally has someone speaking up for him to honor Heath as the very intelligent talented and gorgeous man he was and always will be in our hearts. Can't some of you people try to understand what a friend Terry Gilliam is being for Heath? Heath Ledger CONFIDED in Gilliam and Pecorini. Gilliam and Pecorini are honoring Heath Ledger's memory by sharing with you what Heath Ledger said to them. I will honor his memory by appreciating this article that gave Heath Ledger a chance to speak.

3 years 45 weeks

About drug abuse< the article never reeally made it out to look as though he had a real problem. I beleive when it was mentioned it was in paranthesis as if not sure. I beleive Heth was drug addicted and I beleive Michelle must have known he did drugs (the extent of his use of drugs may not have been known to her)but that doesnt mean she brought it on. Many people are drug users and people do fall in love. I dont think she necessarily turned her head and pretended it wasnt happening. Most likely she thought, as many people have experienced, tht he could stop and she would stand by him. I have been in a relationship with a drug addict adn I loved him adn tried so hard to stand by him. BUT, there is a point when the best thing for everyone is to walk away. I dont see this as her abandoining him as I have heard people say. I also believe he may not have been the greatest boyfriend. I love him as an actor but I am not blinded.

3 years 45 weeks

Sorry, found nothing new or interesting in this article. I did learn a bit about Heath's last movie and the director. That's about it. New info about Heath? None. Am disappointed to have spent five dollarsa for nothing. Well, at least I get a couple new pictures of him...that is about all. Nothing new revealed and BTW...article kind of made Michelle out to have been a heartless bitch and I doubt that was the case. I am sure she loved Heath and they both tried.

3 years 45 weeks

I am one of Heath's beloved fans. I knew he would be great from the first time I saw him in the Patriot and then 10 things I hate about you. It is tragic that he died so young, leaving a beautiful little girl that is the spitting image of him with what appears to be the same boundless energy and enthusiasm about life. And she only has pictures of him to remember. I believe this article is timely since his last movie will be out soon; therefore, reminding the public about him will ultimately sell and make money for the producers. While I love seeing the pictures, I don't appreciate reading the article that almost "blames Michelle for Heath's death". Like his dad said recently: Heath is responsible for what he took and although he didn't mean to kill himself, he was not careful and therefore, tragedy ensued. This, leaving the people who loved him to remember him and still suffer the pain of loss that didn't have to be. But, look at many celebrities before and after him....some have taken the same path with similar results. It is sad, yes... but it also speaks to what fame can do to many who are not well grounded. I don't think Michelle is to blame. Even if she knew he had a problem when she met him. Many of us think we can change someone and that when a child arrives, the love of a father can change his habits - but people have to change themselves on their own and from within. Loved ones can try to help them but in the end it is the person with the problem who has to do the work. So, having said that...I love remembering him and seeing his pictures...but, don't throw blame where it doesn't belong. He was a beautiful and talented young man who got lost.

gagamama4 3 years 46 weeks

I think Terry Gilliam is very inappropriate. Heath always wanted his private life kept private and there is always two sides to every story. Heath and Michelle were still very much in love and sadly didn't get the time to settle things between them. Emotions were running high. Heath would never want the mother of his beloved Matilda spoken of this way.

3 years 46 weeks

I have adored heath since 1997 when I saw him in Roar. I was blessed to have met him and worked around him in 2004. He was a brilliant actor and an even better wonderful human being. I miss him and I do enjoy articles on him,seeing a photo that I have not seen before.I don't care for this article though,a lot of it is mud-slinging type talk, blaming Michelle Williams etc.I know for a fact that Heath would not want that.I cannot believe Gilliam would talk that way either.I think the magazine editors have taken a few comments made by people who knew Heath and ran with them,adding a bit of fiction here and there.Those that really knew Heath and loved him are the ones keeping their mouths shut out of respect. Just print a nice article once in a while,a few photo's to keep our memories of Heath alive,leave the tabloid talk in the gutter where it belongs.It helps no one. RIP Heath, you are so very missed.

3 years 46 weeks

@ Anonymous poster #35: You could not be more mistaken about Terry Gilliam. He loved Heath like a son, was his dear friend and mentor. He completed this film FOR Heath and for us, so that we, the world, could see Heath's final performance.

3 years 46 weeks

I got a copy of the VF issue today when it hit newsstands in LA. The article is a good 8+ pages long. Small print. And as I suspected, the internet summaries floating around of the article are nothing more than written "sound bites" to entice readers. By and large, this article is about Parnassus, Gilliam and his deep friendship with Heath. That is the focus of the article. The author of this article went to Pinewood Studios to meet and interview Terry, Nicola, Mick and Gerry, and as I said, the article is really about Terry"s mentorship of Heath more than anything else. There are also some very pithy statements in the article made by the author about Gilliam that I think capture his tenacity and raison d"être as a filmmaker. The article left me with an even greater appreciation for Gilliam and for his involvement in Heath"s beautiful life than I already had. I can"t wait to see this film. If it does not find US distribution, it will really be a crime.

3 years 47 weeks

I have no respect for Gilliam. Not once, but twice has he pointed the finger at Michelle as if it's her fault. No one told Heath to pop those pills. Presciptoin. Non prescription. It doesn't matter, b/c it's all lethal when abused, and I don't believe that he picked up the habit of pill popping after the split. If anything, it helped cause it. Truth be told, Gilliam is drumming up publicity for Parnassus and/or trying to ease his own guilt by laying blame on Michelle. If Heath was as exhasted and ill as everyone said he was, he shouldn't have been working on that film.

Nadia24gv 3 years 47 weeks

Agree with glynislily. F()ck this still sucks. :(

sham28 3 years 47 weeks

WOW it's been a year..... seems unnecessary.

ilanac13 3 years 47 weeks

i think that it's fine that he's on the cover - as long as people aren't trying to exploit him at this point. i don't know what purpose it serves to have his 'dirty laundry' aired out - but i guess that VF usually does things rather tastefully.

jaan_black 3 years 47 weeks

well, it's not inappropriate...was it necessary, maybe not but I checked out the photos and he looked very yummy...he was soooo much more than some lame actor...he was like too complex for this world and I think they tried to show that...the epitome of cool and probably held the best convo in a room full of people...side note: he wasn't typically my type but he was sexy, veeery sexy..and he sure did have the "Joker" smile lol...aww, Heath :(

rafaelle 3 years 47 weeks

let the man rest in peace. it would have been better of course if it's a tribute enumerating his achievements, no need to air out the not so pretty side of his life

rafaelle 3 years 47 weeks

let the man rest in peace.it would have been better of course if it's a tribute enumerating his achievements, no need to air out the not so pretty side of his life

redchick152 3 years 47 weeks

it seems more random than inappropriate to me. why now and not in january when he died?

hills 3 years 47 weeks

i dont think its appropriate to dig up all the old info about his death, why do we need to know, none of us knew him personally so it shouldn't be necessary....i think its fine looking back at his good work and celebrating his life but don't go controversial on him its a bit sick.....

solitaire 3 years 47 weeks

I found this to be a very strange article. Terry Gilliam's foul mouth and the way he tries to make it out that it's Michelle's fault, but then says he was so impressed that Heath came to work "clearly sick" and was glowing at the end of the day! Probably glowing from the fever and infection that was raging through his body at that time.

rossy 3 years 47 weeks

Isn't this a repeat of articles done after his death? I hear that one of the so-called highlights is a friends insistence that "Heath doesn't take illegal substances or prescription medications"... Yet, his death was ruled: an accidental overdose of prescription meds." - Well, the editors & publishers don't skip off to the bank with wads of cash from geniuses with LONG memories. No. They keep recycling crap because, for the most part, the reading public has short memories & lower IQ's... and will shell out $$$ to read garbage from UNNAMED sources, friends & insiders. - After I stopped the addition (Yes! laugh if you will) of buying magazines every week (including monthly ones) I was shocked to discover an extra $200.00 in MY bank account at the end of the year.

rossy 3 years 47 weeks

Isn't this a repeat of articles done after his death? I hear that one of the so-called highlights is a friends insistence that "Heath doesn't take illegal substances or prescription medications"... Yet, his death was ruled: an accidental overdose of prescription meds."-Well, the editors & publishers don't skip off to the bank with wads of cash from geniuses with LONG memories. No. They keep recycling crap because, for the most part, the reading public has short memories & lower IQ's... and will shell out $$$ to read garbage from UNNAMED sources, friends & insiders.-After I stopped the addition (Yes! laugh if you will) of buying magazines every week (including monthly ones) I was shocked to discover an extra $200.00 in MY bank account at the end of the year.

3 years 47 weeks

I am sad that people are still trying to stir up contoversy over Heath's death. I'm one of his biggest fan, but I wish that people just stop digging into his private life which would open more wounds to his beloved ones. Even if what Terry Gilliam's saying about the custody battle was true, would it be any good for his daughter's cause? The article would, in the long run, become a sort of reference when she grows up wondering that maybe her mother had something to do with her father's death. If Heath's so-called 'friends' in this article care about him at all, they wouldn't get involved in this and making Heath's loved ones in such a painful situation. Let him rest in peace. PLEASE. Give Michelle some peace too, so that she can raise Matilda with the best love a mother can give.

PopDiva24 3 years 47 weeks

I was surprised by the exerpt. I never heard about any sort of custody battle...

3 years 47 weeks

despite the new photos, I am not going to buy this issue. it's old news that can only hurt a family who is still in a lot of pain, not to mention an innocent child.

3 years 47 weeks

I feel that the parties interviewed should have kept their mouths shut. Having said that, Vanity Fair could have done a tribute piece that included the great photos, but nixed the article.

3 years 47 weeks

Univgirl - People fall in love with other people despite their differences and despite their bad habits. Maybe one day, when you fall in love, you'll understand. Until then... I'm sorry Michelle and Heath's private affairs affect your life so much.

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46 Comments

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