Heath Ledger, 1979-2008
Heath Ledger’s death caused a ripple effect of shock and confusion among Rice students on Tuesday. Within hours of receiving the news, many registered their grief on Facebook. Even some who were not serious Ledger fans during his lifetime are affected by the news, because his death is the first among major actors of our generation’s entertainment culture.
Fondly remembered as tough and dreamy Patrick from 10 Things I Hate About You and later in his career, sensitive and grim Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain, Ledger’s career transition reflects in some ways our personal evolution over the past 10 years. His characters appealed to both our childish admiration for charming foreign accents and our maturing intellectual concern with relevant social issues. For some, Ledger was a first crush.
A favorite for many of us, Ledger did not rely on his increasing popularity to become Hollywood’s next heartthrob. Instead he moved onto more challenging film roles including his latest as Bob Dylan in the bio-pic I’m Not There. Movie audiences can still expect to see Ledger again in The Dark Knight, the latest Batman installation due out this summer.
Ledger’s death reminds us that even the young are not bulletproof, and our generation certainly shows that it regrets the loss of such a promising artist as well as the loss to his friends and family.
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News
- Anti-coal group begins activism on campus
- Athletics department takes over IM, Rec Center as part of reorganization
- Blair Lounge becomes RMC copy center
- Faculty senate approves new calendar for fall '09
- Fondren opens 24-hour coffee and snack lounge
- Mother responsible for Wilson Facebook activity
- Racially-charged vandalism strikes Sid
- Report shows half black males at Rice are scholarship athletes
Sports
- Black students unfairly sidelined with assumptions
- Loss to Cougars extends cold streak for men's basketball
- Men's track places third to start indoor season
- Owls' momentum stifled by UCF
- Swimmers split road meets, prepare to face Houston and LSU
- Women's track leaps to victory at UH meet