The incredible reaction world wide to Heath’s death continues to amaze me. I knew that Heath carried in himself an ancient soul that had seen many lifetimes, a soul that Heath himself was uncomfortable with, and I wanted to share the following from Catherine :
Dear Mr. Kapur and the many people that obviously share an interest in your work –
I feel odd to be writing this because it feels like an intrusion into the world of family and friends that actually knew Heath Ledger and had reason to so profoundly feel the loss of his life in such an intimate way. I have to admit that Heath Ledger’s death has affected me in a very uncharacteristic and admittedly unnerving way.
I have never understood the whole “groupy” element that follows the life of a public figure as if they actually know that person. I love escaping into other lives through movies, and I have noticed how a truly gifted actor can leave you feeling as if you have known them. Nonetheless, I have always been able to separate real life from fiction, and I have consistently felt that fans and the press have no right at all to intrude in the actual personal lives of these public figures, no matter how charismatic they are.
Given that, I was and still am unsettled to discover how upset I was to learn of Heath Ledger’s death. It was as if my heart truly stopped for a time, taking my breath with it. I feel as though I’ve been grieving ever since.
In checking the CNN website now and then to see what comforting news I might somehow find, I discovered the kind words that you wrote about your friend Heath, and I subsequently discovered your website. I have to admit that it was a comfort to see how other total strangers to Heath Ledger have been affected by him.
Since his death, I have tried to understand the impact he had on me……
It is obvious that he was an unusually talented actor, but he wasn’t the only one of those (albeit, the best in my opinion). I kept asking myself, was it his body language, his voice, the characteristics of the people he portrayed, all of the latter? He had an undeniable charisma, but it really wasn’t just his phyical appearance. There was something more but I couldn’t put it into words. It was amazing how he could literally give his body over to the character he was playing, as though he was merely a conduit. I kept coming back to his eyes. But even there, it wasn’t how they moved or the expressions on his face…it was as if something was coming THROUGH his eyes.
I concluded too that it must be that intangible element that makes each of us who we are…what I see you and so many others referring to as a soul. But why should I feel so moved, so touched? It seems incredibly presumptious of me to think I feel an actual connection to someone I’ve never met. There again, the messages that you have written about Heath Ledger, and the messages sent to you in response, have been comforting…they have shown me that perhaps I haven’t simply become a “groupy”.
It feels truthful to say I feel like I knew him, yet I humbly admit I did not. I admit too that I would have liked to have met him, although I would never have allowed the intrusion. I have a wonderful husband that I sincerely have loved for 18 years. However, through watching Heath Ledger portray various characters, I have felt an intensity of emotion (love, joy, compassion) that I long to allow myself to feel in my real life with my beloved. For now, I’m too guarded and insecure, but I’m hopeful I can continue to grow. Perhaps my soul has known Heath Ledger’s at some long ago time, although I don’t sense that I have the wisdom of an old soul. Instead, perhaps the gift of an old soul, or angel, in our lives is to awaken our souls to live more truthfully.
Not being much of a believer in organized religions, I find it gives me a sense of peace to think of each of us being a soul traveling between lifetimes and embodying different physical bodies. It helps to think of Heath Ledger as still being “out there” to watch over his loved ones and perhaps to, in some way, some day, touch our souls again.
I hope those that knew him are not offended by the sense of closeness that Heath seems to have engendered in so many strangers like me. I am thankful for the entertainment gifted to us by Heath Ledger, but even moreso for the feeling that he has awakened in my soul. I hope in his honor that I can learn to live with more feeling, more kindness, more gentleness, more compassion.
I am also grateful for the gift of your movie, The Four Feathers, and for the character of Harry that Heath Ledger so magically brought to life. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to share something I have wanted to speak about since Heath’s death, but have felt I had no one with whom to entrust it.
Wow for the feeling and wow for the way of expressing it.
Harb
Heath is and can be anything we want him to be. He’s comfort when we are sad, he’s there to make us happy. His wonderful being lives on through his movies and now through spirit on the other side. Eyes are the windows of the soul so if you feel you knew him in this life and didn’t know him, don’t doubt yourself. Heath knew how to create, inspire and ignite us in art in this lifetime. He continues to bring joy into our universe while looking out for his friends, family and those whose lives he has touched. Continue to share your love for Heath and to others, because this is what life and our being is about.
There is something magical for a man in his 20’s.
The late Heath was in prime of his life and very, very passionate, restless, adaptable and sadly restless. But underneath, he wanted to be leader, the best of actor and I sense that all the energy was too much for a person to contain and resulted in not resting. One cannot go against nature basic laws, what I mean is one has to take rest. Heath was going with lots of speed and in right direction too but was not taking rest to his own body, mind and soul. How I wish if he has had taken holidays and be less sensitive – he would be getting recognition and living a great life. So its a lession for professional actors and film makers that loyalty to profession must be there but not at the cost of your own dear health.
Was he an Angel on a short visit? If you felt that, it may be so because you had worked with him and many people are touched by him as Kat says so too, my observations in last released film as he plays Joker is that this man went into the soul of character and not the skin. Very few actors go to that level where others dare not venture. I still am amazed by his clapping of hands when he is in jail…his eyes, his body composure and the strature…one of the finest aspect of acting in that particular scene. He must be truly gifted to be such an intense actor giving all his focussed energy to that role.
late 20’s is no age to bid adieu…then he is angel because if he was not, why would people remember him so much?
that was beautiful.
There is nothing personal.. ok, if you don’t need. whenever you think on, reply me…
Hi Shekhar
Not a big fan of hollywood movies but whatever I saw of Heath has had a big impact on me
What a wonderful ode to a friend from you Shekhar…!!
When I read your blog, I ask myself – how come people like you exist in the big dark world of hindi films
God bless you, my friend
Peace and equanimity to all
Thank you all for expressing exactly what I have been feeling all year. That was a beautiful letter Catherine. Heath has put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces. I miss him in a selfish kind of way but that spirit needed to be free and I will forever smile at the thought of him.
Dear Shekhar,
Heath was a extraordinary performer and a couple of months back when I saw Dark Knight on the IMAX screen the thing that strick me most was how alive and sincere he was in the part, how much he was the Joker – it was a part made for him or more so he made it his. I am sure your experiences of shooting with him for Four Feathers in Sudan must have been truly amazing – even today the offical picture of Heath on imdb is the one from four feathers.
Yesterday was a great day as I saw two great film premieres in New York at the Indo-American festival going on right now. Ketan Mehta brought his film “Clours of Passion” or “Rang Rasiya” which is going to be one of the most bold and pathbreaking films of recent hindi cinema and it was so wonderfully done. It was great to hear his views on freedom of creative expression in the post-screening discussion. In the evening we had the premiere of Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” which has new actors from UK and Anil Kapoor and what an amazing film it is – truly captivating and so entertaining. I got to talk to him later on and I remembered you had said in an interview that when you were about to direct the first Elizabeth you had told your producer that the British film you had liked most was “Trainspotting” and I told Danny that and he said that he remembered you saying that. This film also reminds us about Salaam Bombay with all the kids in Dharavi and even Mira Nair was in the audience so it became even more wonderful to see her reaction.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Best Regards,
Himanshu
I was never a fan of Heath Ledger until Brokeback Mountain, because all I knew of him before that (A Knight’s Tale) suggested he was too pretty and too young and too much for the younger generation and so I identified Heath with youth rather than with someone of my age (40). With Brokeback I recognized in Heath a true talent and put a tick in the “Must watch in the future” box, my respect for him growing by a huge factor because of his courage in taking on the role of Enis.
When news of his death arrived, I felt sad for the loss as I do when anyone dies too young, and when that person is so talented. But I must admit I didn’t think much about it until the Dark Knight’s opening approached and his death became a topic of public discussion.
I become a true unapologetic fangirl with The Dark Knight. His portrayal of the Joker just blew me away. It was such a physical and intellectual role, demanding so much of him as an actor and he so transformed himself for it that I and audiences around the world responded with gusto and amazement, as shown by the boxoffice. I saw the film 6 times in the theatre, which is a total anomaly for me. Since then, I watched every film he has been in and now I have come to recognize even more deeply what a profound loss his death represents.
He truly touched so many people in those darkened theatres through his roles and most recently through The Dark Knight. I am amazed at how many people I have met online and among my family and friends who mourn him still, who still think of him and mention his death as something personal to them. He had that indescribable quality of being able to connect with the audience, of portraying a character so fully, of showing us something about humanity even while playing the most vile criminal.
As a man, I know nothing of him other than the few tabloid news reports I guiltily read after his role in TDK, but he seems to have been described as a humble person who decried the Hollywood glitz and star machine and wanted to be a normal person who pursued his passions. I respect him for that immensely.
He was just coming into the full flower of his manhood and humanity as men do in their 30’s — oh, what the world has lost.
I agree with the sentiments of this letter. he is/was more than my favorite actor. I wish I could express my self in such a beautiful way.
I believe that the public reaction to his death was a frenzy cooked up by the marketing Machineries of the Producers of TDK for the obvious. Shame on them! Yes Sirs you have managed to make a Legend out of one of possibly the greatest actors of our generation. But at the cost of the privacy and emotions of his loved ones.
Amongst all this clutter, one never understood his genious, people only appreciate a performance only if it shocks and awe’s them. But what about performances like in Casonova or a Brokeback Mountain. Subtlety I am afraid is no more valued. True that everyone was frightened to their deaths with the “Joker” smirking and clapping his way to mayhem, but this did not make him a great actor.
His defining moment “Monsters Ball”. Taking the gunshot to his head. Thats the image which remains in my mind. Four Feathers was an affirmation to his greatness. For those who worked backwards from TDK onwards, missed the true metamorphosis of an actor to a performer,to a true Legend.
Remember what they say……… Achievement is not reaching the destination, but the Journey.
Thank You Heath!
Thank You for teaching us the most valuable lesson of life.
And Thank You Shekhar Sir, for sharing with us such an unique expression of love.
Shekhar,
Not the right forum to post this request but there seems to be no other way to reach you.This is mother writing for my son.
He has been selected to play Sankar’s role in Tamil version of Happy days.
Please smile on him and give him a chance to audition for Hindi version of the same movie which you are making.
I am embarrassed to use this forum ,sorry.
Bhavana Sharma
Thanks Shekhar for sharing Catherine’s thoughts.
I’ve written about Heath here before, and about my identifying with him as a fellow Australian artist my own age. I’ve not been able to re-watch any of his films since his passing, and thinking about him (as I did yesterday morning) is still like an open wound. There is no soul I miss more and I look forward to recognising him again someday. He gave himself to us, he died for us, he lives on in us.
dear shekhar, good to be back.
what a beautiful post!
old v new souls, unexplored depths
sometimes i wonder whether the age of the soul really matters? just like some 10 year olds can have more compassion and insight than a 70 year old. some ancient souls can get quite twisted, i guess.
keith is such a loss. i remember being sat with a close friend when i heard the news and it was very saddening.
god bless him
love, shivani
Thank you Catherine for sharing your thoughts. This was something that troubled me too intensely. I had not watched any movie of his, even the dark Knight. I watched it after reading the reviews and was astounded at the performance but put it down to media hype and maybe me being influenced by the performance and the hype surrounding it. But then I read about his death and yes I read it pretty late while browising out of curiosity to get to know about Heath Ledger and I was shocked to read he was no more. It was undescribable the sadness I felt. For a whole night I browsed seeking out all that I could about this actor and I saw Shekar’s kind words and was drawn to this blog. I was at a loss to explain why I felt so bad for an actor whom I hardly knew, whose work I had hardly seen and someone whom I knew very little about..The more I read, the more I was fascinated and saddened by the attempts to malign the man and the pain his family went through at the time of their crisis.
This man is something and I say “is”. I cannot beleieve he ceased to exist..
Thank you for posting this amazingly articulate letter. It has helped me to understand my grief and realise I am not alone. I too felt a massive connection to Heath since I first saw him in ’10 Things’ and have been devastated ever since I heard the news we lost him. It has been an extremely painful thing to accept and also understand, how could it happen? Could it have been prevented? What are we to believe about what we read? How can someone I never met, nor was likely to, have such an effect on me? I have reached the conclusion that some of these questions can never be answered (and some of them I am not entitled to know the answer to). But I have also concluded that some people touch us deeply in a way that we cannot imagine, they penetrate through the screen, they reach out and touch us with their words, their honesty, their eyes, their smile. Heath was one of those people and he is dearly, dearly missed by those who knew him, and by those who only knew him through his work.
Thank you Catherine for your words and to Shekhar for providing a forum where we can be understood.
RIP Heath, your light will always shine bright x
Beautiful words.
They describe exactly what I am feeling. And yes it is true – he sparkeled.
My Dear Catherine,
Thank you for sharing your feelings — see? you have already started sharing more of yourself –! you ARE living more truthfully 🙂
Beautifully written. I think you have definitely touched on something there, we recognized an expression of truth in Heath that we wish to see more of in ourselves. The Director of TDK said the most perfect thing about him — that he had a “charisma like gravity”. I hope when I go, the Good Lord greets me with “Welcome, Carolyn……Heath’s room is down the hall to the right…”
🙂
********************
Shekhar, I am so sorry about the events in Mumbai. I will pray tonight for the suffering to be comforted.
All I can say is, when I read this letter it shocked me. The reason is that it is exactly how I have felt but did not know how to express it. I know it is unusual for a person of my age (66) to feel, but it is exactly how I feel. I think it is partly because he reminded me of my son who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1986 at age 22. I know most people will say I am stupid at my age to like such a young actor, but I do. Thank you again for sharing.
You’re not stupid, Linda! Certain connections transcend age. Maybe Heath is hanging out with your son up there. 🙂
I have wanted to write a letter to Mr. Kapur for quite some time. And like you, Catherine, it felt like it would be a bit of an intrusion writing a letter to Mr. Kapur because I don’t know him. Heath’s death hit me like a ton of bricks. In fact, my friend and I were driving on the freeway talking about him as his soul was leaving. How strange is that? In the aftermath, the words of Mr. Kapur have been the ONLY words that have made any sense of it for me. That he was an ancient soul, an angel, a person with the potential to effect consciousness — it’s all true. His death has changed the way I view eternity. And his life — the way he lived it — has validated my own need to follow my artistic integrity and refuse to be pigeon-holed into the tiny little box so many people try to force one into.
The Four Feathers is not only one of my favorite “Heath films” (and it’s hard to choose a “favorite”) — it is one of my favorite films, period. It’s beautifully scripted. The friendship that Heath and Djimon create on screen is beautiful. It’s impossible not to conclude that Heath was an ancient soul, given that performance. It blows me away that he was only 21 when he filmed that — that he had such a deep well to bring to that character — the deep well of an old soul. Harry is so changed by the end, it’s like two different people. When he cries out in the desert after killing the prison master … I have no words for it … his performance was oscar-worthy.
In several different interviews Heath was quoted as saying he “never had black pajamas and an empty stage to run around on.” I always took this as an apology of sorts — for having to learn his craft in the doing of it rather than going to college or “studying” somewhere else — honing it on camera in front of the world instead of privately — like maybe he felt insecure about a lack of formal “training.” And I don’t think he realized what a genius of an actor he was — what a SMART actor he was. He seemed to be effortless. And fearless. “Self-betrayal, magnified to suit the optics of the theatre — this is the whole art of acting” (G. B. Shaw). It is that self-betrayal that Heath possessed — a willingness to tap into that which is private within oneself. Empathy. Emotional availability. These things can’t be taught. They can’t be acquired by sitting in an acting class for three years dissecting the meaning of “objective” and “action.” He was gifted beyond measure.
I remember viewing Heath’s Berlinale press conference for the film Candy. One of the journalists, with regards to his character Dan, asks the carefully-formed albeit impossible question of: “How difficult was it to grapple with the complexities of a man who sits passively by while his girlfriend sold herself?” Heath responds with a sort of vague non-answer. I don’t think he knew how to answer the question. He really didn’t — because the answer is, he approached that character (as well as every role he ever played), entirely without judgment (that is to say, without judging the character). This was his genius. This was why he could get inside the skin of every character and allow us to see the world through their eyes — yes, even the Joker.
Since his death, I too have tried to understand the impact he had on the world. And as I say, Mr. Kapur’s words have been the only thing that make sense of that. It’s got nothing to do with “celebrity.” He never was a “celebrity.” He was an artist. And it’s pretty amazing the way the world has looked at his work with such greater clarity now — kind of like Van Gogh.
Thousands of people now wish they could have known him. And I hope he senses that now. And my conclusion is that he was just too gifted for this world …
“PASSING stranger! you do not know how longingly I look upon you,
You must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking, (it comes to me, as of a dream),
I have somewhere surely lived a life of joy with you,
All is recall’d as we flit by each other, fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured,
You grew up with me, were a boy with me, or a girl with me,
I ate with you, and slept with you—your body has become not yours only, nor left my body mine only,
You give me the pleasure of your eyes, face, flesh, as we pass—you take of my beard, breast, hands, in return,
I am not to speak to you—I am to think of you when I sit alone, or wake at night alone,
I am to wait—I do not doubt I am to meet you again,
I am to see to it that I do not lose you.”
~ Walt Whitman~
Wonderful words by all. I just wanted to note that the writer of that aforementioned post was Christine, not Catherine.
wow. i did not know that passage by Walt Whitman. Amazing. — thanks for sharing it!!
well the show must go on…
GOD
Dear Shekhar, your implication that Heath was an angel who came to visit, brings much comfort to me, as I am still mourning his loss. It is rare that a day goes by that I do not shed a tear for this man, whom I never met, but who has affected and inspired me so deeply. I am saddened to think that after 2009 (after his last movie comes out), that there may be no more talk of him, no more new things to learn for we who are so desperate to learn more. Perhaps you can find it in your heart to share more stories about Heath through the coming years? This will bring much comfort to myself, as well as to others who feel the same way.
This is how I came to find your website….
About 3 days ago I’d a dream about Heath Ledger. In the dream we were sitting in a forest, and I was taunting him that he didn’t have any tatoos and I had loads. He just smiled and said something like, is that so? Or you’ll see.
The next morning I went on line to send an e-mail and also logged onto the internet and in the right hand side of my computer, adverts/media news appeared (it doesn’t normally do that) and one was of Heath Ledger covered in tatoos!!! I was gobsmacked. I didn’t think he had any tatoos. I clicked on this picture and it showed every tatoo individually. I couldn’t believe my eyes so I did some research and he really did have many tatoos for real!!!!!
I must admit, when I watched Heath Ledger on TV and in the cinema, I felt a real connection, in fact, during a rather rough period of my life, and at a time when I couldn’t sleep, I saw a film late at night in 2000 called Two Hands. I didn’t know who Heath was at the time, but just connected with the character and it made me feel so much better than I had in a very long time.
Anyhow, after this dream and strange appearance of the tatooed Heath on my computer screen via some pop up, I started reading a book I’d been sent for christmas called…. The Big Book of Angels. I was beginning to think that after this dream I probably needed psychiatric treatment, and thought, well, if I am mad, it can’t hurt to try a test, since I already seem bonkers. So I closed my eyes, asked a question from Heath, and opened a passage of the book randomly. I nearly choked when it talked of a struggling artist leaving home before his 20’s and having an angelic experience. There was also mention of an artist Marc Chagall and a website, so I went online to look at his work. In doing so, I typed in Heath Ledger and Angels, and here I am, on your website. I don’t know who you are, or what you do, but I will now read your website. I just thought I’d share this weird dream with you, after reading what other readers had shared.
Heath always seemed angelic to me, and when I felt down, sometimes I’d switch on the TV and randomly there would be one of his films showing, and I’d been instantly cheered up.
Hi Shekhar
After having sent you a previous e-mail about my strange dream about Heath Ledger and his tatoos, I’ve now read a bit into your website and discovered you are the director of 4 feathers! That’s weird, because I was speaking to Ravi Mehta at Warner Bros via e-mail about the making of the film Shantaram! It’s just the fact you are a director, the Indian connection and the fact I’d communicated with Ravi on the day after this strange dream – I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all!!!! I live in Ireland and in the past have worked as an assistant director on feature films in N. Ireland!! I fell into it by chance after breaking my back horse riding. Long story…….
Anyway, Heath had a tatoo of a dragon fly, which I only discovered after this weird dream and consequent strange pop-up which appeared on my computer, so I google searched the Shaman meaning of dragon fly and this story appeared. It’s very touching and relevant to the comments made on your site about Heath Ledger… (If you are going to show any of this on your website, please don’t mention any of the above, just the dragonfly and tatoo part – thanks), the next bit is a lovely story……
The dragon fly is symbolic for change and being okay with it. Here is a story: The Dragonfly Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions. Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever. Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top. When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying. So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed. Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended. But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!
For over a year I have been feeling that I must be the only one to be so affected the the passing of someone I had never experienced any connection to before. I had seen ’10 things’ and Brokeback’, which I loved, and I remember thinking he deserved the Oscar. but that was it! Why I was suddenly so obsessed with him, I don’t know – all I knew was that I saw true beauty in his eyes. In any picture of him, his emotions were clear to see. Heath must have felt everything so rawly; love, pain, anger – that’s why he was such a brilliant actor. He was so honest – no subterfuge. Just Heath.
I must have spent hours reading up every morsel I could find on Google, feeling guilty all the while, as I knew he hated press intrusion. I’m so glad I found this site, and know I’m not alone to be experiencing this. Was he an angel? – totally.
Thank you for having a link for Heath beneath your Four Feathers link. I still mourn, unlike I ever have for someone I have not personally known. I watched snippets of his movies a couple weeks ago, yes, I remembered what happened a year ago. I have tivo’d his movies and every few months have re-visited a few scenes, I enjoy seeing his smile and light. I do appreciate your site and reading your stories and others feelings. I am in my 50s, and I mourn him. I too sought out google for everything Heath…discovered and watched 2 Hands. It is right up there as one of my favorites of his. I do appreciate this site to visit. Thank you again for providing the community this outlet.
Dear Mr. Kapur, Thank you so much for this site and a place to express our feelings for our beloved Heath. Never before has anything like this happened to me. There has not been a day gone by that I have not thought of him and grieved. I can only imagine what sorrow his family and friends are experiencing . I too am in my 50s, so it was so nice to know I am not the only golden oldie out there that feels this way. I have seen all his movies starting with Black rock, over and over again. There is something about him that makes me want to be a better person, to be more honest and never take a day for granted. I wish I could expess myself better but thank you and all of you who have shared your heart felt feelings with all of us. I was turned on to your site by someone who saw a reply that I had made online to some idiot who did not understand and was very disrespectful to Heath and I thank him very much (Springrose 147) he makes beautiful videos that honor Heath and are so wonderful to watch. Heath will always be my favorite artist in this world and I love him with all my heart for what he has given us in his too short time on earth. and for what he has awakened in my soul.
Dear Mr. Kapur, Thank you so much for this site and a place to express our feelings for our beloved Heath. Never before has anything like this happened to me. There has not been a day gone by that I have not thought of him and grieved. I can only imagine what sorrow his family and friends are experiencing . I too am in my 50s, so it was so nice to know I am not the only golden oldie out there that feels this way. I have seen all his movies starting with Black rock, over and over again. There is something about him that makes me want to be a better person, to be more honest and never take a day for granted. I wish I could expess myself better but thank you and all of you who have shared your heart felt feelings with all of us. I was turned on to your site by someone who saw a reply that I had made online to some idiot who did not understand and was very disrespectful to Heath and I thank him very much (Springrose 147) he makes beautiful videos that honor Heath and are so wonderful to watch. Heath will always be my favorite artist in this world and I love him with all my heart for what he has given us in his too short time on earth. and for what he has awakened in my soul.
It’s a few days late (4/4), but happy 30th birthday to Heath. He is missed so much.
Some are born with a gift to shine a light for the rest of us to touch, connect to and receive their radiant beauty. Heath was one.
I love “The Four Feathers”…I just discovered it recently. I am moved by it and specially so by Heath in it.
“…And these for whom life has no repose, live at times in their rare moments of happiness with such strength and indescribable beauty, the spray of their moment’s happiness is flung so high and dazzingly over the wide sea of suffering, that the light of it, spreading its radiance, touches others too with its enchantment…” Hemann Hesse STEPPENWOLF I love this quote and use it as a tribute to those like Heath who transcend the average and lift us up where our souls belong.
Some can move us for all time in just moments. Heath is one. In vital ways, he remains with us. A gift from Life and for our souls. Enriched by seeing in him, our own selves. We are all just a part of the whole of Life. Something about what Heath was able to present turned on a vibrancy in our own inner glow and light. He makes me feel more alive still. Sadness is there, too. But death doesn’t end our feelings or relationships with those whose mortal bodies no longer inhale and exhale.
We are blessed by having lived when Heath was here.
Thank you, Shekhar for bringing us “The Four Feathers”. It stays with me. And in this transient world, that is an act of grace. I am grateful for the arts. For in them we humans can radiate and share our best selves.
It is lovely to share here and read the hearts speaking by all who have taken the time to write.
I am truly amazed to discover that there are so many others who feel the same way as I do about Heath. These responses mirror my feelings exactly. How can one be touched so deeply by someone they did not know? It’s so awesome – this ability he has to connect with others. I, too, am deeply saddened to know that soon there will be hardly a mention of Heath as the world continues to move on… How will we get through the days then?
Dear Barbara,
I too, have dreaded the time when there will be no more talk of Heath, particularly after his last movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, leaves theaters. But I have never forgotten the words his friend Wes Bentley (and costar in the movie The Four Feathers, which Mr. Kapur directed) said in an interview after Heath’s death: “While most of us forget we’re alive and are dead on our feet, Heath woke up everyday excited about what was out there to enjoy. He lived in a way that spread so much spark to so many people every day he had.”
We never forget our loved ones who have died, and we will never forget Heath, although the world will go on in its seemingly endless cycle. I guess the best way to honor him would be to try to live as passionately as he did, and try to spread that passion to others.
I’m a 70-year old guy and Mr. Ledger’s passing also had a particular impact on me for some reason. I don’t know why. I didn’t know him and he was younger than either of my own kids. It may be because I feel a little guilty about it. After watching his career grow and mature over the years, I also saw his personal life start to fall apart. There was probably nothing I could have done to prevent his death, but … I think I saw it coming, and wish I would have TRIED in some way.
I didn’t see any of Heath’s movies while he was alive.. I even missed the news of his death.. It was in late 2008 that I saw two of his movies- 10 things I hate about you and Brokeback Mountain..Then I came to know that he had died in Jan of that year. It hurt more than it should’ve.. I’ve loved him right from Joker to Harry to Jacob Grimm. He has since become my favorite actor. He’s the embodiment of the reason I love cinema. Thanks a lot for sharing..
I am one of those guys who got awed first and then emotionally attached to Heath just through his character in TDK. I never really bothered to think more about the reasons. Thanks to Catherine, I can’t agree more with her. Thanks for sharing a great philosophy.
I was thinking of Heath Ledger on his birthday. I came here for some comfort. Thank you all.
I don’t really understand why I miss him so much, but I think it has something to do with how badly I was treated as a child and how I saw something brave and good in Heath that made me want to reach out to another human.
Although he is gone, he’s never gone.
Thank you Catherine for putting into words the feelings and thoughts i’ve always had since the untimely passing of my much-loved idol, Heath Andrew Ledger — especially that part that makes me wonder why I have been feeling this way despite the fact Heath and I never met neither knew each other personally.. And such longing still puts me in a delusion of switching the TV hoping he’ll be there; watching his movies I respectfully and delicately compiled through the years thinking and continuing to pretend he is alive.. I still feel the loss to these days despite the passing of time; I wonder when this painful wound will ever heal.. Sometimes, I miss him so much that I can’t stand it… i’m so freaking sad right now.. really really sad.. it seems like yesterday was January 22, 2008, and it has always been just like yesterday.. like yesterday.. ðŸ™
and just you would know, I have made sure I don’t work every 4th of April; that I just go out, enjoy, have fun, see the wonders of nature, celebrate life from the opening midnight when i light a candle to the closing midnight as I drink one cup of cosmopolitan — my way of saying “Cheers, Heath, to the beautiful imprints you made and left in my life”..
I privately call this my Heath Ledger Day — a day which I use to remind me about the beautiful things Heath, through his movies and stuff, has taught me and made me who I am today and in the days to come.. it’s been four years, for longing years, and it just doesn’t stop……….. ðŸ™
Five years
And I still marvel at his graciousness
Brave honesty
Fierce, unashamed kindness
Love of life
My friends, in these dark times
How powerful
And wonderful it is
That he still burns the brightest light
I just ran across your Blog regarding your mourning Heath Ledger. It is now five plus years later and I still am very much mourning and impacted by his death. I am a very religious person, and my knowledge of heath comes across best by some sort of spiritual connection. Your letter puts into words that connection. Thank you! I wish I could have known him as he lived, as you did, and have that memory.
Dave
Pranaam Shekhar ji,
A very sentimental post, lovely words with genuine feelings. Amazingly articulate letter about a great talent – gone so early but immortalized forever. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
You’ve described exactly what I feel. Here we are, six years after his tragic passing, and I still search the Web for stories on Heath.
He is definitely my angel <3
I came across this lovely collection of thoughts when I was searching for a quote of Heath’s about his soul. I just wanted to add that his spirit is still shining on in 2020. Heath’s creative energy and the love he channels through his art have been a shelter from the crazy life-storm of this year for me. I’m forever thankful.