Celebrity News January 23, 2008
Hollywood Stunned at Heath's Death
Friends and colleagues are expressing shock and disbelief at Heath Ledger's untimely and tragic death.
"He's probably my favorite actor," said John Travolta at the G'Day USA event in New York City last night. "It's a tremendous loss. It's sad to be here celebrating Australia when he's gone."
Cate Blanchett, Heath's co-star in "I'm Not There," said she is "shocked and saddened" at the news.
"I deeply respect Heath's work and always admired his continuing development as an artist," Blanchett said in a statement. "My thoughts are with his family and close friends."
Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said we have lost "one of our nation's finest actors in the prime of his life."
Mel Gibson, Heath's co-star in "The Patriot," said, "I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
Hit hardest by the tragedy: Heath's ex, Michelle Williams, the mother of his two-year-old daughter Matilda. She is reportedly "devastated" by the news of his death. She is flying back from Sweden, where she was filming a movie.
