Arte - Too Young to Die Series 1 (2012) Part 1 Heath Ledger

Brilliant. Gifted. Legendary. Whether taken by murder, drugs, or suicide, the names of these late stars live on forever. Their achievements rendered them iconic and aided in defining their legacy, even while off-screen demons haunted them. Too Young to Die grants viewers a chance to go beyond the myth and get a glimpse into the private lives and personas of those who were simply too young to die. Despite their success and early fame, the lives of these noted celebrities Heath Ledger, dead at 28 of prescription drug intoxication; John Belushi, dead at 33 of a speedball overdose; Kurt Cobain, 27 years old when he shot himself in the head; and Sharon Tate, 26 and pregnant when she was killed in the grisly Charles Manson cult murders ended in tragedy. In this riveting series, explore how the gap between actual life and public reporting helped to create these contemporary legends. “Too Young to Die” portrays the individuals behind the myth.

Part 1 Heath Ledger

He only lived to be 28 years old. The news of Heath Ledger's death spread like wildfire. The first major Hollywood star to have died so young in the age of the Internet, his death deeply touched all of Hollywood as well as fans around the world. But Heath Ledger was a reluctant celebrity, a star that didn't really want to be one. By opting to play character roles in small films and declining major offers such as the leading role in “Spiderman”, he deliberately made “unwise” choices and risked his career on several occasions. He was far more interested in the serious art of acting than in becoming famous as a Hollywood superstar. The film traces Heath Ledger's evolution from the young Australian actor, who very early on displayed an enormous gift for acting, to the complex character actor he became, revealing above all an as yet unknown side to this multitalented actor Beside his work as an actor, Heath Ledger was also a very talented photographer, created collages and produced innovative music videos. Film clips from Heath Ledger's films as well as interviews with his early school day friends, fellow artists from the film industry such as Terry Gilliam, and especially Heath Ledger's father paint a very personal picture of the century talent Heath Ledger.

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