Michelle Williams Tried to Save Heath's Life
TMZ has learned Michelle Williams had been desperately trying to help Heath Ledger battle his addictions before his shocking death in January.
Watch the story from TMZ TV and check local listings.
Reader Comments
(Page 3 of 3) Previous 15 Comments31. I think what really incenses everybody the most is that just enough of the truth was intentiionally held back so as to eulogize his burial with as litle shame as possible. Though, for most it didn't work, there were still enough who wouldn't use common sense and jumped on the bandwagon trying to make him to be a far better actor and human being than he actually was. He was a mediocre actor with a severe substance abuse problem. People can play around with the semantics of whether he was an "addict" or just a "heavy user" depending upon their own personal grasp of reality. The truth is that (according to those who knew him best) he was out-of-control, - it cost him his daughter and her mother, his rationale, and his life.
Posted at 10:01AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Scythe
32. This is very sad for all concerned. The truth is that only an addict can decide for him or herself the moment at which he/she wants to get help. Kudos to Michelle for doing her best to try to get him the help he needed. She's a good lady and I hope she is able to find some peace by being there for her beautiful little girl as she grows up.
Posted at 10:09AM on Mar 21st 2008 by carol Camp
33. It is shocking the amount of foolishness that surrounds addiction. "Heath wouldn't go to AA," and gems like "No one can help an addict but himself." The fact of the matter is AA works a mere 18% of the time - that means 82% of the people who need help? They aren't getting it there. As a person who has lived with and beaten alcoholism over the last 18 years, I can say from experieince that what happens to an addicted person is COMPLETELY biological. And the idea that a treatment like AA that began in the 1800's with the Oxford Groups is still relevant today is absurd. That is is the ONLY accepted "treatment" is an outrage. If you get cancer you'll be treated with state of the art innovative therapies. If you get addiction you'll be treated with the same church basements, sugar cookies, folk wisdom and coffee cup your great,great grandfather got. The answer ultimately will be fairly simle, come from gene therapy introduced by a benign virus and hopefully remove all the stigmas and needless tragedies that swirl around addiction and ruin countless lives.
Posted at 10:14AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Navajo Jackson
34. Ditto.
Posted at 10:14AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Scythe
35. What angers me about the entire situation is the TOTAL HYPOCRASY surrounding Heath's death, and people's responses to it. There should not be anyone consuming valium with xanax, as they are both tranquilizers, and adding a 3rd tranquilizer, ativan, to those 2 themselves is just plain foolishness. Then you add oxycontin and hydrocodone (codeine) and ambien? Is it any WONDER the man is dead? Heath was indulging in very risky behavior, whether anyone wants to admit it or not. Those of you fooling yourselves into believing he didn't take all of those together in order to get some sort of buzz or high off of them are just that: fools. At the same time, Brad Renfro, another gifted actor, died of the EXACT SAME THING, accidental overdose, but because he had "street drugs", heroin in his system, he's not celebrated, or even included in the Oscar montage. (Yes, it was obvious the Heath bit had been added at the end, but if you're going to add to it, why not add in Brad before the Heath bit?) Dope is dope whether you have a prescription for it, or not. Most of us take what is prescribed when it is prescribed, and do not abuse it. There is no way any rational adult is going to take 6 different medications that are all central nervous system depressors, and NOT know and be actively seeking the intoxicating effects.
Posted at 10:51AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Kizzy
36. everyone has a damn drug problem get over it
Posted at 1:56PM on Mar 21st 2008 by amandarae
37. everyone has a damn drug problem get over it
Posted at 1:56PM on Mar 21st 2008 by amandarae
38. N. Jackson, so now it YOUR way is the only way? Riiiiight. Strikes Me as odd how a condition that is totally preventable (by choice) is now magically "biologic", - the propensity to "easily" go down the road toward addiction does contain some indicators that are biological in nature, but the "cure" is still CHOICE driven. So, your bitterness is seen, but not heard.
Posted at 11:39AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Scythe
39. well, duh! most people with any heart, and especially who have a child with a drug user do make attempts to help them...I don't really see why this is a story!
Posted at 8:46PM on Mar 21st 2008 by esby77
40. Dear Heath,
However you were, whatever was in your heart in the days before your death- of one thing I can be glad, that you don't get to witness all the rabid speculation and assumptions about your personal and private life.
Of many things, I can be sad- that you were exhausted beyond exhaustion- that you and your daughter will not get to realise more between you in this life, that your family and close friends are delivered the indescribable pain of losing you- and that you too 'lost' your life.
And, to be honest, Heath, i would feel the same compassion for anyone in a similar position, celebrity or not- and at the same time I am profoundly grateful, that your beauty of soul reached my life, and refreshed my awareness of what really matters. Who can categorically say you were not lonely?.........
who could ever know the truth but you?
thank you and respect to you- from one flawed human being, fortunate not to have the eyes of the media and frenzied judgement dumped on every aspect of my life ( and no, I am not addicted :)
love to you x x x
Posted at 10:52PM on Mar 21st 2008 by susan
41. Im Just glad to know heath final quit his drug problem once and for all.
Posted at 11:41AM on Mar 22nd 2008 by operation daffy duck
42. im not keen on the way they keep saying "drug addiction"..they make it sound like he was a substance abuser..he died of an accidental overdoseof perscription drugs..he didnt take to many, just the wrong concoction. may he rip, i will miss him always but have his entire movie collcection to remind me of his amazing talent. i wish the best to matilda rose and michelle who must be going through such a hard time. love you heath xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted at 8:28PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by miss_you_heath_xxx
43. older and wiser: you should get together with Petunia. You're both total nutcases.
I think there are several ways to quit drug abuse but even more to keep abusing. What a lot of you don't understand is that most people are addicted to one thing or another. It's just that most addictions don't end up killing you in such an obvious fashion. If you spend several hours a day on any one activity, you are an addict. You can be addicted to drugs, alcohol, tobacco or sex (esp. pornography). Or you can be addicted to surfing the 'net, watching TV, food, work,sports or almost anything else. The only question is which is your drug of choice and how much does it interfere with the rest of your life. If you don't believe me, talk to the families of a workaholic, a sports fanatic or somebody who spends all their time on their computer. It's not pretty and all of these addictions are away of avoiding reality and real people. I outghta know, I have several of these addictions and the only way I can stop one is to switch to another. Real helpful, that is.
At the end of the day, let's just let Heath rest in peace. I liked the guy but we're just beating a dead horse now. Stick a fork in this story, it's done.
Go Sox
Posted at 10:10AM on Mar 24th 2008 by Baseball Junkie
45. To reply to a few comments made on this thread.....
There was no evidence whatsoever that he had a substance abuse problem. He had legal prescription medications in his bloodstream at the time he died, and it was found that each of the prescription drugs that were found in his system were at the prescribed dosage or less. What killed him was the combination of all the drugs together. A toxic reaction.
And to theb......how the heck do you know what went on behind closed doors? You don't know any more than I do that he was 'forced" into having a child. Seems to me that he was thrilled when that little girl was born. He didn't look like he felt trapped to me. And those "obnoxious" friend of Michelle's that you refer to.....Got news for you.....they were more Heath's friends and family than hers, and what they did was not degrading or obnoxious in any way shape or form. They chose to end that day remembering Heath the way that Heath would want to be remembered. Don't be so snotty in passing judgment. Everyone that I know that saw those pics of them on the beach thought it was the most touching thing they had ever seen.
Posted at 5:57PM on May 6th 2008 by mek
