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Heath Ledger 1979 - 2008

Date: Feb 20 2008

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Ever since he danced across the bleachers while singing in 10 Things I Hate I About You in 1999, Heath Ledger has been one of Hollywood’s most popular actors. Tragically, the Australian star died last month at the age of 28.

Ledger’s death, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding it, have been a major topic of conversation lately both in the media and among friends. Listen in as Marni tells Amanda the bad news.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Amanda

Marni: Did you hear about Heath Ledger?

Amanda: What about him?

Marni: Oh my God, he died.

Amanda: What? What is he, 27, 28 years old?

Marni: 28 years old and he died…

Amanda: Baby girl, right?

Marni: Yes.

Amanda: Didn’t he just separate from his wife? Recently, maybe within the last six months?

Marni: Yeah. Michelle Williams.

Amanda: OK I have to ask. Suicide? Drug overdose? It wasn’t a murder, right?

Marni: No. They don’t really know. And there was this whole weird involvement with Mary-Kate Olsen apparently.

Amanda: What?

Marni: Well, he was unconscious and his masseuse came in and thought he was sleeping, was setting up for a massage and called Mary-Kate Olsen instead of calling 9-1-1 immediately and there may be repercussions with that. In actuality, he was already dead so there was nothing they could have done.

Amanda: Interesting. Mary-Kate Olsen.

Marni: Yeah. So, I don’t know they’re connected…friends…

Amanda: Autopsy yet?

Marni: Not yet, but apparently he was taking Ambien…

Amanda: That’s it?

Marni: And they think he may have actually overdosed on that. Or potentially had a heart attack. I’ve also heard that.

Amanda: At 28 though? I guess it’s possible.

Marni: Very very sad. He was very talented. And get this. This is the crazy thing. People were protesting at his funeral.

Amanda: Why?

Marni: Because of his role in Brokeback Mountain.

Amanda: Oh, because it was phenomenal?

Marni: Well, exactly but apparently because they are such horrible people that they would protest a role that he played…

Amanda: That would have been wonderful for his wife and his daughter, you know?

Marni: Yeah, and his family. That’s really nice.

Amanda: That was his breakthrough performance.

Marni: It was incredible, and I think he was very talented and he will be missed.

Amanda: He just got started.

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Discussion

Amanda hadn’t heard that Heath Ledger died. When Marni tells her, the first thing she thinks of is his baby daughter and his wife from whom he separated only six months ago.

When Amanda asks how Ledger died, Marni says that no one is quite sure but that it somehow involved young actress Mary-Kate Olsen. Amanda is quite surprised and Marni explains that when Ledger’s masseuse found him dead, she called Mary-Kate Olsen for some reason.

Marni guesses that Ledger may have died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. This has since been confirmed as the cause of his death.

One of the saddest things about Ledger’s death is that his funeral was protested by people who opposed his role in Brokeback Mountain, a film in which he played a gay character.

Amanda and Marni consider how awful it must have been for his family to have protesters at the funeral. They’re sad that he died because he was very talented and would have made a lot of good movies if he had lived.

Stars often die young. Can you think of another actor or musician who died early in his or her career?

Comments

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Mikobella

Poland

It’s really sad…He was a good actor, especially I remember his creation in “10 Things I hate About You”- he showed that he can sing.

AppleRome

Antarctica

Robert_Grace:

“Hmm…let me pratice using today’s key words to make a sentence:

Jane Eyre is phenomenal. I’ve never before read a character so pure and plain.

And I don’t quite understand this sentence. Could anybody explain it to me? Thanks!

Someday I’ll be a star with my own personal masseuse. Until then, my back will just have to hurt.

What does “my back will just have to hurt” mean?“

—> Hmmm I think the passage wants to say: We must have hardwork to get success! Must have hurt our own back first before having our own personal masseuse! :D

monacovalentina

Italy

I think of the cyclist Marco Pantani who died young for overdose It is really a pity

Avverrois

Brazil

Phoenix River also at young age… Unfortunately this great actor seems not to know how to give to grant themselves the same brilliant and vivid life they give to their characters in the films. That´s a pity!

catastrophe-waitress

Germany

wonderful actor… great movies and the cutest smile ever… are lost now…

Jajani

Sri Lanka

Oh ! I'm Sorry.

tonny37

Ghana

Anthony Odoom is my name.I come from ghana.You look very nice to in the pic. pls can we be friends.And this is my E-mail() or ()you can also call me on this(+233-0277086077)

HuangYe

United Kingdom

At least so many people can bear him in mind, he is just gone but not end up!

daniel821

China

He will be missed!Life is not easy but also beautiful, we need cherish it! Wish everyone healthy and happy!

aa25uk

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

hello

aa25uk

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

hello

white_flag

Italy

It's such a lost for his daughter an his family… he plays a lot of interesting characters but I think like other people that his depression was the real cause of his death

white_flag

Italy

It's such a lost for his daughter an his family… he plays a lot of interesting characters but I think like other people that his depression was the real cause of his death

bestoncheng

China

It's a great pity that the young actor died at his early age of 28!In spite of some protestors and misundertandings of them,he is one of the most famous new film stars in the film industry!Maybe,at some extent,it is a great loss to all the funs of him.

pretty.angel

United Arab Emirates

thats too sad

naila08

Morocco

I didn't have the opportunity to know about him, but I felt sorry when I heard about his death, because he was very young and I heard that he was kind and he was very social.