Heath Ledger

January 15, 2013 Remembered

Actor Heath Ledger’s daughter Matilda, 7, looks an awful lot like her daddy, and his parents agree the two are “very much” alike.

Getty Images / Splash
In recognition of the fifth anniversary of Heath’s death on Jan. 22, Kim and Sally Ledger sat down with Australia’s New Idea magazine to talk about their son.
February 16, 2012 The Extra List

The most recent incident of a tragic celebrity death was the sudden passing of Whitney Houston at the Beverly Hilton on Feb. 11. She is believed to have died from a lethal combination of prescription drugs and alcohol.

Here is The Extra List of some of Hollywood's biggest players who died from drug-related complications.

The Extra List: Hollywood Drug Deaths

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston, who struggled with substance abuse for the last few decades, died on February 11, 2012 from reportedly mixing prescription drug Xanax with alcohol.Her body was found in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton. Whitney was 48.

Corey Haim

1980s actor Corey Haim battled his addiction to drugs and alcohol since he was 15.The Canadian-born star, who rose to fame in such films as "Lucas," "Murphy's Romance," and "The Lost Boys," died of pneumonia on March 10, 2010.Shortly before his death, Haim obtained 195 Valum, 149 Vicodin, 194 Soma and 15 Xanax, according to The Telegraph. He was 38.

Anna Nicole Smith

Anna Nicole Smith became a household name after posing for Playboy and modeling for Guess jeans in the '90s.The blonde starlet, who married J. Howard Marshall -- 62 years her senior, died on February 7, 2007 from "combined drug intoxication." Smith accidentally overdosed on sleeping medication chloral hydrate.She was 39.

Michael Jackson

Perhaps the most well-known celebrity drug death is Michael Jackson's -- who died on June 25, 2009 from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication.Jackson's death was ruled as a homicide, and as a result, his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray was sentenced to 4 years for involuntary man slaughter.Jackson was 50 years old.

Brittany Murphy

Actress Brittany Murphy collapsed in the bathroom after going into cardiac arrest in 2009.Her shocking death, which was primarily caused by pneumonia, iron-deficiency anemia and drug intoxication. Murphy had been taking some over-the-counter and prescription medication, including hydrocodone, acetaminophen and L-methamphetamine.She was 32.

Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger, who had just finished filming "The Dark Knight," died from an accidental "toxic combination of prescription drugs" on January 22, 2008.The actor was found dead in his NYC apartment. He was 28.

Dana Plato

Dana Plato, who was best-known for her role as Kimberly Drummond in the '80s sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," died in 1999 after taking painkiller Lortab along with Soma.Plato died on Mother's Day, May 8, 1999. She was 34.

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley lost his battle against drugs and alcohol and died on August 16, 1977. Presley, who is simply known as "The King," was scheduled to fly to Memphis to begin a tour.He was found on his bathroom floor and was unresponsive. One of his lab reports said Elvis had "14 drugs in his system." Presley's long term use of drugs caused his death, with forensic historian Michael Baden saying, "Elvis had had an enlarged heart for a long time. That, together with his drug habit, cause his death."Presley was 42.

Judy Garland

Judy Garland, remembered for playing the bright-eyed Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," died on June 22, 1969 from an "incautious self-overdosage" of barbituates. Her death was ruled "accidental."She was 47.

Marilyn Monroe

Screen goddess Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood home on August 5, 1962 from "acute barbiturate poisoning," resulting from a "probable suicide."The actress, who remains a pop culture phenomenon, was 36.

January 17, 2012 Magazine Covers

Michelle Williams, this year's winner of the Golden Globe Best Actress Award for her role in "My Week with Marilyn," covers the February issue of GQ (looking very much like the legendary blonde bombshell)... and she talks about her late ex, Heath Ledger, who died four years ago January 22.

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Here are some highlights from the interview:

Why she believes she and Heath Ledger were drawn to each other:
"Our initial meeting, the circumstances of how we first met, were cosmic or something. Yeah, a lot of things happened at once. It's a bit like: We had a lot of things to do, because we didn't have a lot of time, or something."

September 23, 2011 Candid Confessions

Actress Naomi Watts is on the cover of October's More magazine, in which she opens up about the two years she spent with ex-boyfriend Heath Ledger, who died in early 2008 after an accidental prescription drug overdose.

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"We had a beautiful relationship, only a couple of years, but he was a man who was completely full of joy, and there was a lot of laughing and affection. He was really a very special soul and made a great impact on my life. And a great actor, but I know there was so much more to come. And it's a tragedy for his little daughter."

December 23, 2010 Celebrity Highlights

It's been nearly three years since the death of actor Heath Ledger -- and Michelle Williams has opened up for the first time about her love of three years and the father of her daughter, Matilda, 5.

"I've found meaning around the circumstance, but the actual event itself still doesn't... I can't find a meaning for it," she told "Nightline" in an interview that aired Wednesday. "I can find meanings in things and people and relationships that have sprung up, and friendships that have strengthened. I can find a lot of meaning in that, but not in why."

November 10, 2009 As Seen On Extra
lindsay lohan heath ledger

In a shocking revelation from the Lindsay Lohan tapes, the actress' mother confirms that Lohan, 23, was "dating" Heath Ledger when he died in January 2008.

In an undated phone conversation obtained by RadarOnline.com, Dina tells her ex-husband Michael, "I don't know if you know that, but I know 'cause I would drop her off and they were friends very, very close, okay?"

Check out more of Hollywood's nastiest family feuds

Lindsay's mother goes on to say that she believes the actor's death "f---ed" the starlet up -- and she was afraid that without intervention, Lindsay could share Ledger's fate.

"Because when she's drunk or takes an Adderall with it she will do something like Heath Ledger did in a second without thinking," Dina tells Michael.

Heath died in January 2008 of an accidental drug overdose. Four months prior to his death, he had separated from his fiancée Michelle Williams -- with whom he had daughter Matilda, 4.

See Heath's life in photos

Dina also vocalizes her concern about Lindsay's up-and-down relationship with Samantha Ronson -- and wonders if Lindsay will ever be able to cut ties with the deejay.

"It's very easy for a rational person to say. But for an irrational person who has a problem with her DNA and alcohol and Adderall and asthma and every other things she's got wrong with her," she says.

Michael told reporters earlier this week that he would continue to release recordings about his daughter "until Lindsay goes to rehab."

November 05, 2009 AFI Fest 2009

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" was Heath Ledger's final film, and co-star Verne Troyer has only positive things to say about being on set with the fallen star.

"I feel so honored and privileged to be a part of the film," Troyer told "Extra" at the AFI Fest screening of the fantasy film. "Being able to work with Heath was one of the greatest things that I've ever gotten to be able to do."

Click here to watch the trailer for "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus."

October 30, 2009 Remembered

A music video has been released that was directed by Heath Ledger shortly before he died from an accidental drug overdose at the age of 28 in Jan. 2008.

Rapper N'fa Forster-Jones posted the video for his song "Cause An Effect" on his YouTube and MySpace pages on Thursday.

"I, everyday, count my blessing every day for the fact that I got to have him direct this piece of art," Forster-Jones says in a YouTube video explaining the experience. The rapper and "The Dark Knight" star were childhood friends growing up in Perth, Australia.

The late actor's final film "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" opens in theaters Dec. 25.

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