I’ve never been in the right (?) place at the right time time to see the internet mobilise itself with news - well except 9/11 which was not so surprising.
Heath Ledger kicking it, has spread like wildfire, wikipedia straight on it with a caption at the top “This article is about a person who has recently died.”, IMDB too has recorded the death date, even ropey spoiler sites with production pictures of the new Gilliam film starring Ledger have added a tagline to explain.
Poor Terry Gilliam, after Lost In La Mancha, things just don’t go well for him.
Anyway, not that I was ever a Ledger fan, but I must a admit a twitch of excitement in the news, repulsive as that is, that caused me to summon a flatmate at this late hour and eagerly confess the news. It was entirely underwhelming as said flatmate had no idea who Heath Ledger was, nor had he seen Brokeback Mountain. I was left feeling suitably pathetic. And a bit ashamed at my celebrity death joy.
Somehow a celebrity death, especially one from the youthful, square jawed, over achiever ranks, tips the immortality scale, for a moment, a bit back in my favour. Score one for the little people; we might not be bright and dazzling stars destined to touch the lives of millions… but, Ha! We just outlived one of yours!
That’s a bitter little thought. I’ll get back in my cave.