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Even in Death, Rumors Plague Ledger

AOL
Posted: 2008-03-31 14:08:58
(March 31) -- In the old days, the death of a celebrity meant the death of gossip-mongering around them. It was a level of respect afforded to the fallen star, their family and fans as a whole. But that was before Princess Diana, before the tabloid explosion and before the Internet.

Now, it appears, nobody -- dead or alive -- is too taboo for a headline, as Heath Ledger's uncle claims the actor may have fathered a child when he was 17.

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Shannon Morris, Getty Images

A Rising Star's
Tragic End

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Although he died in late January, the saga of Heath Ledger lives on. According to a new lawsuit filed by a former freelance reporter for PEOPLE under the name Jane Doe, two photographers set up the actor, here with his daughter Matilda, to film a video of the actor doing cocaine.



The latest Daily Telegraph report claims that the fallen actor may have fathered a child while he was still in high school brings new debate to the forefront of post-mortem reporting. Should the press have an unwritten rule to back off of non-essential news following a death? Or is this something that the public will be interested, and therefore, it's fair game?

The "love child" report quotes Ledger's uncle, who claims that "there is a very real possibility that Heath" fathered a child when he was 17 and dating a 25 year old. The report contends that if it's proven to be Ledger's child, it could cause an estate battle for his ex-fiance Michelle Williams, with whom Ledger had their daughter Matilda.

Ledger's acting credibility and quiet family life also add fuel to the fire. When a celeb goes out of their way to stay in the spotlight and repeatedly acts inappropriately in public, they give the media a green light to cover them. But Ledger was always a private individual, preferring family over red carpets or clubs.

Ledger was unexpectedly found dead in his New York City apartment in January. As one of Hollywood's most promising young talents, the loss reverberated around Hollywood, seeming to unite film fans to mourn the loss. His last completed role was as The Joker in the upcoming Batman sequel, 'The Dark Knight.'

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Warner Bros.

Ledger's Final Roles

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Footage of Heath Ledger's turn as the Joker is already awing viewers, including his 'Dark Knight' co-star Christian Bale. "It gave me goose bumps throughout, looking at Heath up there," he says.



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2008-03-31 07:09:13
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Recent Comments

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570 comments

ajaphnx27brks 12:59:43 PM Apr 03 2008

Everyone's also got something negative to say... TOO BAD you don't get paid for it!

warpigg52 08:41:27 AM Apr 03 2008

brokebackhomo

warpigg52 08:40:19 AM Apr 03 2008

yeah such a wonderful father that he did drugs and went and killed his selfish self yeah he was a really good father to the ones that didnt get aborted first

saras31neon 08:20:59 AM Apr 03 2008

just because he played a gay cowboy dosent mean he was actually gay who cares if he was anyway he was a wonderful father

bluefish6 01:20:28 AM Apr 03 2008

His family has introduced this story to make Heath seem more manly. They're trying to restore his image by downplaying his gayness.

clwbchbabycakes 12:20:11 AM Apr 03 2008

Is this the same uncle that ran his mouth to the media about family finances? Gotta wonder why he's putting family business out there - especially on a "strong possibility" and not on DNA test results. Wonder is he's getting paid for interviews or information. That's pretty demented to start milking money out of your dead nephew's previous fame!!! Shame shame!!

larrendell 08:28:31 PM Apr 02 2008

Someone always comes out of the woodwork. This "uncle" has been running his head since Heath died. I guess he thinks if he talks enough he'll get some money. Why would he care? He's an uncle. He deservies nothing of Heath's. I think he's getting paid by the tabloids for all this tripe. If Heath has another child and his/her mom comes foward and submits the child for a paternity test then that child should inherit equally with Matilda, but it sounds like more trouble-making from this "uncle" who has an axe to grind with the family.

izsygrandpa 04:42:07 PM Apr 02 2008

Wow - kids born outside of a marriage - used to be referred to as 'bastards' - now they're called: 'love child'. Society sure has changed in that regard - and, for my sake, I'm glad it did!

wordartist1 03:47:22 PM Apr 02 2008

If he supposedly has an 11 year old kid, why didn't the mother say anything sooner? So she just let him go 11 years with no child support, even after he became rich and famous? I find that hard to believe. Even if he had no money when he was only 17, surely by the time he was 20 and acting in major studio films, she would have come after him for a paternity test. This seems like crap to me.

tetrarquin 01:29:16 PM Apr 02 2008

I know a guy who used to live down my block. He shacked up with some girl he knew for a few months and they had a kid. But the guy was always abusing drugs..eventually he left the wife and the kid and moved out. Then he died of a drug overdose.What a selfish bum he was and now theres some 2 year old kid without a father.
Ofcourse if this BUM was a big name celebrity (like Heath ledger for example)youd all be saying what a tragedy..how much he adored the child...how he should be happy in paradise etc etc...funny how in this country we put these idiotic celebrities on a pedestal and defend them with all of our might..maybe we should save our sympathies for common people like ourselves who dont happen to be pretending to be other people on the "silver screen" or on our tvs.

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