Gawker
Part of Heath Ledger's appeal, to a certain breed of cultural snob, was geographic. The Australian actor, who had come to Hollywood at the age of 19, received less attention from the paparazzi and the entertainment media complex when he crossed to New York. But, in exchange, he gained some cultural cachet.
Not only had Ledger, unusually for an actor made for romantic leads, won credibility by taking on the role of the gay cowboy; he had validated the choice of other actors, and other creatives, to resist the corrupting commercial draw of Los Angeles.
By settling in the most Bohemian borough of New York, Brooklyn, Ledger and his young family even more clearly invited the identification of a creative class that despised Los Angeles, historically, and Manhattan, increasingly, as high real estate prices drove out all but the bankers and lawyers.
Of course, that's not how it ended. After the separation from his wife, Michelle Williams, the Australian actor hit Manhattan clubs such as the quaintly low-ceilinged Beatrice Inn. And he died, in an overpriced Soho that has few remaining artists' lofts, wheeled out past a crowd of paparazzi and cameras much like those he tried to escape in Los Angeles.
Comments
Gross.
Bah. Fie.
@mathnet: Kinda gross, but kinda true, maybe?
If there's irony there, it was also in the reported fact that real estate brokers used Heathchelle as a marketing tool to convince hesitant celeb-obsessed yuppies that Brooklyn was a sufficiently prestigious area for them to nest in. Of course, until he left.
@Metcalf: They still own the house, and Michelle still lives there. There are other big-name celebs in the nabe. Yes, the nabe became a bit giddy when they moved there, as "Brokeback" was about to be released and it was big. They eventually became just another couple with a stroller.
Now if the media would have foregone publishing the house address, and if they would go away from what was a quiet corner, perhaps Ms. Williams, and the neighbors, could have some quiet time.
So a $4 million, four-floor brownstone is bohemian as long as it's located on the Brooklyn side of the river?
@transomist:
I guess some people would consider Le Petit Trianon a dive.
It's disturbing how insidious the impact of money is in New York. People don't know what real bohemianism is anymore. They expect it to come with Lalique vases.
Not that for one minute I begrudged a successful, talented young actor a beautiful brownstone.
As far as I know, Michelle Williams and Heath weren't married...am I wrong?
@missjwalker: you, miss, are correct.
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