Earlier today actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his home of apparent drug overdose.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01222008/news/regionalnews/heath_ledger_dead_916418.htm

I still have to wonder why sucess, more money than God, etc, causes "celebrities" to do drugs to the point of overdose. Is there something in their past, DNA, what, that causes that? I can assure you that if I suddenly became rich, I would not suddenly start doing drugs, or even booze, to such an extreme...

"I still have to wonder why sucess, more money than God, etc, causes "celebrities" to do drugs to the point of overdose."

A woman who used to work behind the TV business said that she thinks that the same mental/emotional issues that often drive them to acting are often their downfall. The need for attention, admiration, etc, often makes them unable to handle it when they get it, they fear that it won't last, and have trouble dealing with it on many levels.

It makes as much sense as anything.

Sue

"...they fear that it won't last..."

Nicole Simpson once told me that OJ had that fear, unfortunately he handled it a different way...

I was thinking about this and how similar the situation is with winning a lottery, esp a big one.

You have the people who are compulsive manic spenders, who think money can buy anything, and once they get their hands on that big money, nothing changes.

Then you have the "normal" people (whatever that is), who grew up knowing the value of money, and what it won't buy. They think before they spend, and live within their means. They tend not to change, either.

Of course, the show business people live in a goldfish bowl, too, and I'm sure that can't make it any easier.

Sue

"...the show business people live in a goldfish bowl..."

Yup, and that is what they want, to be rich and famous. They should know that in todays world you can not be a "celebrity" and not have cameras in your face all the time...

It is a shame. When I read it, I had to google his name, never heard of him. I don't get out much either....

I felt it in my craw but couldn;t visualize it.....not until this morning, when one of my favorite radio talk show hosts put it in perspective. I goes something like this:

The media swoons and fawns over the death of a "celebrity".... camping out on his doorstep as if they're first in line to buy tickets for a return of the real Elvis. Why? Heroes are dying in Iraq....volunteers....people who want to accomplish something for the good of their culture. Heroes are dying on American streets.... trying to rid them of scum who would rob, rape, maim, or kill us. Who is a Hollywod "celebrity"? A person who makes millions of dollars a year to pretend.... to play doctor.... to "act" as if they're somebody with a real life... to create an illusion. Why is he treated like a heroe? Whi is a spoiled brat like Brittany Spears, who is out to please no one but herself... fawned over and glamourized? Why do we devote hours and hours of media time to the death of someone who did nothing but create an illusion while the real heroes get a back-page obit in their local town paper?

Are we really buying in to anything more than a man passed away?

not me. some guy - along with quite a few other people, probably much more noteworthy in their own right than him - died that day. my condolences to the families of all. i'm moving on.

I love it...