Heath Ledger’s “Pointless” Death Devastated Matt Damon, Felt He Had To “Protect Him” as “He was too bright for this world”
Heath Ledger was one of the most versatile actors Hollywood had ever seen. Before surrendering to the grip of death, he had proven himself in movies like Brokeback Mountain, A Knight’s Tale, 10 Things I Hate About You, and many more before landing his posthumously Oscar-winning role in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight as the iconic villain Joker.
His camaraderie with Matt Damon was not news to fans. Matt Damon even got the same tattoo as Heath Ledger in 2013, which he cherishes to this day. Matt Damon was probably the most affected in Hollywood by the death of Heath Ledger, and time and time again he would speak up about his talent and how he missed his old friend. In an old interview, Matt Damon opened up by saying how he thought he needed to protect him and that he was “too bright for this world.”
How Heath Ledger’s death affected Matt Damon
In a GQ interview in 2016, a roundtable of sorts took place that included names like George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Tina Fey, Ben Affleck, Martin Scorsese, and many more. They were said to have known him the best, and they gathered up before the big return to the Bourne franchise to celebrate Matt Damon and his amazing career.
While talking in that interview, an important film in Matt Damon’s career popped up, which is The Brothers Grimm. He starred in it with Heath Ledger, and it saw immense success in the United States. It was very evident from Damon’s recollection of Heath Ledger’s memories that he was still not over the pain of losing him. In a proud yet painful tone, he went on to say how he thought the world of him:
“He was too bright for this world. Coming off [The Brothers Grimm, I was] telling everybody that I just worked with the best actor I’ve ever seen. And people were like, ‘What are you talking about? The guy from A Knight’s Tale?” And I was like, “You just wait. And wait until you see what kind of a director he’s gonna be.’”
He continued to comment on his genius capabilities yet innocent nature by saying:
“There were things that he did where I couldn’t have got there in three lifetimes. And there were ways in which he was like a puppy dog. You wanted to protect him.”
The pain of Matt Damon was most evident when he recalled the day he got the news of Heath Ledger passing away:
“[His death was] just fucking pointless. I called Terry when I found out, and he was like, ‘I’m sitting here in Vancouver. I’m looking out the window, and it’s a beautiful sunny day, and the lights are turning red, and the lights are turning green, and cars are stopping, and cars are driving. I am surrounded by mediocrity. And he’s gone.’”
In a more recent GQ cover story done in 2021, he opened up on how both he and his wife got the same tattoo as Heath Ledger, feeling like they had a “creative little blessing.” He got the names of his children Alexia, Isabella, Gia, and Stella, and his wife Luciana Barroso’s name tattooed right beside a wiggly line. That wiggly line was something that Heath had tattooed on his body previously. Matt Damon went on to say that he felt like Heath Ledger was looking over his family like an angel from the afterlife in this way:
“It’s like an angel that looks over all these names that are on the arm.”
Their friendship is truly endearing, and it lasted even after Ledger passed away. Still, to this day, Damon simultaneously showers praise on one of his closest friends while mourning his unfortunate death.
What Happened to Heath Ledger?
When he played the Joker in 2008, his professional life was flourishing. However, his personal life, according to reports at the time, seemed to be in shambles. The role itself was reportedly challenging for him, as he went into a downward spiral while preparing for it. He had bouts of anxiety and insomnia. He would sometimes even sleep only two hours a day.
His relationship with his beloved partner, Michelle Williams, also came to an end, which evidently took a huge toll on him.
On January 22, 2008, his masseuse and housekeeper found his body in his bedroom and called the emergency service. They arrived, but they were unsuccessful in reviving him. The official report says that it was “abuse of prescription medications” that led to this situation. The medications included anti-anxiety pills, sleeping pills, and painkillers.
To this day, everyone in Hollywood mourns the death of Heath Ledger. He would always reign supreme in the hearts of his fans.
