It's sad and it's tragic when a young man/woman's life gets cut short. Especially when they are talented celebrities in the prime of their years. One feels like it's just unfair that these great people weren't given the time they deserved to truly prove what they were worth.
The death of The Dark Knight star, Heath Ledger is just one of the many tragic deaths of Hollywood's young, rich and famous. Around this time, barely two years ago, Ledger was up for an Oscar nomination. He seemed destined for great things with his fine portrayal as Bob Dylan in the 2007 film I'm Not There and this years blockbuster heavyweight The Dark Knight. Sadly Ledger would not live to see his biggest movie to date premiere. Ledger's body was found in a SoHo apartment in which was suspected to be a drug overdose. An autopsy later confirmed that the pills found around his body were merely sleeping pills.
Ledger is not the only one. Be it drug overdose or accidents or excessive lifestyles, many young Hollywood stars have found they're lives abrupt cut short. Though his death was a half-century ago, 2 time Oscar nominee James Dean continues to be a timeless icon of cinema. James only starred in 3 films; Rebel Without A Cause, East Of Eden and Giant. But in only a short span of 4 years, James Dean captivated the world with his emotional adolescent portrayals that gave the teenagers of the world their adolescent identity. James was killed in a road accident, just a few days before Giant premiered. He was only 24.
How about Hollywood sex symbol Marilyn Monroe? A Golden Globe winner at the age of 34, she was the woman that put the glam back in Hollywood and inspired the Playboy empire. Marilyn made only 30 films in her lifetime, but her legendary status and mysticism will remain with film history forever. She was found dead on 5th August 1962 due to a drug overdose. She was 36.
James Dean co-star in Rebel Without A Cause, Natalie Wood went on to become America's first sweetheart. Garnering 3 Oscar nominations, Natalie has starred in some of the most classical Hollywood films to date such as West Side Story and Splendor In The Grass. However, it was her role as the world's most beautiful bank robber, Penelope that shot her to Hollywood greatness. Sadly on the 29th of November 1981, Natalie had an accident trying to board the dinghy of her yacht, she fell into the water, and while trying to recover, drowned. She was 43.
All young, all talented and all of them icons of their time. These man and women dedicated their lives as entertainers, who chose to live to the best of their abilities. Though all had little time here, they're work and presence alone will always be remembered and dearly missed.
(Okay...this post sounds emo)
