Remembering Heath Ledger and four others gone too soon

Jan 22, 2008 9:16 PM by Erin Kilian

Posted in Entertainment / Celebrity Gossip

Hollywood is mourning the loss of Heath Ledger, who died on Tuesday from causes yet to be determined. Details are still emerging about the death and rampant speculation has already begun about what pills the actor might have taken, the condition in which he was found, and what might have lead to his untimely passing.

His death is particularly surprising, because unlike stars like Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse, there has been little to no media speculation about possible drug problems in Ledger's life. Up until his split from fiancée Michelle Williams last year, Ledger's tabloid exposure was usually related to pictures of the pair strolling around their Brooklyn neighborhood with daughter Matilda.

Ledger's untimely death is only the latest in a line of Hollywood stars taken down by drugs before their 40th birthday. Included on the list of lives cut far too short:

Brad Renfro – As SheKnows was among the first to report, Renfro was found dead just last week at the age of 25. Though the cause of death is still unknown, the actor had become more famous in recent years for his run-ins with the law and stints in drug rehab than for the acting talent he displayed in roles in films like "The Client" and "Ghost World."

River Phoenix – Another young actor on the verge of major movie stardom, Phoenix died of a speedball (heroin and cocaine) overdose outside Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room in 1993 at only 23 years old. His brother Joaquin (then known as "Leaf") was at his side and frantically called 911... but to no avail.

Anna Nicole Smith – One of the biggest news stories of last year was Anna Nicole's death at age 39. Her over-the-top tabloid lifestyle propelled the story to the front pages, and her passing spawned months of rumors, finger-pointing and an epic custody battle over her newborn daughter Dannielynn. Her death was ruled an accidental overdose of prescription medication.

Chris Farley – The 1997 death of funnyman Farley was the toxic result of a life of excess.The official cause of death was the use of speedballs coupled with coronary disease. Farley too was at the height of his career, having finished a successful run on "Saturday Night Live" and starring in popular cult films like "Tommy Boy" and "Black Sheep."