Heath Ledger - Dead at 28

News reports are stating that Ledger was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for the NYPD told reporters that there was no obvious indication of suicide. The focus seems to be on an accidental overdose.

A young man dead at a 28. That's only 3 years older than I am. That only is sad. What is even more heartbreaking, is that Ledger leaves behind a 2 year old daughter? A daughter who will grow up with only her father's photos, movies, and stories to shape her knowledge of him.

The media has a history of sensationlizing the deaths of Hollywood Stars (Marilyn Monoroe, River Phoneix, the list goes on and on). The feeding frezy surronding their deaths now overshadows their accomplishments. And that I am sure is not what Ledger would want for his daughter.

I can only hope that as this story develops, the media will remember that at the end of the day - Ledger was someone's son, someone's father - and will handle the reports with a sense of decorium and decenecy.