I have been pondering this for some time now.I will try to stick to facts here as much as possible but some speculation may just creep in.
Heath was unquestionably a supremely talented actor,and it would appear that in part ,his talent lay in his seemingly inate ability,to literally crawl under the skin and become that character.
He at some point ceased merely acting and became.In view of some of the roles he took on,this must have become fairly harrowing.In one post BBM interview he stated that the role of Casanova was almost like a holiday,as it allowed him to relax.
This supreme talent was coupled with what seemed to be an inherent dislike of all the attention and accolades that talent conferred on him.
So it seems we are left with a conundrum.The better he became,the more attention he attracted.Not only that,but as he strived to immerse himself deeper and deeper into character,the more unsettled he seemed to become.Art spilled into life and suddenly the boundaries became blurred.
We will never know whether his tragic death was caused, simply by a desperate need for some sleep and peace on his part,coupled with a lack of knowledge as to how such a cocktail would react together.Nor if we ever did find out would it lesson the tragedy or pain of such a loss.
What I wonder is ,as I look back on other gifted and talented artists of all genres,taken too soon,does that talent eventually prove to be their downfall.
Is it necessary for true talent, at least in some instances, to be the product of a troubled soul. There has to be IMHO at least a grain of truth in the phrase,that there is a thin line between genius and insanity.
I am not in any way suggesting that Heath was insane,before I am shot down in flames.I cannot express eloquently enough how high an esteem I held him in.
He just struck me as that tragic combination ,of immense talent,unable to live with either the talent or its consequences. A pattern which seems repeated since time immemorial.
I am sure there are plenty of very talented "artists" around who do not fit this pattern.What is so sad is that there seem to be too many who do.
Your thoughts would as always be appreciated. Agreee,disagree,make me rethink,whatever.