Another blog from the New York Times:
January 23rd, 2008 11:24 AM
For The Moment | Jeff Klein on Heath Ledger
By Jeff Klein
This week’s guest blogger is Jeff Klein, the hotelier behind The City Club in New York and the Sunset Tower in Los Angeles.
When I was asked to write for this blog I was honored, but I remember thinking two things: how difficult it would be to find five subjects to write about, and how I refused to write about my famous clientele, whom I make it a habit not to discuss for many reasons. My hotels are a safe haven for celebrities who appreciate that our employees will not sell them out to the tabloids — I am always amazed to hear how much money is being offered to my staff for tips and even pics of celebrities. — and I am very proud that as far as I know no one has taken the quick cash. Of course, this only infuriates the paparazzi, some of whom have declared war on my hotels, but I am okay with that. Unlike my competition, I want to be judged by my product, not by who stays there. However, because of an unfortunate turn of events, Heath Ledger, who lived in the Sunset Tower for about four months — and who visited us frequently even after he bought a house and moved out — passed away yesterday. I hope I am respecting him and honoring him by writing this.
My dealings with Ledger began when his agent called me personally — they often do — to make a reservation. Ledger was shooting a movie and wanted to stay in the Sunset Tower for four months. It was one of my first celebrities at the hotel and I was insanely excited for so many reasons. He was hot hot hot and fresh off “Brokeback Mountain,” which everyone was talking about. He was sure to get an Oscar and soon! So I couldn’t believe he wanted to stay at my hotel. I also loved the thought of having a long-term guest and not just because he was a celebrity. I remember thinking how chic it would be to live in a hotel.
Ledger and Michelle Williams, his wife at the time, took a suite with their baby and the nanny. And he soon revealed himself to be one of the kindest, sweetest guests we have ever had. He had absolutely no pretention, was very chic (in a sort of bohemian way) and was always a gentleman to all the employees here, including me.
Case in point: I remember one time I was having a business meeting with an elderly event planner of the gay persuasion. I was late to our meeting and this gentleman was wearing an ascot and waiting for me in the lobby. I remember when I approached that he looked as if he had seen a ghost: “Heath Ledger was just checking me out,” he bleated, before I could even manage to apologize for being late. I remember getting very protective of my guest, whom I knew was not gay. (If he was, he would surely not be hitting on this 70-year-old queen.) So I told the event planner that we needed to move into my office where we could have some privacy. What happened next was not only shocking, but also very out of character for a celebrity who has much better things to do with his time.
Ledger passed by us in the lobby and with all the confidence that only someone truly comfortable with their sexuality could muster, he winked at the event planner, who just about fainted. Needless to say, I snagged the very lucrative event, thanks to Ledger’s flirtatiousness. The next day I saw Ledger in the Tower Bar having dinner and he said, “So, did you book the party?” I later learned that he had heard everything the event planner had said about him. He was just happy to help me get this party. There are not many people, let alone famous accomplished ones, who are so thoughtful. To this day, I appreciated the effort he made.
Heath Ledger was an extremely talented actor, a devoted father, and a very kind giving man. He was also the perfect hotel guest and he will be very missed by us all at Sunset Tower.
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