The long awaited Modest Mouse video for “King Rat” directed by Heath Ledger was released today — and it’s a true testament to the late actor’s stance on illegal commercial whale hunts. Using rough animation, it shows a world where whales hunt humans.

A tribute to Heath on The Masses website reveals a bit of the background saying,

Always one to operate from his heart and take a stand for what he cared deeply about, Heath’s intention was to raise awareness on modern whaling practices through a potent visual piece without having to say a word.  It was his way to let the story, in its candid reversal, speak for itself. The video was fully conceived down to the last detail but unfinished when Heath passed away in January of 2008.   We completed the video in his honor with the support and advocacy of Isaac Brock (of Modest Mouse).

Proceeds from iTunes video downloads in the first month of release will go toward Sea Shepherd — a group that Ledger was passionately involved with. As discussed earlier, we’re pretty sure this animated video is the one the actor was anxious to show Captain Paul Watson. It should also not come as a surprise that before his death, Heath was tipped to play Watson in a movie about his life and anti-whaling adventures. Check it out below:

Stars like Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Michele Williams, and Naomi Watts have come together to create a $10,000 acting scholarship in Heath Ledger’s name. The award will be given annually to a rising young Australian actor or actress looking to pursue a career in the United States. The scholarship award will be run by the L.A.-based non profit, Australians in Film.[Read more...]

Donald Trump’s The Apprentice continues to have a heartbeat on television with its 2009 celebrity edition. Last year’s first incarnation brought millions to charity, with Piers Morgan eventually winning and securing $250,000 for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. This year, the celebrity participants are much-more recognizable — with Clint Black, Andrew Dice Clay, Annie Duke, Tom Green, Natalie Gulbis, Scott Hamilton, Jesse James, Claudia Jordan, Khloe Kardashian, Brian McKnight, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Brande Roderick, Dennis Rodman, Herschel Walker and Tionne Watkins all competing for charity. [Read more...]

How does Cloris Leachman, the former Dancing With The Stars contestant, manage to keep all that bubbly energy flowing at 82 years of age? One might chalk it up to the fact that she’s been a vegetarian for more than 50 years. [Read more...]

Lindsay Lohan would love to do more for charity, but the paparazzi just makes it too difficult. She tells Interview magazine, “You know what’s hard? I want to give back. I want to do all the things that will make me feel fulfilled. But whenever I do those things, people think it’s a press stunt or something. Because they (paparazzi) do find me, and there’s really no way of hiding from that.” That’s what’s stopping you from “giving back”? Cry me a river — the paps are a bitch, but if you really want to help, just get out there. [Read more...]

Photo credit: PR photos

Many of you may know that Heath Ledger’s will had not been updated since the birth of Matilda, his beloved daughter with actress Michelle Williams. Upon hearing this news, fellow actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell, who all played Ledger’s character in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, the film he’d been working on before his death, decided to donate their fees to the two-and-a-half-year-old.

“They didn’t take the money–it goes to Heath’s daughter. That’s extraordinary! And wonderful…and when you’re part of that, you think, ‘Ah, this is maybe why I went into the movies in the beginning. I thought it would be full of wonderful people.’ And we’ve got a movie full of wonderful people who did extraordinary things to help,” says director Terry Gilliam.

Terry, though I’d say your comments contain a small yet obvious plug for your film… you’re absolutely right.

Under the direction of filmmaker and actor Stuart Townsend, the movie Mighty Hearts could have had Ledger as Capt. Watson ramming driftnet fishing trawlers, smashing illegal whaling boats and sailing boldly into Soviet waters in his bid to stop whalers. Kroonenburg said Ledger would have been perfect for the lead role in the film, now in pre-production, as he was a gifted actor who had a genuine interest in whales and had demonstrated a capacity to “age beautifully” in Brokeback Mountain.

Apparently, it’s been revealed that Ledger was also working hard on an animated documentary about whales and was “extremely enthusiastic” about showing Captain Watson the finished product. Sadly, like many of his other projects, we have no idea if that work will ever see the light of day. You can view Watson’s comments on Heath’s passing — as well as learn more about the group the actor was a part of here.

We just heard the news and are incredibly saddened by the loss of this amazing actor. According to CNN, Heath Ledger was found dead in a Manhattan apartment after a housekeeper apparently let in a masseuse for a scheduled appointment. No other additional details are available.

UPDATE: According to The New York Times, “At 3:31 p.m., a masseuse arrived at Apartment 5A in the building for an appointment with Mr. Ledger, the police said. The masseuse was let in to the home by a housekeeper, who then knocked on the door of Mr. Ledger’s bedroom. When no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger unconscious. They shook him, but he did not respond. They immediately called the authorities. The police said they did not suspect foul play. Officials said pills fear found near the body.”