Andrew Garfieldremembers late costarHeath Ledgeras a “gift to the world.”
TheTick, Tick…Boom!actor, 38, spoke with hisThe Social Networkcostar Dakota JohnsonforVanity Fairin which he recalled working with Ledger on his final film, 2009’sThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Ledger died at age 28 on Jan. 22, 2008, in the middle of the film’s production. Actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell joined the cast to help complete Ledger’s role.
Garfield played Anton in the Terry Gilliam–directed film, which also starred Christopher Plummer.
The topic came up when Garfield was speaking about mourning someone in order to keep their “spirit here with us no matter if they die at 35 or 80.”
Continued Garfield, “He died in the middle of a film that we were making together. And also he was just obviously such an incredible artist and a gift to the world, and I think the same goes for Jonathan [Larson, theRentcomposer whom Garfield plays inTick, Tick…Boom!].”
“It was like the amount of people that want to keep his spirit alive enabled us to get all of the information and all of the subjective experiences that people had with him, and I love that,” he added.
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Garfield previously opened up about working with the late Oscar winner onDoctor Parnassus.
He toldNew Yorkmagazine’sVulturein May 2008, months after the star’s death, “The amount of stuff he left me with was astonishing. I will never ever lose hold of what he had to offer. He just had this total spontaneity and the ability to do anything at any point: fly off the handle or joke.”
“It was electrifying and I never knew what he was going to do — like punch me, you know? But how he did it is a mystery to me,” Garfield added at the time.
In 2009, Garfield toldEntertainment Weeklyabout learning he was cast inDoctor Parnassuswhen Ledger told him at Garfield’s 24th birthday party. “He came to my party, gave me this really big hug, and said, ‘Welcome to the family.’ "
source: people.com
