Hearing the names Mary-Kate Olsen and Heath Ledger in the same sentence may strike as an odd combination. One is known as half of one of the most popular child star duos in history, while the other was a serious dramatic actor who had been known for being an elusive and mysterious figure, and would remain so until his untimely death at the age of 28. As the narrative would unfold, these two seemingly opposite famous figures would have much more in common than many would assume. The so-called idea of a "six degrees of separation" existing in Hollywood carries much more merit when exploring the connection between Olsen and Ledger during the actor's final days.
A Man Without Ties: Heath Ledger's Private Life
At the time of his death in January 2008, Heath Ledger certainly did have ties. He was on the cusp of entering his thirties, a time where it is common to evaluate one's path in life and some may choose parenthood to be the next step in their lives. He was in a committed relationship with actress Michelle Williams, and the couple had recently welcomed a daughter named Matilda. Ledger had been quoted multiple times both expressing his desire to become a father and candidly spoke about his love for Matilda. He spoke of fatherhood "Exceeding his expectations," and revealing the young girl's "Brilliantly observant and wise" qualities.
In his head, Heath's outlook at the time of his death was seemingly quite different from the feelings in his heart. There are two sides to every story, but some details aren't without unanswered questions.
'Give Us A Mystery': The Mysterious Case Of Mary-Kate
Mary-Kate Olsen rose to fame before she was old enough to form coherent sentences. The scope of fame and its effects had been part of Olsen's narrative for many years by the time she had become an acquaintance of Heath Ledger. By 2008, she had long retired from acting alongside her sister Ashley, with whom she had built an entertainment brand geared to the young fans who watched the two share the role of Michelle Tanner on the sitcom Full House, notorious for its squeaky clean family-oriented sitcom reputation.
Olsen had spent several years trying to shed her tightly woven childhood image. In 2004, she was hospitalized for treatment to combat an eating disorder at the tail end of her teens. By the time she had entered her twenties, Olsen's career trajectory moved toward a focus on designer fashion. Like Ledger, the line between Olsen's private life and public image became skewed; she began appearing in public frequently wearing outfits reminiscent of Stevie Nicks' standard wardrobe circa the release of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, often with a cigarette in hand. Whether her wardrobe acted as a representation of what was happening in her private life, we may never know exactly, but just as the public began to take note of her striking choice in threads, evidence of the company she was privately keeping began to surface, namely her relationship with Heath Ledger.
According to Bustle, evidence of a relationship between the designer and actor did not become a topic of public conversation until "After his death." More concrete and fleshed-out details would emerge in the coming weeks, one of the most daunting revelations being Olsen was a close enough member of Ledger's circle, and held a startling amount of importance to him to be the first number his masseuse would call to inform about his state after she found Ledger. Christopher Romeara would note in his essay The Mysterious Case Of Heath and Mary-Kate, the masseuse chose to call Olsen before seeking emergency assistance. The essay noted the conversation was finished "In 99 seconds."
Fact Versus Fiction
Once the story of Olsen and Ledger's romantic relationship and Olsen's involvement in his death broke, fans were given enough evidence and material to run rampant with speculation. In less than two minutes, Mary-Kate would spin herself to be intertwined within a tragic tale containing more and more questionable details. Olsen would find it necessary to send multiple members of her security team, who would arrive around the same time as emergency personnel, according to Christopher Romeara.
The involvement of members of Olsen's security team, whom she assured the masseuse she would send along, deepens the mystery. In the decade following his passing the desire to pin an exact reason for the duo's involvement with one another has inspired rumors that would later be debunked. Access Hollywood noted discussion surfaced over whether Olsen owned the apartment Ledger was found in, but it was later proven to be false.
For someone who seemingly held such an important placement in Ledger's life, high enough on someone's mental list of trusted contacts to inform of his death, Olsen would go on to distance herself from Heath Ledger to harsh lengths. Perhaps pressured to issue a public statement after whispers of her involvement in Ledger's death began to circulate, she responded "Heath was a friend. His death is a tragic loss."
The confusion surrounding the couple's relationship remained palpable enough to warrant further investigation. Two years before his death, the twosome had been spotted together in public multiple times. An explanation for their public appearances was later revealed, even though not very detailed, there was enough proof accumulated to assess Mary-Kate Olsen and Heath Ledger had been, what was described as "Casually dating" during the applicable timeframe around his death.
The relationship between Mary-Kate Olsen and Heath Ledger seems anything but "Casual" upon reflection whether further fueled by Olsen's direct refusal to comment on the relationship or her confusing behavior during the period following his death; reports detailed Olsen's decision to dedicate her time to fulfilling work commitments. Over a decade following the incident, the closest evidence fans have been given to a final answer surrounding any external involvement in Ledger's death was provided and debunked by his father, closing a tragic case.