When Heath Ledger finished reading the script for Brokeback Mountain - a film about a love affair between two American cowboys - he thought of his friend Adam Sutton, and told him, ‘I’ve just read this script and it sounds a lot like you.’ He was right: Adam’s own life was reflected in many of the film’s themes. Brokeback Mountain went on to establish itself as a cultural landmark and its impact was felt far beyond the cinema: it was a human story, not a gay story, and audiences of every type responded around the world. Similarly, when Adam Sutton’s story appeared on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald, the response was immediate and extraordinary. ‘Meet Heath’s mate, the real gay cowboy,’ the headline ran, and thousands did - setting a sales record for the paper, and prompting the TV program Australian Story to devote an episode to Adam’s story. By nature Adam is a masculine daredevil who survives on the strength of his boisterous character. He is ‘the crazy bastard’ - the maddest, bravest bloke in the room - who has faced tragedy, a prison stint, and five long years on the road, but who could not face himself. His extraordinary and unlikely journey from the world of cowboys, rodeos and stereotypes, to Hollywood and, finally, to self-acceptance, is a powerful reminder that sometimes truth is even stranger than Hollywood fiction. MEDIA STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF ADAM SUTTON REGARDING HEATH LEDGER Heath Ledger was a friend and an inspiration to me, and a man who without second thought gave me his blessing to tell my story through his story, so that both stories might shed light on the experience of many others, and help them through their journey. Through the power of Annie Proulx’s beautiful story Brokeback Mountain, Heath’s extraordinary performance as Ennis del Mar, and through my small part in then telling my own story, I hoped to honour that story, and him. On his passing I hope to continue to honour his memory, his talent and his absolute integrity. How Heath lived is what matters. He was a young giant, and my only wish is that we all continue to respect and honour him.
Adam Sutton AND NEIL McMAHON HAD COMMITTED ALL AUTHOR ROYALTIES FROM ADAM’S MEMOIR, SAY IT OUT LOUD: JOURNEY OF A REAL COWBOY, TO THE OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN CANCER CENTRE APPEAL, THROUGH HIS AGREED PARTICIPATION IN OLIVIA’S GREAT WALK TO BEIJING CHARITY EVENT IN APRIL 2008. ADAM WILL CONTINUE THIS ARRANGEMENT, WITH ALL AUTHOR ROYALTIES FROM SAY IT OUT LOUD BEING DONATED TO THE OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN CANCER CENTRE APPEAL IN HEATH LEDGER’S NAME AND MEMORY.
