Woman announced 'Heath Ledger is dead' to college friend in 2008. 18 years later, it's their only mode of conversation
Casey Gillespie and Matt never missed updating each other
Some friendships stand the test of time, but not always in the traditional way. Casey Gillespie (@caseface128) shared screenshots of her recent chats with her college friend Matt, offering a glimpse into their unusual bond. Although they have grown apart over the last 18 years, she said they've kept up a sweet tradition they started in college. A simple conversation that began after Australian actor Heath Ledger died in 2008 has continued to this day, with both keeping each other updated about famous personalities' demises. Gillespie shared the post on August 28, 2026, and it has since received over 14,000 likes on Threads.
The unusual tradition
Gillespie was a college senior when she learned that Heath Ledger had passed away in January 2008. Like any friend, she messaged Matt to inform him of the news. At the time, neither of them knew they would be following the tradition even after 18 years. Gillespie explained that she does not know where Matt lives now or what he does for a living. She also doesn't know much about Matt's husband. "I guarantee he knows none of these things about me," Gillespie confessed. But the funny part is they don't check on each other the usual way. "Never a 'Hey, how are you?'" she wrote, referring to their tradition of keeping each other updated whenever a celebrity dies.
The timely updates
The screenshot Gillespie shared was dated July 22, 2025. Matt had texted her, "Ozzy Osbourne is dead." This was followed by "Hulk Hogan is dead" on July 24, 2025, and "Giorgio Armani is dead" the same year, on September 4. Interestingly, there were no additional texts or questions about each other. It was just updates about celebrities' deaths. The latest was from Gillespie. "Dolly Parton is dead," she announced, and Matt responded, saying, "Tim Curry is dead."
Friends beyond graduation
People often find some of their closest and lifelong friends in college. In fact, a survey conducted by Elon University found that the majority (61%) got to know their closest friend in college during the first semester. The poll also found that 42% of respondents had 3 to 6 friends who were a significant part of their college lives. Similarly, 87% said they would stay in touch with the friends they made in college. When we related it to Gillespie and Matt’s friendship, the two did stay in touch after college, though their bond evolved over the years.
'That's pretty cool'
Meanwhile, people found Gillespie and Matt's friendship extremely funny, but also interesting. Some even said it has turned into a sort of competition. For instance, @out.past.the.kuiper.belt commented, "It sounds like y'all are crossing off a hitlist." @merlintoes added, "Suddenly I feel a desperate need to have this with someone. What a rare delight, this extremely niche relationship."
You can follow Casey Gillespie (@caseface128) on Threads for more lifestyle content.
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