RIP Heath Ledger

[brian]

Only 28 years old, and on the verge of exploding on the scene as the Joker in the new Batman film...

NEW YORK - Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan residence, and police said drugs may have been a factor. He was 28. NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the Manhattan apartment believed to be his home. The housekeeper who went to let him know the masseuse had arrived found him dead at 3:26 p.m.

A large crowd of paparazzi and gawkers began gathering Tuesday evening outside the building on an upscale block in SoHo, where several police officers guarded the door.

The Australian-born actor was nominated for an Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain," where he met Michelle Williams in 2005. The two had lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, until they split up last year.

He most recently appeared in "I'm Not There," in which he played one of the many incarnations of Bob Dylan — as did Cate Blanchett, whose performance in that film earned an Oscar nomination Tuesday for best supporting actress.

Ledger was to appear as the Joker this year in "The Dark Night," a sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins." He's had starring roles in "A Knight's Tale" and "The Patriot," and played the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in "Monster's Ball."

Ledger grew up in Perth, and began doing amateur theater at age 10. At 16, he moved to Sydney to pursue an acting career, quickly landing TV movie roles and guest spots on Australian television.

After several independent films and a starring role in the short-lived Fox TV series "Roar," Ledger moved to Los Angeles and costarred in "10 Things I Hate About You," a teen comedy reworking of "The Taming of the Shrew."

Offers for other teen flicks came his way, but Ledger turned them down, preferring to remain idle than sign on for projects he didn't like.

"It wasn't a hard decision for me," Ledger told the Associated Press in 2001. "It was hard for everyone else around me to understand. Agents were like, `You're crazy,' my parents were like, `Come on, you have to eat.'"

[Henry J]

I just saw Batman Begins; it was on cable a few days ago. Less campy than the other versions of Batman. Guess its sequel will need a new villain huh.

Henry

[Ilana]

I was sorry to see this. I hope that it wasn't suicide.... It's definitely a waste. He was most definitely a serious actor.

[lswot]

I was sorry to see this. I hope that it wasn't suicide.... It's definitely a waste. He was most definitely a serious actor.

Ditto....although I never saw him act (that I'm aware)....I did see some good reports of his capabilities.

[brian]

I guess what I know him from the most are The Brothers Grimm:



The Patriot:



A Knight's Tale:



and Brokeback Mountain:



The Dark Knight is still coming up, though I think he was finished working on it:

[trucker2000]

I was shocked when I saw this on the news last night. This young man was a supurb actor.
It's shocking when someone the same age as your own children die.

[lswot]

Thanks for the pic's, Brian.....didn't see any of those movies. I don't go to the show, very often......growing up we (my Sister and I) went to the show at least once a week. Course, they were much cheaper, then.

[Xjmt]

"A Knight's Tale" was one of the most entertaining not real good movies I've ever seen. In fact I've seen it more than once.