Some dreadfully sad and shocking news today as it is announced that the Australian actor Heath Ledger was discovered dead in his New York apartment yesterday afternoon. Authorities are investigating and no cause has yet been confirmed, although they are considering the possibility the young actor may have accidentally taken more of his prescription medicine than he meant to. At only 28 Ledger’s career was on an upward trajectory, with an Oscar nomination for his role in Brokeback Mountain under his belt, while this summer he will be seen in one of the major tentpole summer blockbusters, The Dark Knight, playing the Batman’s arch-nemesis The Joker. I’ve no idea if this tragic event will have an impact on the actual movie – I’d imagine by this point most principal photography will be done – but it is bound to cast a shadow over the way the movie is received and perceived.
Wed, Jan 23, 2008
Comics and cartoons, Film, TV and radio