Heath Ledger, You’ll Be Sorely Missed

1979-2008

When I first saw Heath Ledger in The Patriot, I realized that Australia’s greatest national treasure was now in the United States. Playing alongside screen legend Mel Gibson, Ledger held his own as Gibson’s patriotic son fighting against the British for American independence. Then there was A Knight’s Tale. I didn’t really care for that movie, but Ledger looked stunningly masculine in his armor. He was brilliant co-starring with Orlando Bloom in the unappreciated Ned Kelly, in which Ledger played the title character.

I couldn’t get into Monster’s Ball and Brokeback Mountain was two hours of my life I won’t get back. I don’t know why people were so up in arms about the flick; it was boring. In fact, I would never have watched it if there wasn’t such controversy surround “the gay cowboy movie.” Like a friend, I was excited to see Ledger as the Joker in the forthcoming Batman movie, The Dark Knight. I always had a soft spot for the Joker (especially after Jack Nicholson portrayed him so fabulously in the first Batman movie).

The news broke earlier today about Heath Ledger’s death (story). According to current reports, Ledger was found facedown, naked in front his bed with a variety of pills in bottles around his room. Overdose? Suicide? Accidental? No one knows, but it seems that foul play has been ruled out. Naturally, it’s another celebrity story that’s going to be splashed all over the news for the weeks to come.

I’ll miss Heath Ledger and the movies he could’ve made. I mourn for his little girl who will never really know her Daddy. And I mourn for his loved ones who will have to hear every excruciating detail of his death repeated thousands of times a day in the media.

On a personal note: Heath Ledger was only one year older than me.  Whenever someone close to my age dies, it makes me shudder.  As I came into adulthood, so did Ledger.  We sort of “grew up” together.  So, even though I didn’t know the guy, I mourn someone from my generation.