January 22 - One year ago...

[GuedesGothamKnight]

Yeah, I know it's some days away, but what a unfortunate day, don't?  I was getting back from my grandma's house, then I turno on the computer and I saw this devasting news... "Australian actor Heath Ledger found death at 28". I coudn't believe in what I've seen... the last person I would imagine to be found dead was Ledger... the new Joker... what a sad day.
And you, guys, what were you doing when you heard the firts time about Ledger,s death? How you reacted?

[Paul (ral)]

Today is only January 9th.

[Proximo]

On the 21th, I spoke to a stuntman that did some scenes in the movie.
Brother of Buster or something like that. We talked about the movie and he talked about Heath,Bale,Nolan etc.
He said that Heath wasnt very nice in person and things like that, But who isnt when you are bothered while working.
Anyhow, Once the news hit i got extra shocked due to just talking about him with someone who actually met him and worked with him.

[Paul (ral)]

I had mixed feelings when I heard.  I was working (for a newspaper in Ireland) when the front page came in with the headline.

Since Heath played the Joker I would say that I had a certain affinity, or association, with him but no more to the fact than it was news that interested me.

I was a little shocked but at the same time I wasn't overly surprised. I had no reason not to be surprised but I wasn't all the same.

I am being perfectly honest here - my initial feelings were "Bet this helps the movie" and "Damn it, bet there is no Joker in the sequel". I didn't feel much else really. If he hadn't of played the Joker I wouldn't even have read the story.

[Proximo]

I agree,I felt pretty much the same way.
But since he was Joker i checked alot of his previous work and such, Read alot about him too. So when i heard about it, That along with talking about him with a crewmember the day before it felt "weird".
Other then that, I thought about the exact things you thought about too, LOL.
If he never was casted as Joker, I would just have seen it as another headline.

[Joker81]

I remember I was in bed reading. It was about 11:30 at night here in Ireland (that would have made it 6:30 in New York).

My brother came up to my room, opened the door and said "Heath Ledger's dead."

I was like What? I said to him "What?" He said "Heath Ledgers dead, its on telly text."
I said, what? How? My brother said he didnt know, but he was found on conscience or somthing. i asked was there pills ar anything found, and he said there was, beside his bed.

I said "Stupid f##ker" I knew in my own head that a 28 year old man doesnt die of natural cause. And I just hoped it wasnt suicide! I thought it might be, but hoped not for his family. I thought what a waste of life!

It did cross my mind that I hoped the new Batman film had been completed. I felt for his family, but lets be honest, I never knew the man, nor had I seen any of his films. So I never had the afiliation of some of these fans who i think are crazy crying over someone they had never met in their lives!!!

It was a tragedy and a terrible accident. And I would wish it on anybody, but it was ludicris the way some of the public reacted!

I have to admit too selfishly I thought about the Joker not appearing in any Batman sequels. And later, i did admit that his death would only help the film, not hinder it, but at the same time hoped WB would do the right thing and advertise it the way they intended, and also not cut any of his scenes in fear of offending his friends or family.
I thought Heath Ledger would not want that. He loved that role. They owed that him that at least.

[Sandman]

I heard it over the internet by a wrestler i know and was shocked to say the least, i had been a huge Heath Ledger fan for a very long time (longer then most nolanite that claim to be his fans ) and was pretty depressed by the news. But i was also full of dred for what i knew would follow and the extreme overatedness of him, his Joker and TDK and an Oscar which he would get for all the wrong reasons.

And now its been a year and people are still acting as if God himself died, I mean the legendary Paul Newman died and got next to no attenion and this was a man that was in some of the greatest movies for over 40 years and did more for charity then anyone and yet people still want solid gold Heath Ledger Jokers stature's build.

[Dark Knight Detective]

These so-called fans of Ledger probably don't admire him for his acting. Most girls in my age group (13-19) only love him for his looks. Other than that, they really have no other desire to see TDK. As for the general TDK audience (excluding us), most people were skeptical about Nolan choosing him as the Joker b/c of his role in Brokeback Mountain. After he died, they pretended to love his performance in order to cleanse themselves for being skeptical. I HIGHLY doubt Ledger would've wanted this. 

[GuedesGothamKnight]

Yeah, Ledger really would'nt love all this "love" for his Joker,.
Yeah, one year today...    I don't have another thing to say than...


Rest In Peace Heath Ledger.  Gone but never forgotten.

[Sandman]

The Batman Returns, You hit the nail right on the head all right. Half these people bitched like crazy for Heath being cased as the Joker, but onve he died it was "Boo Hoo Hoo give him an Oscar" and now sadly thats happening and all for the wrong reasons.

And as for him not loving all this "Love", im sure he wanted his Joker to be loved and remembered, but not for being the most f***ing overated Villian in history.