Posted January 25, 2008
By VivaLaGonzo

Why is it that the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long? Heath Ledger was rising to the occasion in increasingly demanding roles. His performance in the Oscar-winning “Brokeback Mountain” was a tortured, pathos-driven effort. He personified a legend’s popularity in the acclaimed Bob Dylan biopic, “I’m Not There.” Comic book fans everywhere were waiting with baited breath for his portrayal of The Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Ledger was found dead in his SoHo apartment Tuesday with sleeping pills nearby. The autopsy has yet to reveal any evidence of suicide or foul play. However, Ledger’s performance as the arch-villain with the Chelsea grin reportedly gave him insomnia. This might explain why he started taking pills in the first place, or perhaps the cause is due to personal troubles. We can at least find some comfort in knowing that “The Dark Knight” will be a worthy swan song for Ledger. He joins the likes of James Dean and River Phoenix as an actor whose bustling potential was untimely snuffed out. At the time of his death, Ledger had begun filming for Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” – a role where he no doubt would’ve shined. It’s always tragic when the good die young. Still, like any great actor, Ledger gave us his best performance before the curtain call.