Remembering Heath Ledger on His Birthday

Heath Ledger would have been 30 years old today.

The late actor, winner of the Academy Award in February for his performance as Joker in The Dark Knight, died of an accidental drug overdose in January 2008. His body of work was astonishing for someone so young with such wonderful films as 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, Monsters Ball, Lords of Dogtown and I’m Not There under his belt.

But even more than Joker, Heath’s best performance, and one that should have won him the Oscar while he was still alive, was that of tortured gay ranch hand Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain. It was some of the best screen work I have ever seen and absolutely heartbreaking.

Heath will always be remembered.