10 Movie Roles That Seriously Screwed Up Actors
5. Heath Ledger As Joker - The Dark Knight
Another appearance for the iconic villain, though this time in a far sadder context. Heath Ledger was a promising young star when he took on the role of Batman’s most famous nemesis, having recently been lauded for his revelatory performance in 2005’s tender romantic tragedy Brokeback Mountain.
The actor threw himself into the part whilst simultaneously filming I’m Not There and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, another pair of physically and mentally demanding roles. He complained of an inability to sleep to his co-stars, confiding in them that the roles left him unable to relax and stop thinking.
Ledger resorted to the habitual use of sleeping pills in order to get better rest, but nonetheless fell ill and struggled to shift sicknesses. The psychological demands of his intense schedule is thought to have contributed to his accidental overdose in 2008.
He was 28, and would go on to receive a posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work as the Joker. A trio of fellow actors and friends, Jude Law, Johnny Depp, and Colin Farrell, stepped in to complete his work on the Imaginarium after his untimely passing.