It should be no surprise that Heath Ledger tops this list, as his death prior to the release of The Dark Knight in 2008 shocked the world. He would go on to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar posthumously for his brilliant portrayal of The Joker, a take on the character unlike anything seen before. The role was his breakout moment in Hollywood, and no doubt would have led to great things, though Ledger had already reached heights via films like Brokeback Mountain, The Patriot, and Ten Things I Hate About You. Years after his death, Ledger's father would unveil his "Joker Journal" which chronicled his descent into the mind of the character. Ledger, a method actor, even finished the journal with a chilling "good bye" written at the end. However, his death, caused by an accidental overdose of prescription painkillers and other pills, has never been linked to the character despite rampant speculation. Did you enjoy this article? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
