Two days later, the entertainment world is still abuzz about
the untimely death of 28-year-old Australian actor Heath Ledger. Found
unconscious in his apartment Tuesday afternoon, conclusions are still being
drawn concerning the nature of the actor?s unexpected passing.

But, for the amount of mystery surrounding Ledger?s death,
there is just as much information regarding his successful career as an actor.
He first attracted attention from mainstream media ? and fawning teenage girls
everywhere ? in the 1999 teen romantic comedy ?10 Things I Hate About You? as
Patrick Verona, a bad boy with a heart of gold.

Since then, of course, the actor?s star had risen
considerably following his Oscar-nominated performance as Ennis Del Mar in
2005?s ?Brokeback Mountain? and a perhaps too-real interpretation of  Bob
Dylan in 2007?s ?I?m Not There.? The actor was also taking part in the Terry
Gilliam film ?The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,? which has now ceased
production  with no plans to resume filming.

Ledger?s last portrayal is his interpretation of The Joker
in the upcoming Batman movie, ?The Dark Knight.? But this role may be his most
controversial, as Warner Bros. undoubtedly continues to grapple with how to
sensitively promote a film with a deceased actor as a major character.

In the past, studios have managed to respectfully deliver a
film after one of its major players has passed away. The most famous, 1994?s
?The Crow,? offered a sincere dedication to its fallen leading man, Brandon
Lee, during the film?s closing credits. Other studios did likewise, publicly
dedicating films like ?Queen of the Damned? and ?Bad Santa? to Aaliyah and John
Ritter, respectively.

But few studios have been faced with the challenge of
presenting a movie whose main villain ? in The Joker?s case, a maniacal
mass-murderer ? has recently passed. Before his death, disturbing movie posters
for ?The Dark Knight? featured Ledger dressed eerily in all black, asking
viewers ?Why so serious?? It seems logical that the studio will soon change the
film?s promotional poster out of respect for the actor?s family and friends,
while a DVD cover bearing the same image also seems unlikely.

There is no way to sugarcoat the eeriness of Ledger?s
portrayal of The Joker in ?The Dark Knight,? and a total dismissal of this
multimillion dollar project is out of the question. Set for release this
summer, the film, then, seems destined for a cult following similar to that
achieved by ?The Crow? after Lee?s death.

Yet, though ?The Dark Knight? is his final appearance, the
film will not be the lasting memory for the actor?s legions of fans. Heath
Ledger will always be remembered as a rising star whose supreme talent was lost
far too soon.