2006 saw him in a film called Candy, which I had not heard of prior to checking his filmography for this article. It was a quiet year that also saw him focusing on his budding relationship with actress Michelle Williams and their baby.

2007 brought some big developments for Heath. Not only did he land the much-coveted role of the Joker in Christopher Nolan's sequel to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, but he was also tapped to play one of Bob Dylan's personas in Todd Haynes' critically acclaimed and definitely unconventional I'm Not There.

He had one project that was currently in production, another collaboration with Terry Gilliam, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. He was co-starring in this film with Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, and Verne Troyer. The future of this production is uncertain at this time.

Was Heath Ledger a great actor? No. But he did have very solid potential and his abilities were growing over the course of his career, with the occasional bump. What else can you ask for from a performer?

Following his death I watched some of the news stories concerning the unfortunate event as they tried to make sense of the situation. None of the pieces add up. However, through it all, one thing was abundantly clear — Heath was dedicated to his craft. They spoke of recent interviews where he talked about the difficulties he had with getting into, and out of, character. He spoke of being haunted by the evil that is the Joker, how it kept him awake at night. Listening to these stories point out just how hard acting is; there is nothing easy about the craft, particularly if you are any good at it. If this had anything to do with these tragic events I do not know, but it makes me sad that we will never be able to see where his career would take him or how far his ability would develop.

Let me close by saying that my prayers go out to his friends and loved ones in these difficult times. It is never easy losing someone close to you, especially under such tragic circumstances. Whatever facts emerge over the upcoming days, remember that he left behind films that will be remembered for some time to come.