The shocking news came to me today over the radio. One moment NPR is recapping the democratic debate and the next, Heath Ledger is dead. I don’t know what changed between the moments I believed Mr. Ledger was alive and then informed otherwise, but something did. He and I were not close, in fact he didn’t even know I existed, but through his movies I felt properly introduced to the genius of the late great actor.

This sexy Aussie who captured our hearts in A Knight’s Tale and 10 Things I Hate About You was more than just brooding good looks, he was immeasurable talent. Despite the negative media hype of his acting masterpiece, Heath proved that love denied can be a fate worse than death in Brokeback Mountain. As any who truly watched this film already know, it was just the beginning of the great things to come from this actor.

The latest installment and one I personally am very excited about had Heath playing one of the cruelest villains to ever grace a comic book page, The Joker. From the previews, it looks phenomenal. I anxiously await the release of the new Dark Knight film yet somehow I know it just won’t be the same.

Named after one the most enduring romance novels Heathcliff of Wuthering Heights, both men met their untimely end love stricken and depressed. It does seem a bit ironic that our Heath and Heathcliff would share a similar fate. How sad and how chilling. The young Mr. Ledger was only 28. His death is a loss to the acting community and fans alike. He is survived by his two year old daughter, Matilda.

“Misery and degradation and death and nothing that God or Satan could inflict would have parted us, you of your own will, did it. I have not broken your heart - you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine.” - Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights

Goodbye Heath, our hearts are broken. May you rest in peace and someday soon find your Catherine.