Tragic Death of Heath Ledger

The 28-year-old Australian-born actor, co-star of the Oscar-winning movie "Brokeback Mountain," was found dead in his New York apartment on January 22, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. EST. And in what may be his final finished performance, Ledger stars as the Joker in "The Dark Knight." NBC's Anne Thompson reports the story of Ledger's tragic death on NBC Nightly News.

[@barbieblank1363]

This is the real joker. RIP The Joker

[@t3r221n4t0r]

Barbie Blank gay joker you mean lol.

[@RayPowers2005]

Bro

[@JokerMan-rp2kf]

Barbie Blank Nope. Mark Hamill is.

[@kube410]

Mark hamil was only a voice actor

[@unlawz3942]

The Ultimate JokerFan preach

[@bubblinbrownsugar616]

Whenever an actor dies before the Oscars and they get nominated and in some instance win, I say they are only doing it to "respect the dead" in a sympathy win. I am glad to say Heath Ledger's Oscar wasn't a sympathy win. He OWNED that role of the Joker and VERY MUCH deserved to win it all.

[@shahinshah4035]

@@itsbonkerjojo9028 whats the problem with you. First read that comment fully. You just replied to that comment without reafing it full

[@DingusDummy]

@@shahinshah4035 what did they say, the deleted their comment?

[@iatemydogshomework5597]

@@DingusDummy I guess so 🤔

[@AnnaLVajda]

Well I think he really did go mad that's why it was such a convincing performance.

[@chadrat39]

Or a sacrifice

[@colprincess8579]

I miss him even though I don't know him personally. He was one of the greatest Jokers. R.I.P Heath Ledger.

[@donmadara3492]

THE 3AM Not one,but the BEST

[@hugolin615]

As a man of depression for many years, I often feel bad when I caught his name.

[@jordanmcelvanna5027]

Not one of the greatest THEE GREATEST

[@TypicalIndian1981]

The greatest

[@aldorfc220]

I would say he's up there with Jack nicholson

[@crashgaming8831]

he was the best joker ever whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy heathhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@1o1a]

True!!!! Still miss him!

[@missasolemnis9391]

Leedggeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@topg1703]

😭😭😭😭😭

[@user-gx7kp7hw3r]

dude I'm gonna cry 😞

[@mrcomrtnz]

He was not the best joker. HE IS THE JOKER!

[@thejoker912]

heath ledger rest in peace you will be remembered as a true joker

[@1o1a]

...and as a true actor!

[@TheJoker-kh7fd]

the joker yes.....

[@randomcat201]

Truee

[@shazam1334]

acknowledge him as a fantastic actor not some character he played

[@luishenrycamacho3159]

​@@shazam1334Joker isn't some character. He's one of the best written overarch villains in the whole DC comics and Heath is perfectly nailed his character that no one except him can do it.

[@xx412xxbluntz8]

This still hits hard after 12 years

[@olivia-xm8mo]

right ):

[@motchiman5423]

yeap

[@gbrieannful]

Yes very sad he was so young 😢

[@mr.unbeat9181]

Now 14 years

[@AnthonyHeadway]

15

[@jessikaeguia1946]

For all of you people speculating, Heath had trouble sleeping, so he had a tragic mix- up of sleeping drugs, which ended up in an intoxication and these are the words in his autopsy.

[@simonjosefsson4289]

+Jessika Eguía Acctually, the words from his autopsy is that he died from an accidental drug abuse overdose.

[@chilledm.136]

@@simonjosefsson4289 that's some weird shit

[@kevinnguyen8612]

Oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine was found in his system during the autopsy. These drugs are "downers," that's why his heart stopped. This wasn't accidental.

[@alyshakelley403]

@@kevinnguyen8612 are you saying he commited suicide

[@hamdankhan1640]

@@rs95775 LOLLL

[@arshilkazi4557]

Who's here after joker movie 2019?

[@arnoldschafernaker512]

@@santmeena3769 lmao

[@santmeena3769]

@@arshilkazi4557 atleast real pic h tum jaise fake to nhi h

[@arshilkazi4557]

@@santmeena3769 nikal luvde 1 fursat me nikal

[@alwaysrunningaround7547]

2019 was Joaquin Phoenix

[@NumaNumaRiiko]

I seriously cried so much when I heard Heath died. He was such a well rounded actor. RIP!!

[@_itsjaemi]

Don't worry Heath Ledger...Joaquin Pheonix will Continue your Journey as The Joker. True Clown Prince of Crime Heath Ledger.

[@YasinAli1]

Ye

[@randomcat201]

Yes

[@sayandeeppoddar7324]

Nope he can't match with heath Ledger, he was one of a kind truly unforgettable

[@sjokolademelkk]

Oh my god he was too young

[@1o1a]

Same!! F*ck pills! I miss him every day.

[@cricketshorts041]

@@1o1a same

[@priyankashroff4004]

@@1o1a yes.. same... i am literally crying like seriously the f pills 😭RIP heath ledger we all will love you buddy and miss you.. his movie is a legend

[@applepistol]

I miss him being the joker he was such a great actor

[@1o1a]

Yup same at here. I was really waiting for more movies where he would be the joker! Even Suicide Squad! No Jared Leto sorry, Heath was better!

[@partyhardyyyy333]

I still couldn't believe that he's gone Such a great actor 😢

[@terrieoliphant35]

I miss him so much RIP THE BEST FREAKING JOKER EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@1o1a]

Same at here!! :,( R.I.P

[@Awesomegirl-cu8xh]

Why so serious?

[@chrisedelic77]

I wish Brian lied about this story...

[@1o1a]

Same. It could be he's twin and he didnt know about it, cuuuz heath wanna be in peace and (maybe) whit he's new wife and umm he didn't want to be famous. lol that would be awesome!!!! But it's not..

[@randomcat201]

Me too

[@Tinna837]

Heath Ledger was a legend, he will be put in the category with James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and other famous actors that died to young. His work will live forever. RIP

[@towngrass201]

Rest in peace Heath Ledger. 😢😢😢😢

[@randomcat201]

😢

[@tristinlucas1051]

Man it’s really been 15 years

[@Bhbdbdbdbdbdbdbd]

16

[@MissMiffed]

Even after all these years, I still miss him so much. And I always will.

[@At0ThEb]

❤❤❤

[@V1lg3r0]

16 years ago already

[@riacr7693]

No one can replace his Joker role ever.... RIP legend 😢💐

[@touchthenugget6947]

'10 things I HATE about you'

[@nourlimo7672]

He would’ve been 42 today, RIP legend 👑

[@olivia-xm8mo]

rip! cant believe it’s been 13 years without him ):

[@Shkex]

:( sempre vai estar em minha minha memória pena que atores tão bons se vão tão cedo RIP/ DESCANCE EM PAZ HEATH ! :(

[@blackwolfhaley]

He was a really good actor for Joker , now who is gonna play joker ? :(

[@Noobzexe]

Nobody! Joker was deleted for ever!

[@Ilinca6]

Noobzexe damn (

[@1o1a]

True!!! He WAS the best joker!! EVER! Even better than this new 2016 Jared Leto joker

[@CrukkGaming]

The new joker is a joke.

[@edeasdrew2050]

Crukk - Gaming isn't joker suppose to be a joke

[@Sara90C]

I can't believe he's dead... It really hurts, I started crying when I found out :'(

[@DylanTyler238]

he locked himeself in a hotel room without food or drink! that made him crazy! why did he do it! SO HE CAN BECOME THE JOKER! he wanted to have a good role in the movie so he did that! then he could not sleep so the doctors gave him pills and he overdosed! SO HE BECAME THE JOKER! TRUE ACTOR!

[@whedonfreak976]

DylanTyler238 No, it is called stupidity, I am sorry, but that is what it was. The poor guy was pushed too far by Nolan and he is sadly dead now. I loved Heath, but now his daughter and wife have to live without him.

[@mikeykean3805]

the joker killed him because he played him better

[@mikeykean3805]

***** at least he gave a breath taking performance before he bit the bullet eh thats something

[@whedonfreak976]

Well, no matter what I think, I am glad he is getting recognized, he was such a good actor. Poor guy, I wish he rest in peace.

[@alexarias5717]

+Michael Tackett artificial and one note performance...? are you fucking insane?

[@DominoesTequila]

it's been over a year and thinking about his death still makes me cry. He was just so young and so talented. He had his entire life a head of him. And a daughter. My heart breaks for that little girl.

[@jrayne6360]

How are you now? 15 years later.

[@riverandizzy3653]

I remember sitting in my room on my computer when my sister came running in crying, "he's gone! He's dead!" And I freaked out because she didn't say who! I thought she was talking about our dad or brother, idK! I was like, "WTF< WHO"S DEAD, whaT?" And she goes, "Heath ledger!" And i just....... yeah. That's how I found out. I'm still sad about this but my sister scared me half to death thinking it was a relative x_x

[@1o1a]

Awww.. Cute. I love heath, and he's joker! I wanna be the next genderbent joker. lol

[@rinraiden]

Rest in Peace, Heath. You will forever be missed.

[@milkpeach8091]

This is why you really shouldn't do drugs.

[@Maxime_G]

He wasn't on drugs, he overdosed of meds.

[@firsttimeisawjupiter1031]

I still remember when I first heard the news and the pain. I didn't even knew him but it hit me hard non the less

[@PsychoticThrill]

Heath Ledger was the most amazing actor ever and always will be. He's why I want to be an actor. He's my hero in life. RIP-Heath Ledger

[@fauzandanish4469]

OMG I thought he died 2 years ago. How can I miss this kind of news. I never knew that it was almost 11 years

[@GodisKing1219]

Greatest joker of all times. RIP heath love you.

[@adamalrashid9044]

It sucks he’s not around and we miss him terribly it’s been a long time ago he had died about 14 and a half years ago!

[@joekauffman9690]

in my opinion, Heath Ledger is my favourite joker, no one can change my opinion, R.I.P Heath Ledger

[@C.A._Old]

*i miss him...

[@m6nnxx]

Yes. He is the greatest JOKER

[@rositagyl80]

Oh mY god !!! I am so sad I will always remember you Heath !

[@Emre-fk6hm]

Rosita Vill. Hi from future :D

[@mathisgreffeuille6273]

Emre Kaya guess I’m not the only one trying to find the first comment ever posted on this video....

[@winterman2645]

First comment

[@spa11idr-gomitas59]

@@Emre-fk6hm I don't believe that because that was 4 years ago

[@izhappy6020]

batman must of really kicked joker's ass

[@deenaa.5480]

must have

[@foreverme93]

It's so sad, I want to cry again. Every time I see him in a movie, it's sooo amazing, but when the scene is over, realization occurs that he's not here. How can you love someone soo much w/o really truly knowing them? I light my candle for Heath!

[@saivinay3292]

Yh we miss him❤️

[@Xlioss]

Are you alive?

[@joseestebanvaca8671]

R I P heath ledger ( joker ) R I P Cesar romero ( joker )

[@_BugraSahin]

In my opinion he was the most talented artist of 21st century with Christoph Waltz

[@SlashFlash93]

he was great in all of his movies! rest in peace!

[@sidsm8677]

Heath will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who love him. R.I.P Heath...wherever you are.

[@SneakyVito]

Man imagine how big he would have been after dark knight

[@amritvermagkp]

He was you young & he was a legend 😔

[@TheicMoggy]

He died on my birthday...

[@scorpionkiing6275]

Legends Never DIE 2019 RIP

[@randomcat201]

2021

[@dconaghan4465]

Forget the Joker. Heath was a great person. Watch his interviews, especially for Brokeback Mountain, where he had a go at a homophobic reporter. Nowadays, 25 year olds are just prats with too much money.

[@norolemodelz6525]

He died a day before my birthday. I never feel like celebrating it. It's terrible

[@simonjosefsson4289]

+dj motionless Why would you celebrate the day before your birthday?

[@aquagrl63]

It's so creepy because when I found out, I was watching Celebrity Near Death Experiences on E and all of a sudden it was interrupted to say that Heath Ledger was dead. :(

[@olivia-xm8mo]

that’s literally so sad

[@christianpeterdandal]

To Heath Ledger, " I wish I knew how to quit you " ~sigh~ I'm a new fan of yours, you did well in the industry of showbiz. Enjoy your 2nd life there Mr. Heath.... Thank you!

[@Railhog2102]

This was not the tragedy connect to The Dark Knight just years later in 2012 the Aurora shooting took place which killed multiple people at it's sequel's premire.

[@mohammadminhazuddinbhuiyan6539]

Happy Birthday 💞

[@BIGDAWG91331]

Woeowowowowow....why did she sdd the fact he was naked

[@deanhou28]

This is so sad! I just want to cry. To think that he was so young and his life has been ended. So so so so sad. I mourn for him. May God help his family.

[@ThESnAKe321]

Hii

[@riley1774]

i barely turned 3 when he died 🥺

[@lengoakathor2224]

Riley me turn 4 hmm miss him tho🥺🤕

[@googlemeets9672]

I was like 3 months old

[@mmbv]

From Mexico, all our love and admiration for you Heath, a great actor, a great human. We already miss you dear Heath, God bless you and hope that you are right by his side.

[@crime_dog27]

Been 14 years. Still can’t believe it

[@classicirvin]

10 years. 😔💔

[@mrexecutive]

Irvin Peña 10 Years Later 💙❤️

[@ava3902]

16 years.😢

[@z-zh6ks]

He never got to see The Dark Knight

[@vulcanicspice]

When I found out about his death I just couldn't believe it. It was a headline in the newspaper and at first I actually thought that I was seeing things. He was so great in Brokeback Mountain. RIP Heath ledger

[@Unknown-zt3ek]

Reporters summoned paramedics that ledger was so unconscious at the time of his death that he viewed a shadow of a Bat in his ceiling in his apartment while suffering from acute intoxication resulting his death was an accident due to drug abuse and misuse. RIP ledger

[@vampireofmisery7381]

New Years passed awhile my sister rushed down the stairs saying mom mom Heath ledger died such a shame a great actor was taken from us young R.I.P Heath

[@Sithis69]

whoa. I'm shocked. first Jonathan Brandis in the age of 27, commited suicide 2003 he was my favorite actor... and now Heath in the age of 28. though career... both will be missed. both were great actors. rest in peace.

[@Alexandra947]

Heath Ledger was a great person. I'm so sad about his death but I am glad he is in a better place now. God bless Heath Ledger. P.S. I love the song Arms of an angel

[@Wesley_C]

RIP Ledger Heath was played as The Joker, he was great. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@captainkillersavage9994]

R.I.P The Real Joker

[@mymel555]

im in love with heath ledger and i always will be:) he will always be in my heart:D ily

[@randomcat201]

Mine toooppoo

[@veluruupendra8948]

Omg he is 28 years old?? ?????.???????????????????

[@frogluvrfr]

He was.

[@shahriarromani6039]

Because of this it is hard for me acceptere another joker after Heath Ledger

[@HereJune]

R.I.P *the best joker*

[@HNB528]

2008 dead... After 13 years of death he is still in screen

[@rohanpradeep4871]

If anyone after 2019 Joker Movie ?

[@brianmccormick3837]

I just don't believe it, folks. This happened a whole decade ago. 10 years ago today. RIP Heath.

[@aspjjlm]

I miss him so much .. He was such a great actor !

[@rubendelgado3546]

Atleast he didn't suffer. He died peacefully. I wish to die in my sleep as well. R.I.P to the legend Heath Leager.

[@miaalpaugh9527]

im still crying

[@rohanjiraadmin8866]

U ok now 😢

[@Raz0rbam]

I discovered him in The Patriot, he’ll stay eternal with his Joker performance. Miss you Heath ❤

[@Writergurl24]

R.I.P. Heath Ledger. You are and always will be a LEGEND! ♥ =(

[@KENSHIROez3260]

He died after leaving a massive impact that are remembered by many forever..... secretly badass death if you ask me.. I would like to be like him too

[@musiicmasterrr]

So sad! He was amazing!

[@ppdomino8565]

"do you know how I got these scars?

[@mugflub]

R.I.P. Heath. A true talent.

[@ThESnAKe321]

Hiii

[@Liyid]

crazy how he died exactly on my birthday

[@joenrose7403]

I am still in tears because of his death The important thing for everyone to know is that he didn't kill himself Miss you, angel❤️ Love you so much ❤️❤️❤️

[@bigsheed6722]

I believe he did kill himself he couldn't live with the fact he did that dumb ass broke back mountain movie for the JOKER ROLE!!! A STRAIGHT!! MAN!!! with a CHILD that will fuck ya mind up when you sit back and realize what you did for a role or 💰 HOLLYWOOD IS SICK!!!!

[@pizzacutter5469]

@@bigsheed6722 No he died because of an overdose not intentionally tho he took 6 pills (painkiller) and between 1-3 PM his brain couldn’t continue anymore and so he stopped breathing

[@156beautybabe]

=( aww poor dude =( Heath Ledger was such a great actor =( may you rest in peace sweetheart we will never forget you =( damn i feel bad for his family they must be lost without the guy. 28 years old? thats young -sighs- i miss the dude =( no one will ever be as good as ledger wne he played the joker =( R.I P hun we love yah and you'll always be in our hearts and memmories xxxxxxxx

[@ابوننوب]

2019?

[@kyleatkins93]

I actually believe he was murdered

[@olivia-xm8mo]

there was no evidence of it. it was so obvious he got intoxicated

[@ella4085]

R.I.P Heath Myself and the world misses you especially those like myself who live in Perth Western Australia.

[@firdousali1340]

he got addicted to his character

[@randomrachel7049]

Let's just hope Jared Leto doesn't do the same.

[@leensammour8401]

+Rachel O'Neil amen 😭😭

[@Isaaclovestrains]

Random Rachel one joker is gone,two supermen are gone and 1 batman is gone

[@GG-cc1um]

28 years old...

[@CommanderCalico]

You always will be the best joker, Heath.

[@Oppoa77-fu3vk]

Heath Ledger Is Stupid.

[@Kagetora-]

​@@Oppoa77-fu3vkShut up

[@ragavia612]

Best joker ever...... but my biggest sadness is you are not in this world to receive ur Oscar award which u deserves for ur mind blowing performance as a joker... But u will always in our heart forever.... Rest in peace Mr. Legend.. Still crying... Missing u a LOTTTTTTT..................

[@Prasadsensational]

I'm here after watching the movie Joker! Although Joaquin Phoenix has done great,I still wanted Heath to play the Joker character in the movie!

[@juliand.licerio7020]

He was the best joker ever 😭😭😭😭😭😢😢😢😢

[@prayagtrivedi6004]

(Return If Possible) i love the joker so i keep his photos on social media and my classmates tease me and say the joker but I'm never upset cause they comoared me with my favourite hero who is not just a hero for me. I take their joke as appreciation and i never take their teasing me in negative way cause negetavity leads to death and there is nothing to be serious... So Why So Serious...