A Sad Loss

CNN and several other media outlets are reporting that actor Heath Ledger has died in New York of an apparent drug overdose.

Ledger was 28, and a father of two year-old daughter.

Like so many others, I’m waiting excitedly to see Heath’s performance as The Joker in “The Dark Knight” due for July 2008 release. Yet knowing it was his final role will make watching the film nothing less than painful – painful in wondering what else Ledger might have accomplished as an actor in his young career.

Whether the overdose is accidental or not, it's an incredible waste of talent and life.

PS: Always a master of good taste, Fred Phelps and his clan of the Westboro Baptist Church (AKA: The Most Hated Family In America) have announced their glorious intent to protest Heath Ledger’s funeral for his work on the film “Brokeback Mountain” – which should be a kick as (I imagine) Heath will be laid to rest in his native Australia, and none of the Phelps' are intelligent enough to understand the concept of mechanical flight.

So I guess they can take a slow boat down under with the rest of the sheep and cattle.