Heath Ledger, who died eight years ago today, won an Oscar for a performance that was initially derided
on February 22, 2009, Heath Ledger's family took to the podium of Hollywood's Kodak Theatre and collected his Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Ledger had died exactly 13 months earlier from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs at the age of 28. He was recognised by the Academy for his "menacing, mercurial, droll and diabolic" Joker in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, released the previous summer.
Needless to say, it was a poignant moment. Ledger's death, which happened shortly after he had received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Brokeback Mountain, shocked and saddened his family, fans and the film industry.
In this context, it was difficult to remember the scorn that was poured upon his casting as the Joker in July 2006. But Nolan was roundly criticised for choosing the actor to play the Batman villain over the likes of Robin Williams, Steve Carell and Paul Bettany, all of whom had expressed interest in the role.
Part of this was due to Ledger's earlier works – as closeted gay cowboy Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain the year before, and bad boy Patrick Verona in teen movie 10 Things I Hate About You.
Forum users posted comments such as: "I won't be able to watch it. I'll keep expecting him to have with Batman. YUCK!" Numerous others made "BrokeBat Mountain" and "Gay Batman" jokes.
Others thought that "pretty boy" Ledger wouldn't be able to bring sufficient malice to the twisted character: "Heath Ledger's face says 'boy next door.'"
"Seeing him dance around like the Joker would be more of a 'laugh at' than 'laugh with' thing"
Ledger had died exactly 13 months earlier from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs at the age of 28. He was recognised by the Academy for his "menacing, mercurial, droll and diabolic" Joker in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, released the previous summer.
Needless to say, it was a poignant moment. Ledger's death, which happened shortly after he had received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Brokeback Mountain, shocked and saddened his family, fans and the film industry.
In this context, it was difficult to remember the scorn that was poured upon his casting as the Joker in July 2006. But Nolan was roundly criticised for choosing the actor to play the Batman villain over the likes of Robin Williams, Steve Carell and Paul Bettany, all of whom had expressed interest in the role.
Part of this was due to Ledger's earlier works – as closeted gay cowboy Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain the year before, and bad boy Patrick Verona in teen movie 10 Things I Hate About You.
Forum users posted comments such as: "I won't be able to watch it. I'll keep expecting him to have with Batman. YUCK!" Numerous others made "BrokeBat Mountain" and "Gay Batman" jokes.
Others thought that "pretty boy" Ledger wouldn't be able to bring sufficient malice to the twisted character: "Heath Ledger's face says 'boy next door.'"
"Seeing him dance around like the Joker would be more of a 'laugh at' than 'laugh with' thing"
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