This morning, the first thing that I did after I dragged myself out of bed was to log onto my computer and find out which films and actors were nominated for Academy Awards this year … then I scanned the news reports looking to see if Heath Ledger got nominated for his role in The Dark Knight (which he was). Then … I sadly remembered that it was one year ago today that we learned the horrible news that Heath had unexpectedly passed away. I cannot believe that it’s been an year already … it doesn’t seem like that much time has passed since Heath’s death. I still recall the shock I felt at the news … something about his passing just touched so many people in a very surprising and profound way. This past summer’s release of The Dark Knight just drove home the point that the world lost an amazing actor in Heath Ledger. So while I’m very happy that he got his Academy nomination, I’m still very sad that he is no longer with us:

On Thursday, while comic book fans (and movie fans in general) across the globe celebrated Heath Ledger’s inevitable — and well-deserved — Best Supporting Actor nomination for “The Dark Knight,” January 22 also holds a more somber place in film history. One year before, to the day, news broke that Heath Ledger had tragically died of what would later be deemed as an accidental prescription-drug overdose. Usually — unless you’re a hard-core film buff — Academy Awards season means nothing except anticipation for outrageous red-carpet fashions or office pools featuring films that most of us haven’t even seen yet. But this year’s announcements had even casual moviegoers glued to TV sets and Internet streams, waiting to hear Ledger’s name called for a role that the actor clearly gave his all to. “It was an exhausting process,” Ledger explained to MTV News in November 2007. “I actually had quite a bit of time off between scenes — weeks sometimes. But it was required because whenever I was working, it exhausted me to the bone. At the end of the day, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t talk. I was absolutely wrecked. If I had to do that every day, I couldn’t have done what I did.” And that performance came through. After a posthumous win at this year’s Golden Globes, Ledger now stands as the arguable frontrunner against Philip Seymour Hoffman, Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jr. and Michael Shannon. And it’s nearly impossible to find a story about the record-breaking, critically acclaimed “Dark Knight” in which Ledger’s name isn’t mentioned as the stand-out feature of the film. “Heath has given an incredible performance, a real definition of the character that I think will be incredibly memorable for years to come,” co-star Christian Bale of Ledger’s work as the Joker. “I want to do nothing but celebrate his work.” Granted, all of the Oscar nominees deserve praise for their efforts in their given categories, but it’s clear that Hollywood — and the film world in general — will be buzzing about Ledger in the weeks leading up to the February 22 ceremony. Win or lose — a gifted actor with years of potential still ahead of him was taken from us far too early.
I find it very curious that Heath and Philip Seymour Hoffman are, once again, going head to head for the Academy Award. As you may recall, they faced off against one another in the Best Actor category back in 2007 (Heath for his work in Brokeback Mountain, Philip for his work in Capote). Back then, Philip went home with the prize … this year, my money’s on Heath. The saddest thing about Heath’s death, at least for us fans, is that we will only get to see him in one more film (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus — the film he was working on when he died) … and then never again. Fans have been leaving flowers in front of the building where Heath died on mark this sad anniversary:

I cannot imagine the pain that his family must still be feeling just a short year after his death. While they must be appreciative, I’m sure all of these accolades are small comfort when compared to his passing. I, for one, still vividly remember and mourn his loss. I want him to win the Oscar. But, win or lose, I will still always remember him and cherish his work.
[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]