On January 22nd, 2008, Heath Ledger passed away after taking a fatal mix of prescription drugs, and on the eleventh anniversary of his death, fans of The Dark Knight took to social media to remember the actor and his most celebrated role.
Though the casting of Ledger as Bruce Wayne’s most famous adversary was met with heavy fan backlash when the news was first announced, it became all too clear that these objections were premature once Christopher Nolan’s film made its way to cinemas six months after Ledger’s passing. And in these last 24 hours, the social media outpouring makes it evident that the star still holds a special place in hearts of many a filmgoer:
On #OscarNoms day, we remember Heath Ledger who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as The #Joker in 2008’s #Batman film The Dark Knight.
Ledger passed away on this day in 2008. Learn about his legacy to the Joker figure https://t.co/hOrobWMmGF pic.twitter.com/u8M7Mat7LH
— Darknight Archivist ✌🏽💙🦇 (@HistoftheBatman) January 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/haIseyivy/status/1087839021848350721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1087839021848350721&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Fdc%2F2019%2F01%2F22%2Fheath-ledger-death-anniversary-the-dark-knight-fans%2F
When I first watched "The Dark Knight" I became fan of Joker and also fan of Heath Ledger….
That was the first movie I watched of Heath Ledger…Then I didn't know he is dead..
When I knew that he is dead it was a shock for me..
R.I.P. #HeathLedger..#11yearswithoutHeathLedger pic.twitter.com/pOuDGPM9g5— Shuvo (@Shuvo58131739) January 22, 2019
Today we are thinking of the late Heath Ledger. Ledger featured in Home and Away in addition to other television appearances. Ledger also won an Oscar, Golden Globe and a BAFTA award as the Best Actor in a Supporting Role as ‘The Joker’ in The Dark Knight. pic.twitter.com/jUHidCKPby
— Elstree Studios (@ElstreeStudios) January 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/spdrvrs/status/1087781745024528384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1087781745024528384&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Fdc%2F2019%2F01%2F22%2Fheath-ledger-death-anniversary-the-dark-knight-fans%2F
'The Dark Knight' (2008) Dir. by Christopher Nolan, DP: Wally Pfister, with Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ron Dean & many others, Remembering Heath Ledger, who died on this day,1-22-08. pic.twitter.com/QCtkHnzgQN
— Classicman Film (@classicsman70) January 22, 2019
I was watching.. DARK KNIGHT.. because I was REMEMBERING Heath Ledger today. It's his Death Anniversary he died on 22/Jan/2008.
— ᴀʟʟᴀɴ ʀɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ 🏴☠️ (@Username_Rick) January 22, 2019
11 YEARS without Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight" 🎬💫 pic.twitter.com/diV8PEVlEN
— О_л_ь_г_а_ 🇸🇪🇩🇪 (@AglloMuniz) January 22, 2019
With The Dark Knight hitting its tenth anniversary last year, 2018 saw several of Ledger’s friends and associates reflect on his turn as the Joker. Maggie Gyllenhaal, for instance, recalled her first time seeing her co-star immersed in character when she spoke on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, arguing that it’s rare to see a performance in a big budget action movie that manages hold your attention amidst all the “explosions and huge stunt scenes.”
The Dark Knight co-writer Jonathan Nolan, meanwhile, told The Hollywood Reporter back in August that neither he nor the studio really “got” why his brother wanted Ledger for the role, but Christopher Nolan “just stuck to his guns,” arguing that “It was a question of not giving the fans what they’re asking for but what they want.” Needless to say, the fans were ultimately pretty thrilled with the Joker they got, and Ledger’s take on the character has continued to influence comic book villains and screen psychos ever since.