Hollywood is mourning the unexpected death of Australian-born actor Heath Ledger, 28, whose body was discovered in his apartment on Tuesday by his housekeeper and a massage therapist.
Among the tributes pouring in is one from Ang Lee, who directed Ledger in arguably his most famous role, gay ranch hand Ennis del Mar, in the acclaimed 2005 film Brokeback Mountain.
"Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life," Lee said in a statement Wednesday. "He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined -- a thirst for life, for love, and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking."
Brokeback Mountain producer James Schamus called Ledger a "courageous actor and a great soul. He gave us the gift of sharing his fearless and beautiful love -- of his craft and of all who worked with him -- for which all of us will be eternally grateful."
Ledger was known for grueling, intense roles that became his trademark after he got his start in teen movies like 10 Things I Hate About You. Thereafter, he took on roles that forced him to bury his Australian accent and downplay his leading-man looks: the tormented Ennis, a drug addict in Candy, and, most recently, an incarnation of Bob Dylan in I'm Not There. (The Advocate)
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