It is hard to believe that it has been over a year since the tragic loss of one of the scariest “Jokers” in “Batman” history. One of the first Jokers, Jack Nicholson, warned Heath Ledger about the emotional drain the part of the “Joker” can put on an actor. It wasn’t until audiences flocked to the box office to see the new Batman movie that they realized just how serious Ledger took on the role.

“His voice sent shivers through my bones,” an audience member was quoted as saying after seeing the Batman thriller. There are very few actors that can transform a role like Ledger did in The Dark Knight and his films live on in the hearts of audiences around the world. He took on a powerful role as a gay cowboy in “Brokeback Mountain” in which he kissed Jake Gyllehnaal and won an Oscar for his performance.

Ledger’s Suicide and Life Insurance Woes

During the filming of The Dark Knight , Ledger was found dead and at the time his life insurance company, ReliaStar wanted to perform an investigation as to whether it was a suicide. Friends, family, and fans of Ledger felt that it was preposterous for ReliaStar to accuse Ledger of lying on his insurance application. The $10 million life insurance policy whose only beneficiary is Ledger’s three-year-old daughter reached a confidential settlement in court, where both parties were pleased according to a spokesperson for Ledger’s attorney.

See our original coverage of the Heath Ledger Life Insurance controversy here.

photo credit: John Griffiths