How much do you think playing the Joker affected Heath Ledger?  

I think he knew what this role could do for him as an actor & he did whatever he could to make himself come into the role as he wanted the Joker to be played. Do I think it played a part in his death? Yes, I do. I can't imagine how stressful being an actor/actress can normally be, but to play a role as hard as this could not have been anything BUT stressfull for the actor. Sadly, he took measures that enabled him to somewhat BECOME the Joker, but these very same measures lead to his death. So I guess he got what he wanted. He will always be known for the best & most outstanding actor to have ever play the role of the Joker, but sadly he wont be around to know that. His death was not only a waste of talent, but is something that should have never happened in the first place. In my opinon no role is worth your life.

Sweetie, he didn't commit suicide, apparently. He accidentally took two different pills at the same time, intended for two different things, one of which is for sleeping and the other, if i'm not mistaken is for his allergies, but absolutely not for killing himself..at least that's what I heard. Isn't it sad? Knowing that a telented actor like him dies at such a young age.. I watched few of his movies and they were great. I'm going to miss him. I'll watch that latest batman movie once I get a free time, wanna see heath for the last time.

Upon hearing about the death of Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson said "I warned him." (I heard about that on NPR yesterday.) It is very possible that playing The Joker was a factor in his death. It's a tough role.

one factor is that prescription pills are the new party time for this present generation. mixing and grabbing a handful like candy is fighteningly too common. perhaps the role didn't help, but first some don't need a reason to get high. then he had a broken relationship that gave him a little girl of his own. who knows the sadness in the back of his mind that lingered from that. we may never know all that was going through his mind. and having so many drugs at hand didn't help. it could have been an accident. one thing to be learned is be careful of prescription drugs. especially with multiple prescriptions. it is a real tragedy to lose a young and great talent.

It is my understanding that Heath Ledger died of a drug overdose. I don't believe it was ruled a suicide. Although there was some question about his death, after interviewing his friends and loved ones, I think the experts believed that he accidentally overdosed and took the wrong medications at the same time. I guess we will never know for sure.

I have not yet seen The Dark Knight but have read that he played the Joker brilliantly.

I agree it is a very sad situation that such a great actor and nice man died so early.

I read somewhere that Christian Bale said that Heath loved playing the Joker and he was happy every second of it. The rumour that playing the Joker made Heath get all depressed and stuff is a total lie I think. I mean, he's a professional actor who is paid millions, obviously he knows it's just a character and wouldn't let it get the better of him. His death in my opinion was not a matter of depression but of certain other factors.

Oh no,I haven't watched the film yet.I think I need to watch it quickly and then I can answer your question:D

There is no actual proof he committed suicide. Please try and phrase things better. His family could read this and be upset. He was a great actor, and from what I have read, a good man. He will be missed.

I don't think that Heath playing the Joker in the new Batman movie was the cause of his death, however, playing such a dark role didn't help matters at all. He allegedly had a drug problem, but suffered terribly from insomnia. His death was accidental inasmuch as he took the wrong combination of medications which proved to be deadly. No one doctor prescribed all those medications, but he found his way around getting those prescriptions by going to different doctors. I think he just died because he didn't know any better.

Before reading the comments below, I was going to say that I didn't know he committed suicide but now, I realized he accidently overdosed on pills. Either way, its sad that he had to go. I saw the movie last night and it was great. He really really made that joker role believable. I was amazed to be honest. He was crazy, funny, and everything that the joker should be. He really brought the movie to life.