Heath Ledger
January 22

Ledger, who went from teen idol in his native Australia to one of the most exciting actors of his generation, was best known for his Oscar-nominated role as a closeted gay ranch hand in "Brokeback Mountain." His death, blamed on an accidental overdose, came as a shock, as his off-screen life wasn't perceived as being as intense as his on-screen performances. He was 28.

Archive 1/23/08 Brooding roles in films defied his leading-man looks