On the third death anniversary of Heath Ledger, the internet lit up with tributes to the Hollywood star. Netizens took to the microblogging site Twitter with humble yet heartfelt testimonials, while the media also played its part by remembering one of the extraordinarily talented actors that the world has seen.

Ledger died at the age of 28 on 22 January, 2008 due to accidental toxic combination of prescription drugs. The Australian worked on nineteen films after he moved to the United States in 1998 to build a career in Hollywood. Some of the most memorable films in his early career include: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), The Patriot (2000), Monster's Ball (2001), and A Knight's Tale (2001). However, it was with the role Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain (2005) that Ledger found critical acclaim. For his portrayal of what the media often referred to as the gay cowboy, Ledger won the 2005 New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor and the 2006 Best Actor award from the Australian Film Institute. His career reached greater heights with the role of Joker in the 2008 Batman movie 'The Dark Knight'. This performance has now come to be known as Ledger's penultimate, especially following his sudden and unexpected demise.

RIP Heath Ledger. has it really been 3 years? wow. still feel the sadness like it was just yesterday, tweeted a user, moniquEthEEgEEk.

Ledger's death right after he literally left the world at awe with his portrayal of Joker has left many watching The Dark Knight over and over again indicating how the movie buffs have not gotten enough of the actor.

Watching Dark Knight. Amazing movie. It's been 3 years since Heath Ledger passed. So sad to have lost such a great actor, tweeted swati_b‎.
‎
Another user, ShaStimuli‎ posted, Now Dark Knight has some of the best dialogue in some yrs. Heath Ledger had to die after a performance like this.

Lydiacook wrote,‎ I think I may just have to watch #TheDarkKnight for the 1000th time in memory of Heath Ledger.

On Plixi, the photo sharing site for Twitter and Facebook, a hardcore Ledger fan, Matt Fekelman, posted a picture of the Joker tattoo he got on his back in honor of Heath Ledger and his favorite movie The Dark Knight.

These tributes from fans across the globe can be considered the best way to gauge the artist's success in being able to trickle down to the people, over the approval of the media and the film critics.

HeathUltimate, which claims to be Ultimate Twitter Fanpage For HEATH LEDGER, applauded the fans for lighting up the internet with the memories of the man. A post on the Twitter page read, 'Heath Ledger' has been trending all day on many countries and cities all over the world. The best way to pay tribute to this wonderful man!

Various media outlets also paid respect to the late star. While television channels like TNT scheduled The Dark Knight for 22 January, the Rolling Stone Magazine recalled a 2006 cover story on Ledger. The magazine published on January 20, 2011 a piece titled 'Heath Ledger's Lonesome Trail: Rolling Stone's 2006 Cover Story', which gives a glimpse of the actor fresh off the success of the 'Brokeback Mountain'.

His dad wanted him to race cars. Hollywood wanted him to play Spider-Man. But he wanted to play a gay cowboy. He became a huge star - but he wasn't happy about it, starts the article, in which the reporter narrates the encounter with the actor as Ledger goes way back on the memory lane to describe his journey and gives an insight into how he viewed, as well as coped with stardom in Hollywood.

Facebook Hollywood Twitter New York