Sirki’s Summons – January 22: Why So Serious?

Greetings from beyond the veil.

On this day in 2008, Prince Sirki trumped The Joker. Heath Ledger passed away in his hotel room. It was determined that death was the result of a toxic combination of prescription medication. He had just finished filming pick-up scenes for THE DARK KNIGHT, in which he portrayed a re-imagined Joker, a few months earlier. For his performance, he was posthumously awarded, among other accolades, The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the Joker.

He died while on break from filming Terry Gilliam’s THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS, with only half of his part filmed. Johnny Depp, Jude Law & Colin Farrell stepped in, playing Ledger’s part, explained as ‘magical shape changing’ as the character traveled between different dream worlds. They donated their fees to a fund for Ledger’s daughter.

As an ironic end-note, it was on this date, 1n 1893, that Conrad Veidt was born. Among Veidt’s most famous roles was his portrayal as THE MAN WHO LAUGHS. This portrayal is what is said to have inspired Bill Finger & Bob Kane’s creation of none other than The JOKER. See for yourself –