The movie business is cut-throat so at sad times like the recent death of Heath Ledger, credit is due to Warner Brothers who have made their Batman: The Dark Knight website a simple tribute to Heath (who plays the Joker). This at a time when the studio would normally be promoting the movie at every opportunity.

Screenshots taken directly from http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/.

Well done Warner Bros and it is nice to see commercial marketing take a back seat.

Last week was the sad news that promising young actor Brad Renfro (The Client, Sleepers, The Bully) had been found dead with many websites highlighting his battles with drink and drugs. Today we get more bad news that Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain, 10 Things I hate about You, Knights Tale) has been found dead. Initial reports on BBC News suggested that drugs could well of been involved here as well.

Both actors had successful careers which would surely have only got better. They both starred in some memorable movie moments - who can forget Heath Ledger singing Cant Take My Eyes Of Off You in 10 Things I Hate About You - and put in some award winning performances in their short lives.

It is also worth remembering Brad Renfro played in a school production for DARE, whose aim is to teach youngsters about the dangers of drugs - unfortunate that Brad himself did not heed these warnings

I remember back in 1993 hearing the news that River Phoenix (one of my all time favourite actors) had died from a drug induced heart attack outside Johnny Depps’ Viper Room nightclub. It seems that today’s young actors haven’t learnt the lessons that drugs don’t work and do kill. It seems that all the fame and fortune that comes from movies may be too much for some.

Here’s hoping that the new generation of actors are more sensible and we can stop seeing senseless wastes of lives like this.

RIP Brad Renfro and Heath Ledger.