As an actor Heath Ledger had chops. Fearless and subtle, brawny and gentle. He worked without a net, taking roles that both solidified his popularity and pushed his artistic limits. It didn't always work. The charm he radiated in "A Knight's Tale" felt forced in "The Brothers Grimm." But who would have guessed the wide-eyed innocent of "The Patriot" could so convincingly play the renowned womanizer Casanova?

"Brokeback Mountain" will be his legacy, and rightly so. Courage, integrity, and humanity.

Let's remember him that way.

RIP