'Dark Knight' credits pay tribute to Ledger

Heath Ledger is getting a fond tribute from his collaborators on "The Dark Knight"


The end credits of the "Batman Begins" sequel include a farewell note to Ledger, who died in January from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs; and to special-effects technician Conway Wickliffe, who was killed last September in a stunt-car accident.

"In memory of our friends Heath Ledger & Conway Wickliffe," reads the tribute included in the credits, which went up Thursday on the Warner Bros. publicity Web site.

Ledger plays the villainous Joker in "The Dark Knight," who begins a reign of terror on Gotham City that pits him against conflicted hero Batman (Christian Bale).

Arriving in theaters July 18, the movie reteams Bale with director Christopher Nolan and returning co-stars Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman. Joining the cast are Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal.


Beginning months before Ledger's death, his frenetic performance and demented-clown makeup have been a cornerstone of the marketing campaign for the film.


"I needed a phenomenal actor, but he also had to be someone unafraid of taking on such an iconic role," Nolan says in the production notes for "The Dark Knight." "Heath created something entirely original. It's stunning, it's captivating. ... It's going to blow people away."

Heath Ledger - Joker Star - Found Dead

So sad to hear and report that actor Heath Ledger was found dead in New York today. I am such a fan of his work in movies and feel so saddened and the news of his death. The New York Times web site blog reports he actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday afternoon in an apartment in Manhattan, according to the New York City police. Signs pointed to a suicide or an accidental overdose, police sources said. Mr. Ledger was 28. More Heath Ledger story details.

Coincidently for me, we are currently here in Vegas at a buying show previewing the costumes for Batman The Dark Knight movie and just yesterday we were watching the new Batman movie trailer and commenting on what a great job it looks like he has done in his role as The Joker.

And rather ironic is the "Why So Serious?" tag line for what will be his last character role. Evidently, he was a troubled young man and maybe should have took that saying a little more seriously.

We mourn the death of this great star and pay respects, but as they say in Hollywood, "The Show Must Go On" and business must go on too.

So for us in the costume industry, it begs the question, will this increase the popularity of his character and subsequent costume sales? After all, we are RIGHT in the middle of placing our orders as we speak (or type).

So with this make him a Hollywood Icon with a cult following? Comments and messages welcome.

Current Batman Costume selections at AnniesCostumes.com

Dark Knight Joker Photo Update

Thanks to trevor and kidpogo95's comments, they let me know that I had posted the wrong picture of the Joker. Sorry!!!!The picture I posted was evidently a photoshopped photo of a different actor and was not Heath Ledger at all. So, here is the REAL picture of Heath Ledger as the Joker! I see there are all kinds of fake Joker pics all over the internet, so I guess it stands true that you can't believe everything you see on the internet!



So here you go, one scary Joker pic coming up: