The last thing I expected to hear when my mother called me at 4 pm yesterday afternoon was that Heath Ledger was dead.

I didn’t believe her, matter of fact I think I deafened her with the shouted WHAT?! And I know there was a few F bombs in that conversation as well.

I know she did it because she knows I keep track of these things. Hellfire I write a low key entertainment blog. She also knew, however, that he was a favorite performer of mine and that I often look forward to his movies with great anticipation. I’ve already been singing his praises as the Joker and I haven’t even seen Dark Knight yet.

So getting that call and confirming on CNN that he’s dead was like a blow to the stomach. It’s just not something that I think anyway was expecting here, especially with reporters confirming that there were drugs on the scene.

For a reality check, let’s keep in mind that he’s one of those precious few actors that tried to keep his private life private, so we really have no idea what was going on there. It’s a sad day in entertainment when early speculation and reports can make someone wonder if someone as talented and popular as Heath had turned to drugs.

I, for one, will cherish his performances more so now that I did. It’s truly upsetting that there will be no more of them, he had the talent and charisma to be the next Mel Gibson or Tom Hanks.

And he will certainly be missed. It is my hope that he rests in peace and his family can find the comfort they will need in this time.

With an autopsy proved inconclusive and rumors of scattered pills considered exaggerations there’s still no cause of death listed in the tragic loss of Heath.