“Heath Ledger: A Tragic End” looks back at the Australia native’s life, busy movie (and TV) career, and Jan. 22 death in Manhattan. E! News’ Jason Kennedy hosts the special Friday (Feb. 22) at 8 p.m. on E!
While the title seems to focus on the 28-year-old actor’s drug-related demise one month ago, E! promises the half-hour also explores his “great risks as an actor, in a kaleidoscope of diverse roles from a conflicted cowboy in ‘Brokeback Mountain’ to the maniacal Joker in the soon to be released ‘Batman the Dark Knight.’”
Some of those roles hit the air this weekend. Ledger plays Mel Gibson’s son in “The Patriot” (Saturday at 2:15 p.m. on 5StarMax, Sunday at 8:15 a.m. on ActionMax), Australian outlaw “Ned Kelly” (Saturday at 10 p.m. on Sundance), and Billy Bob Thornton's prison guard son in “Monster’s Ball” (Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on BIO).