KEY POINTS:
Heath Ledger's untimely death comes just eight days after the death of another young actor Brad Renfro.
It is often said the good die young and in Hollywood, the adage seems even more prevalent.
We take a look back at other young actors, whose lives have also been cut short.
Brad Renfro (1982 - 2008)
Once one of Hollywood's hottest up-and-comers, Brad Renfro soon gave in to the pressures of Hollywood. With a history of drug use and a series of criminal misdemeanours to his name, Renfro died earlier this month. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
River Phoenix (1970 - 1993)
The talented young star overdosed from a mixture of cocaine and heroin, in Johnny Depp's night club The Viper Room. He died of heart failure on the pavement outside the club, in the arms of his younger brother Joaquin.
Jonathan Brandis (1976 - 2003)
The child star of The Neverending Story and SeaQuest DSV, Jonathan Brandis died at the age of 27 after hanging himself.
John Belushi (1949 - 1982)
Funnyman John Belushi was best known for his work on Saturday Night Live and the hit film Animal House. A regular drug-taker, Belushi was found dead in his room at Chateau Marmont having overdosed on speedballs - a mixture of heroin and cocaine.
Andy Kaufman (1949 - 1984)
Recognised by many as a comedian, Kaufman saw himself as a "song and dance man". The Saturday Night Live star was diagnosed with cancer in 1983 and died the following year, aged 35.
James Dean (1931 - 1955)
James Dean had only started to build his Hollywood when he died tragically in a car crash. The racing enthusiast was en route to a race meet in Salinas, California in his Porsche Spyder, when he was hit head on by a 1950 Ford Custom Tudor coupe. He was taken to a nearby hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.
Rudolph Valentino (1895 - 1926)
Known as the Latin Love, Valentino was one of Hollywood's first heart throbs, starring in The Sheik and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. On August 15, 1926, Valentino underwent surgery for a perforated ulcer. He died eight days later.
Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)
Californian-born Bruce Lee brought martial arts to the forefront of popular culture with his Hollywood-produced films Fist of Fury and Way of the Dragon. After complaining of a headache, Lee was found unconscious in his apartment and died a short time later. The cause of Lee's death is still a mystery, with doctors proclaiming it "death by misadventure".
Brandon Lee (1965 to 1993)
The son of Bruce Lee, Brandon followed in his father's footsteps in more ways than one. The actor was working on the film The Crow when he was accidentally shot. A bullet from a dummy cartridge had become lodged in a prop pistol, which was later fired at Brandon, causing a fatal wound to his adomen.
Kevin Smith (1963 - 2002)
New Zealand's own Kevin Smith died in 2002, after falling on a film set in China. The Hercules star was 38.
