The saddest news about the 80th Academy Awards came at almost 5 p.m. today. The "In Memoriam" segment of the show had gained a new name, inexplicably, sadly, prematurely. Heath Ledger.

He had been nominated for Best Actor for 2005's "Brokeback Mountain," played one of the Bob Dylan incarnations in "I'm Not There" and was the focus of the campaign for the next Batman movie as The Joker.

In Toronto in early September, while "Dark Knight" co-star Michael Caine did interviews for "Sleuth," he took time to salute his co-star: "Tell you what will be the revelation of Batman -- Heath Ledger as The Joker. He is fantastic."

So, when the word came through an Associated Press alert that the 28-year-old actor had been found dead at a Manhattan residence, colleagues gasped. Female fans knew Ledger from "Brokeback Mountain" (and other films) and that he had been the onetime companion of actress Michelle Williams and father of their young daughter.

I remember seeing the couple, in happier days, holding hands on the carpet at the Independent Spirit Awards and the Academy Awards.

He was handsome, talented and seemed to have much to live for. Those of us who love movies and found him haunting -- and, let's face it, brave -- in "Brokeback Mountain" or "Monster's Ball" or "The Patriot" will miss him. No matter what gossipy details emerge in the days ahead, that will not change.