On January 22nd, 2008 Heath Ledger slipped away and a literal star vanished from this world. A year later friends and co-stars have opened up about the loss of one of Hollywood’s brightest talents. Entertainment Weekly compiled the thoughts of those lucky enough to have worked with Ledger regarding his tragic passing.

On the day he died:

Terry Gilliam “The Brothers Grimm” Director: I was in Vancouver, and there was a computer with a BBC website and it says, ”Heath Ledger found dead.” My immediate response was, ”It’s a f—ing Warner Bros. publicity stunt for the Joker!” We kept looking at the computer thinking it was going to change. But it wouldn’t go away.

Catherine Hardwick “The Lords of Dogtown“ Directo: I was in a van in Oregon scouting a location we shot for “Twilight.” And my phone just exploded. And then you’re just on the ground, weeping. At least I was outside in this beautiful place with the trees and the green and you could just try to connect with his spirit right then.

James Schamus “Brokeback Mountain” Producer : It was one of those ”where were you on the day Kennedy was shot” moments. I called Jake and remember wailing.

Gary Oldman “The Dark Knight” Co-Star: I call it the cosmic s— hammer. Just one of those things. I can’t even say I ever remember seeing Heath smoking. It was a complete shock.

After he was found, disgusting rumors of suicide and drug overdose hit the circuit. An autopsy would later reveal a combination of perscription drugs for depression and insomnia would be the culprit. His coworkers and friends have their own theories on the true downfall of Ledger.

Gilliam: They tried so hard to pin [drug abuse] on him, but they couldn’t because Heath was as clean as you could be. We know about the pills. But he had stopped smoking. Marijuana was no longer in his life, which he had enjoyed a bit. He wasn’t drinking. Nothing. This was a body that had cleansed itself for over a year of anything.

Nicola Pecorini – Cinematographer : He was so solid into keeping clean, it was quite stunning. I really think he died of a broken heart. I know it can sound very romantic, but it’s very tragic. I think that’s what killed him. Separation when there is a kid involved is always very painful, no matter what. And Heath was always very hard on himself. His tendency was always to say, ”What did I do wrong?” He was really bleeding. And I’m pretty sure that all his sleeping problems had nothing to do with work and all to do with Matilda and Michelle.

Steve Alexander CAA Agent: We were making these incredible plans about what was next, career-wise. The day after he died, he was going to meet Steven Spielberg to explore the idea of playing Tom Hayden in a movie about the Chicago 7. This wasn’t a guy who was even for a second thinking about checking out in any way, shape, or form. There’s a moment in The Dark Knight when Heath’s hanging upside down and he says to Batman, ”You and I are destined to do this forever.” It’s a very sad moment. A sequel certainly would have happened. I cringe when I read that he was a tortured soul or a Method actor who couldn’t get out of his own way because he’d played this dark character. It’s just not true.

Pecorini recalled the service held for his friend…

“I remember when we went to the memorial service, most of the people there had nothing to do with Heath. He used to despise most of them, and there was no reason for them to be there. I understand the family wanting to give the ”Hollywood community,” so-called, the opportunity of saying goodbye. But I’m telling you, 85 percent of the people in that room had no right to be there. It was pretty disturbing for me.”

Costar in from “The Dark Knight” sums up what Heath’s reaction to the idea of an Oscar nomination would have been:

“If Heath does get an Oscar nomination, I can just picture him up there, looking down and going, F—!”

Let’s hope that is the case. Oddly enough, the Oscar nominations are due out on the anniversary of Heath’s death.