The Joker may be the ultimate role for an actor to end his career on. But, I thought the same thing when Brandon Lee died while making The Crow. And how strange that the characters look so similar, with their stringy hair and makeup. In black and white, The Joker would look almost identical to The Crow.

I take your point on the visual similarity, but the Joker has some seriously loose hinges, and he doesn't have the Crow's angry desire for vengeance. The Joker just doesn't care, he wants to "watch the world burn." The Crow has more self-control and different motives. But it is an interesting comparison!

. . . even before Ledger's death. I think, in addition to the makeup, the rock star swagger they each gave their characters might have been what cued me (Lee based his physicality on Chris Robinson; Ledger allegedly took inspiration from Sid Vicious).

Very good point, one I hadn't thought of.

And PS...when I read your post title, I thought you meant you had noted that your wife and the Joker were similar, instead of noting TO her that you saw a similarity between the Joker and the Crow. That's what I get for reading too fast. :)

No, no . . . My wife's more Xena, Warrior Princess.