Heath Ledger, who died yesterday aged 28. Photographer: Lisa Carpenter

The loss of a young life is always a tragedy, but the news of Heath Ledger's tragic and untimely death yesterday has shocked many people.

It was the Australian actor's now career-defining role as a brooding sheep herder in Brokeback Mountain that earned him worldwide fame, critical plaudits and an Oscar nomination for best actor. Rolling Stone even called his performance an "acting miracle".

Is it the loss of a great talent, the wasted potential or the shock of Ledger's sudden death that has provoked such a wealth of feeling?