MTV interviewed original big screen Joker Jack Nicholson, who talked about sleeping pills and meeting up with the late Heath Ledger about playing the villain in The Dark Knight:
MTV: When we spoke last, we talked about Batman, but it was before this tragedy with Heath Ledger.
Nicholson: That was horrible. I had an Ambien experience. I don’t react well to sleeping pills. Someone said, “Try this, there’s no hangover.” And I got an emergency call in the middle of the night and had forgotten I’d taken one. I fell asleep at the wheel about a hundred yards from my house. A couple blocks in either direction and I’d have been in a really bad accident. When the news first came out and I heard [sleeping pills were involved] — I’ve tried to warn people.
MTV: Is there a lesson to be learned from what happened?
Nicholson: One of the things I’d know doctors would like is good feedback in their direction. If you do take a pill, have the presence of mind to check yourself out and see how it’s actually acting so you can give feedback to the medical person.
MTV: How long ago was your incident?
Nicholson: That’s got to be three or four years [ago]. I didn’t know Mr. Ledger, but the town is very sad on his behalf.
MTV: You’d never met him?
Nicholson: No, I’d never met him. I would have tried to have a fun talk with him about the Joker.
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Source: MTV