Last January 22, 28-year-old Australian actor and Oscar nominee Heath Ledger was found dead in his Manhattan home with anti-depressant and anxiety pills beside him. What a tragic end to a very young life that was so full of potential.
He left behind his daughter, Matilda, by ex-fiance Michelle Williams of “Dawson’s Creek” whom he met in the set of “Brokeback Mountain” in 2005.
Ledger traveled quite a long way from his native Perth, Australia to the glittery Hollywood community. He started as a struggling 17-year-old who broke into the movie scene through bit roles in Australian TV shows like “Sweat” and “Home and Away” before landing into a small film called “Paws”. In 1997, he went to the United States to audition for movie roles. Ledger got his first Hollywood break via “Roar” opposite Vera Farmingan.
His outstanding role in crime thriller “Two Hands” secured him a place in 1999’s teen movie “10 Things I Hate About You”. In 2000, his role as Mel Gibson’s son in war drama “The Patriot” defined him as a serious young actor. Ledger also starred in other Hollywood films such as “Monster’s Ball” (2001), “Ned Kelly” (2003) opposite Orlando Bloom, “A Knight’s Tale”, “The Brothers Grimm” (2005) with Matt Damon, “Candy” (2006) and “I’m Not There” (2007). His rather unsual role in “Brokeback Mountain” opposite Jake Gyllenhaal earned him an Oscar nomination in 2005.
Heath Ledger plays Joker in The Dark Knight
This year, the movie “The Dark Knight” is scheduled for release in July with Ledger playing the role of the greasepaint-caked Joker, Christian Bale as Batman and Jake Gyllenhaal’s sister, Maggie, as Rachel Daus. It will be his final Hollywood film. Ledger did not finish “The Imaginarium of Doctor Pamassus” which he started filming earlier this month in London.
