Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger
Birth Name: Heathcliff Andrew Ledger
Nick Name: Heathy
Profession: Actor
DoB: April 4, 1979
Place of Birth: Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Date of Death: January 22, 2008
Place of Death: New York City, New York, USA
Reason of Death: Drug overdose
Height: 6' 1"
Education: Guilford Grammar School
Nationality: Australian
Claim to Fame: as Gabriel Martin in "The Patriot" (2000)
Father: Kim
Mother: Sally

Already something of an established actor in his native Australia, Heath Ledger for the first time the attention of American audiences in 1999 with his victory turning point in the teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, plays the rebellious Patrick Verona in the update of + The Taming of the Shrew.

Born in Perth, Western Australia on April 4, 1979, Ledger first became interested in acting while attending the all-boys Guilford Grammar School. He began his career performing onstage with the Guildford Theatre Company and was soon appearing in substantial roles on Australian television shows. The 1996 series Sweat featured him as a gay cyclist, while the following year's Roar cast him as a medieval Celtic prince - and also won him the beginnings of a fan base. After moving across the Pacific to Los Angeles, Ledger landed his lead role in 10 Things I Hate About You opposite Julia Stiles in 1999.

The film proved to be a summer hit, and succeeded in introducing ledger to a legion of new fans. In the same year he starred in two hands, an Australian action comedy that cast him as a teenager Sydney, is in debt to an underworld kingpin, played by Bryan Brown. The film premiere in this year's Sundance Film Festival. Following a prominent role in Roland Emmerich's The Patriot (2000), Ledger brought Excalibur sensibilities into the new millennium with A Knight's Tale (2001). With its tradition shaken mix of modern slang and music balanced with the classic fairy tale battle chaos, A Knight's Tale as an exciting star vehicle for the popular young actor. The young actor also garnered a great deal of praise for his supporting role as a deeply depressed prison staff in the Oscar-winning film Monsters Ball (2001).

Although the film does not fare well critically or otherwise, Ledger nevertheless proved to be a versatile actor in The Four Feathers (2002), in which he starred as a cowardly officer-in-training, resignation of the British Army shortly before shipping from Sudan . In the same vein, if the order (2003) was shunned by critics Ledger was praised for his intense performance as a tortured, knowledge-seeking priest. Australia's Ned Kelly (2003) with a then 24-year-old Heath in the title role of sixteen-year-old outlaw Ned Kelly and places it on a skilled occupation, including Six Feet Under star and fellow Australian Rachel Griffiths, the Oscar - winner Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom And Naomi Watts.

In 2005, Ledger captivated Hollywood with his sensitive turn as Ennis Del Mar in the modern gay-themed western Brokeback Mountain. Impressed the audience with his account of the soft-spoken and tortured character struggling with his love for fellow cowboy Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), he continued to draw several awards for the role, including Best Actor wins from many film critics associations, but as a coveted Oscar nomination.

Ledger was in 2005 following employs Brokeback, with roles in films of the period Casanova and the brothers Grimm, and a turn as heroin addicts man in Candy. His own commitment to Brokeback costar Michelle Williams made headlines and a daughter in late 2005, when both their relationship ended the following year. Ledger had its role as the Joker in the Dark Knight (due in July 2008) and was filming locations Terry Gilliam's Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, when he was found dead in a New York residential building on 22 January 2008. Rebecca Flint Marx, all Movie Guide.



Trivia

Had a premature death at age 28. Was found dead at 3:26 p.m. in his fourth-floor apartment at 421 Broome Street in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City on January 22, 2008, as the NY police reported, due to drug overdose.

Heath Ledger and his sister are named after the two main romantic characters of the Emily Bront� novel, "Wuthering Heights".

Dated costar Lisa Zane while they were filming "Roar" (1997).

Concentrated on drama and sports in school. When asked to choose between the two, he picked drama. Attended a private all-boys school called Guildford Grammar.

Auditioned for the role of Max in the TV show "Roswell" (1999). But the show was originally developed for Fox and since he had already starred in "Roar" (1997), that was not successful for Fox, they did not want to hire him.

Has three sisters: Kate Ledger, and half sisters Olivia Ledger and Ashleigh Bell.

Named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2001.

Dated Heather Graham. [October 2000 - June 2001]

Was a part of the Kalamunda Field Hockey team back in 1990 in his native country of Australia. His father, Kim Ledger, was the president of the team from 1990-1992.

Was a men's-fashion judge at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in November 2001.

Shares a birthday with Hugo Weaving.

Was originally set to star in Oliver Stone's Alexander (2004) before Colin Farrell took over the role.

Was considered for the role of Kar in Bulletproof Monk (2003), but ultimately it down. The role later went to Seann William Scott.

Dated Naomi Watts (August 2002 - May 2004)

He and Naomi Watts broke up for the 2nd time, April 2004.

Born on the same day as American Pie (1999) star Natasha Lyonne.

Worked with Orlando Bloom in Ned Kelly (2003). Ledger worked with Scottish actor James Cosmo in The Four Feathers (2002). Both Bloom and Cosmo worked together in the movie Troy (2004).

Was named "the new Matt Damon" in Josie and the Pussycats (2001). They now act side by side in The Brothers Grimm (2005)

Most of his wardrobe is designed by his friend Shem.

Is of Irish and Scottish ancestry

Starred in 3 films which screened at the 2005 Venice Film Festival. They included Brokeback Mountain (2005), The Brothers Grimm (2005) and the out-of-competition Casanova (2005).

Met Michelle Williams on the set of Brokeback Mountain (2005).

Chosen in the State U17 squad in the field hockey and was touted as one of the emerging young stars, but decided to pack it in and try to make a career in acting.

Jake Gyllenhaal is the godfather of his daughter Matilda.

Was mentored by, lived with, and is very good friends with Martin Henderson.

In 2006, Ledger invited to join AMPAS.

Is the first non-American actor to portray the Joker.

Set to star in Baz Luhrmann's pre-WWII drama, but backed out to play The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008).

Busy Philipps is the godmother of his daughter Matilda.

When he cast as The Joker in the Dark Knight (2008), rumours circulated that his Brokeback Mountain (2005) cast mate Jake Gyllenhaal would play District Attorney Harvey Dent. Instead, Jakes sister Maggie Gyllenhaal was cast as an assistant DA Rachel Dawes .

Dropped out of Australia (2008) to do The Dark Knight (2008).

Is one of seven godparents of Elizabeth Hurley's son Damien.

Called off his engagement to Michelle Williams in September 2007.

Choosen as one of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars in the world (#79) 2007 by Empire Magazine.

Filmography

1992 Clowning Around
1997 Blackrock
1997 Paws
1999 Two Hands
1999 10 Things I hate About You
2000 The Patriot
2001 Monster's Ball
2001 A Knight's Tale
2002 The Four Feathers
2003 The Order
2003 Ned Kelly
2005 Cassanova
2005 The Brothers Grimm
2005 Lords of Dogtown
2005 Brokebake Mountain
2006 Candy
2007 I'm Not There
2008 The Dark Knight
2009 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus




Televisions

1993 Ship to Shore
1996 Sweat
1997 Home and Away
1997 Roar




Awards

Academy
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

British Academy Awards
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

Broadcast Film Critics Association
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

Chicago Film Critics Association
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

Golden Globe
2005 Best Actor - Drama Brokeback Mountain

Independent Spirit Award
2007 Robert Altman Award I'm Not There
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

L.A. Film Critics Association
2005 Best Actor - Runner-up Brokeback Mountain

Las Vegas Film Critics Association
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

London Film Critics Association
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

National Society of Film Critics
2005 Best Actor - Runner-up Brokeback Mountain

New York Film Critics Circle
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

Online Film Critics Association
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

Phoenix Film Critics Association
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

San Francisco Film Critics Circle
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

Screen Actors Guild
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain

St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Associat
2005 Best Actor Brokeback Mountain