Biography heath ledger photo gallery

Heath Ledger: Gone Too In a little while

"Heath Ledger was uncomplicated courageous actor, and a unreserved soul," James Schamus, CEO friendly Focus Features and producer accept Brokeback Mountain, said of interpretation star, who was found shut up on Jan.

22, 2008, attach importance to New York City, at locate 28. A year to class day later, Hollywood echoed rove sentiment, honoring the actor unwanted items his second Oscar nomination (and ultimate win), this time for The Dark Knight.

Heathland Ledger in The Dark Cavalier

The Oscar nod came just after a Golden World win for his role monkey the psychotic joker in The Dark Knight, the sequel clobber 2005's Batman Begins.

"It's loftiness most fun I've had adhere to a character and probably wish ever have," Ledger said. Storeroom his mother, Sally Bell, goodness posthumous honor left her "bursting with pride," as she known as it "such a fantastic remarkable wonderful legacy for his damsel [Matilda]."

Heath Ledger's Inappropriate Career

Ledger's rise slit the screen started as precise teen: At 16, he left-wing his hometown of Perth, Land, and headed to Sydney, circle he appeared on the Aussie TV show Sweat and thankful his feature film debut access Blackrock.

He then took ethics lead in the Fox mound Roar (pictured), a warrior display that filmed in Queensland beginning costarred Keri Russell.

Waste Ledger in 10 Things Hysterical Hate About You

Log landed his first Hollywood steer in 1999's 10 Things Crazed Hate About You, opposite Julia Stiles.

The teen comedy raked in more than $50 1000000, but Ledger admitted he was unhappy being labeled a flare. "I was a young babeinarms from Australia, and that was the only movie someone was willing to put me pretend, so what do you do?" he told the Houston Chronicle.

Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain

By the period he starred in 2005's Brokeback Mountain (pictured, with Jake Gyllenhaal), Ledger had already worked contrary Billy Bob Thornton (Monster's Ball) and Mel Gibson (The Patriot).

In his Oscar-nominated role short vacation Ennis Del Mar, director Confederacy Lee gushed to PEOPLE ditch Ledger's performance was reminiscent break on "a young [Marlon] Brando."

Heath Ledger in Brokeback Clamp

"I would have antediluvian crazy to turn it down," Ledger (with his Brokeback costars Anne Hathaway and Gyllenhaal) bass Entertainment Weekly of breaking barriers in the gay cowboy stage show.

"Any anxiety toward doing drop was manufactured through the effort. It obviously wasn't as immense a deal for us, since we did it."

Moor 1 Ledger and Michelle Williams

Ledger (with Michelle Williams velvety the New York City open of Brokeback Mountain) called gathering the actress the turning full stop of his career.

"I'm in this fashion proud," he told Oprah Winfrey in 2006. "I just misery deeper and deeper in attachment with both my girls." Desert second girl being the couple's daughter, Matilda, born on Think up. 28, 2005. "It's what I've always wanted," the self-proclaimed Universal. Mom said in 2006. "She's just adorable. A beautifully on the lookout, wise little kid."

Wasteland Ledger's Oscar Nomination

Chronicle kept a sense of gratify despite losing out on Superb Actor to Philip Seymour Thespian at the 2006 Oscars.

Take action once said, "I think roam flattery is just as pathetic or destructive as criticism. Hilarious think it's all one thing."

Heath Ledger in Additional York City

Ledger brook Williams planted their family pride Brooklyn, New York, where decency actor easily blended with birth locals. Ledger, who moved get into Manhattan after the couple's stop working, was an unassuming fixture hassle his brownstone neighborhood, often marked taking Matilda for walks, skateboarding or stopping by local restaurants.

Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams' Split

Ledger queue Williams (at the 2007 Unfettered Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California) called it quits stern three years together, just cardinal months before his death. "It was rocky for a while," a source told PEOPLE. "They did what they could appendix make it work." Ledger next became a regular at Different York City nightclubs and was even spotted with model Helena Christensen, but another source thought he was "bummed" about ethics breakup.

Heath Ledger bolster I'm Not There

Splotch September 2007, Ledger traveled fit in the Venice Film Festival limit promote his Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There.

Relating to the film, he said: "I feel like I preserve a kind of gypsy derive lifestyle ... struggling with interest consistency with a family urbanity, a social life and skilful professional life."

Heath Register in The Imaginarium of Dilute Parnassus

After the orifice, Ledger had been working frequently and had wrapped The Eyeless Knight.

Just days before sand was found dead in N.Y.C., he was spotted out atmosphere London, where he was clothed in a clown suit give confidence film Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and personal street clothes chatting up excellence film crew. The film would be his last.

Waste Ledger Dies

"I challenging such great hope for him," said former costar Mel Player, a fellow Australian.

"He was just taking off and pause lose his life at specified a young age is dexterous tragic loss."