01of 13Heath Ledger: Gone Too SoonJeff Vespa/WireImage"Heath Ledgerwas a courageous actor, and a great soul," James Schamus, CEO of Focus Features and producer ofBrokeback Mountain,said of the star, who wasfound deadon Jan. 22, 2008, in New York City, at age 28. A year to the day later, Hollywood echoed that sentiment, honoring the actor withhis second Oscar nomination(and ultimate win), this time forThe Dark Knight.
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Heath Ledger: Gone Too Soon
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
“Heath Ledgerwas a courageous actor, and a great soul,” James Schamus, CEO of Focus Features and producer ofBrokeback Mountain,said of the star, who wasfound deadon Jan. 22, 2008, in New York City, at age 28. A year to the day later, Hollywood echoed that sentiment, honoring the actor withhis second Oscar nomination(and ultimate win), this time forThe Dark Knight.
02of 13Heath Ledger in The Dark KnightWarner Bros.The Oscar nod came just aftera Golden Globe winfor his role as the psychotic joker inThe Dark Knight, the sequel to 2005’sBatman Begins. “It’s the most fun I’ve had with a character and probably will ever have,” Ledger said. For his mother, Sally Bell, the posthumous honor left her “bursting with pride,” as she called it “such a fantastic and wonderful legacy for his daughter [Matilda].”
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Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
Warner Bros.
The Oscar nod came just aftera Golden Globe winfor his role as the psychotic joker inThe Dark Knight, the sequel to 2005’sBatman Begins. “It’s the most fun I’ve had with a character and probably will ever have,” Ledger said. For his mother, Sally Bell, the posthumous honor left her “bursting with pride,” as she called it “such a fantastic and wonderful legacy for his daughter [Matilda].”
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Heath Ledger’s Early Career
Kobal/Wireimage
04of 13Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About YouKobal/WireimageLedger landed his first Hollywood lead in 1999’s10 Things I Hate About You, oppositeJulia Stiles. The teen comedy raked in more than $50 million, but Ledger admitted he was unhappy being labeled a heartthrob. “I was a young kid from Australia, and that was the only movie someone was willing to put me in, so what do you do?” he told theHouston Chronicle.
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Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You
Ledger landed his first Hollywood lead in 1999’s10 Things I Hate About You, oppositeJulia Stiles. The teen comedy raked in more than $50 million, but Ledger admitted he was unhappy being labeled a heartthrob. “I was a young kid from Australia, and that was the only movie someone was willing to put me in, so what do you do?” he told theHouston Chronicle.
05of 13Heath Ledger in Brokeback MountainKIMBERLY FRENCH/FOCUS FEATURESBy the time he starred in 2005’sBrokeback Mountain(pictured, withJake Gyllenhaal), Ledger had already worked oppositeBilly Bob Thornton(Monster’s Ball) andMel Gibson(The Patriot). In his Oscar-nominated role of Ennis Del Mar, director Ang Lee gushed to PEOPLE that Ledger’s performance was reminiscent of “a young [Marlon] Brando.”
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Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain
KIMBERLY FRENCH/FOCUS FEATURES
By the time he starred in 2005’sBrokeback Mountain(pictured, withJake Gyllenhaal), Ledger had already worked oppositeBilly Bob Thornton(Monster’s Ball) andMel Gibson(The Patriot). In his Oscar-nominated role of Ennis Del Mar, director Ang Lee gushed to PEOPLE that Ledger’s performance was reminiscent of “a young [Marlon] Brando.”
06of 13Heath Ledger in Brokeback MountainEPA/CLAUDIO/Landov"I would have been crazy to turn it down," Ledger (with hisBrokebackcostarsAnne Hathawayand Gyllenhaal) toldEntertainment Weeklyof breaking barriers in the gay cowboy drama. “Any anxiety toward doing it was manufactured through the industry. It obviously wasn’t as big a deal for us, because we did it.”
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EPA/CLAUDIO/Landov
“I would have been crazy to turn it down,” Ledger (with hisBrokebackcostarsAnne Hathawayand Gyllenhaal) toldEntertainment Weeklyof breaking barriers in the gay cowboy drama. “Any anxiety toward doing it was manufactured through the industry. It obviously wasn’t as big a deal for us, because we did it.”
07of 13Heath Ledger and Michelle WilliamsJim Spellman/WireImageLedger (withMichelle Williamsat the New York City premiere ofBrokeback Mountain) called meeting the actress the turning point of his career. “I’m so proud,” he toldOprah Winfreyin 2006. “I just fall deeper and deeper in love with both my girls.” That second girl being the couple’s daughter,Matilda, born on Oct. 28, 2005. “It’s what I’ve always wanted,” the self-proclaimed Mr. Mom said in 2006. “She’s just adorable. A beautifully observant, wise little kid.”
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Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams
Jim Spellman/WireImage
Ledger (withMichelle Williamsat the New York City premiere ofBrokeback Mountain) called meeting the actress the turning point of his career. “I’m so proud,” he toldOprah Winfreyin 2006. “I just fall deeper and deeper in love with both my girls.” That second girl being the couple’s daughter,Matilda, born on Oct. 28, 2005. “It’s what I’ve always wanted,” the self-proclaimed Mr. Mom said in 2006. “She’s just adorable. A beautifully observant, wise little kid.”
08of 13Heath Ledger’s Oscar NominationHeath Ledger and Michelle Williams.Chris Polk/FilmMagicLedger kept a sense of humor despite losing out on Best Actor toPhilip Seymour Hoffmanat the 2006 Oscars. He once said, “I think that flattery is just as dangerous or destructive as criticism. I think it’s all one thing.”
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Heath Ledger’s Oscar Nomination
Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams.Chris Polk/FilmMagic
Ledger kept a sense of humor despite losing out on Best Actor toPhilip Seymour Hoffmanat the 2006 Oscars. He once said, “I think that flattery is just as dangerous or destructive as criticism. I think it’s all one thing.”
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Heath Ledger in New York City
James Devaney/WireImage
10of 13Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams' SplitJeff Kravitz/FilmMagicLedger and Williams (at the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California) called it quits after three years together, just five months before his death. “It was rocky for a while,” a source told PEOPLE. “They did what they could to make it work.” Ledger later became a regular at New York City nightclubs and was even spotted with modelHelena Christensen, but another source said he was “bummed” about the breakup.
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Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams' Split
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Ledger and Williams (at the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California) called it quits after three years together, just five months before his death. “It was rocky for a while,” a source told PEOPLE. “They did what they could to make it work.” Ledger later became a regular at New York City nightclubs and was even spotted with modelHelena Christensen, but another source said he was “bummed” about the breakup.
11of 13Heath Ledger in I’m Not ThereJustin GoffUK Press via GettyIn September 2007, Ledger traveled to the Venice Film Festival to promote his Bob Dylan biopicI’m Not There.Relating to the film, he said: “I feel like I live a kind of gypsy type lifestyle … struggling with keeping consistency with a family life, a social life and a professional life.”
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Heath Ledger in I’m Not There
Justin GoffUK Press via Getty
In September 2007, Ledger traveled to the Venice Film Festival to promote his Bob Dylan biopicI’m Not There.Relating to the film, he said: “I feel like I live a kind of gypsy type lifestyle … struggling with keeping consistency with a family life, a social life and a professional life.”
12of 13Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor ParnassusParnassus Production/Kobal/ShutterstockAfter the split, Ledger had been working often and had wrappedThe Dark Knight. Just days before he was found dead in N.Y.C., he was spotted out in London, where he was dressed in a clown suit to film Terry Gilliam’sThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,and in street clothes chatting up the film crew. The film would be his last.
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Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Parnassus Production/Kobal/Shutterstock
After the split, Ledger had been working often and had wrappedThe Dark Knight. Just days before he was found dead in N.Y.C., he was spotted out in London, where he was dressed in a clown suit to film Terry Gilliam’sThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,and in street clothes chatting up the film crew. The film would be his last.
13of 13Heath Ledger DiesRamey"I had such great hope for him," said former costar Mel Gibson, a fellow Australian. “He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss.”
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Heath Ledger Dies
Ramey
“I had such great hope for him,” said former costar Mel Gibson, a fellow Australian. “He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss.”
source: people.com
