Australian actor, Heath Ledger, was born Heathcliff Andrew Ledger on April 4, 1979, in Perth, Western Australia. He got bit by the acting bug early in life, after starring in a school production of Peter Pan when he was 10. After graduating early at the age of 17, Heath Ledger moved to Sydney with a childhood friend. It was here that Ledger began acting professionally, picking up small parts on TV productions. Those parts let to his film debut in the Australian movie, Blackrock in 1999.
It was after that film that Heath Ledger caught the eye of American filmmakers. He starred with Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You, a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play, The Taming of the Shrew. It was this film that lead Ledger to both starring and supporting roles, and he worked steadily until his death. He was in The Patriot (2000), Munster’s Ball (2000), Knight’s Tale (2001), and others. His most controversial and critically acclaimed role cam in 2005 when he played a gay ranch hand opposite Jake Gyllenhall in Brokeback Mountain. The role garnered him a Golden Globe nomination and an Academy Award nomination.
Heath Ledger’s last roles were as the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008). His dark portrayal of the comic book classic villain won him a posthumous Academy Award. Ledger was also starring in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus when he passed away from an accidental prescription overdose. Since the film wasn’t finished, and to honor the work Heath Ledger put into the film, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell finished the film for him.
Heath Ledger passed away on January 22, 2008, at the age of 29. He is survived by his family and one daughter. His net worth is estimated at $16 million
