Although the short-lived series
Roar introduced this hunky actor to American audiences (as well as his ex-girlfriend, costar Lisa Zane), this Aussie player was already well-known in his homeland. His winning turn as a witty rebel with a full head of sexy locks in 1999's
10 Things I Hate About You made him a teen heartthrob, and Hollywood earmarked him as the next big thing. Yet after a couple of blockbusters — the American Revolution drama
The Patriot and the medieval action fest
A Knight's Tale — his star receded in a string of pricey high-profile flops (including
The Four Feathers and
Ned Kelly, which introduced him to ex-girlfriend Naomi Watts). By the mid-2000s Ledger's career was on the rocks, although his on-again, off-again relationship with the more mature Watts kept him in the tabloids. In 2005 he seemed to be getting back on track, both personally and professionally: Not only did he win rave reviews as well as Golden Globe and Oscar nods for his compelling performance as a gay cowboy in the critically and commercially successful
Brokeback Mountain, he also fathered a baby girl with his costar-cum-fiancée Michelle Williams. Although that relationship ended in 2007, fans assumed he was riding high and looking forward to the 2008 release of
The Dark Knight, in which he played The Joker opposite Christian Bale's Batman. His promising career was cut short, however, when in January of '08, the 28-year-old was found dead in his Manhattan bedroom of what was ruled an accidental drug overdose.
Heath Ledger Fast Facts:
- He and his sister are named after the central characters in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff and Catherine.
- Has "Kaos" tattooed on his wrist, the combined initials of his sisters and mother (Kate, Ashleigh, Olivia and Sally).
- Listed as one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2001.
- Replaced his Four Feathers (2002) costar Wes Bentley in the role of Sonny in Monster's Ball (2001).
- Played a gay cyclist in the Australian TV series Sweat (1996) nine years before his acclaimed portrayal of a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.
- Before becoming involved with Michelle Williams, he had a thing for older actresses. His ex-girlfriends include Heather Graham (nine years his senior), Naomi Watts (11 years) and Lisa Zane (18 years).
- Heath Ledger Relationships:
- Ashleigh Bell - Half Sister
- Catherine Ledger - Sister
- Kim Ledger - Father
- Matilda Rose Ledger - Daughter
- Olivia Ledger - Half Sister
- Roger Bell - Stepfather
- Sally Bell - Mother
- Ines Ledger - Stepmother
- Naomi Watts - Ex-significant Other
- Michelle Williams - Ex-fiancée
- Heather Graham - Ex-significant Other
- Heath Ledger Awards:
- 2006 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama - Nominee
- 2005 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
