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Heath Ledger Biography

Birth Name:Heathcliff Andrew Ledger

Birth Place:Perth, Australia

Profession Actor, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Helped raise $101,000 for Variety, the Children's Charity, by auctioning off the shirts he wore in "Brokeback Mountain․"
Was nominated for the 2006 IF Award for best actor for his work in "Candy․"
Is the brother to actress Kate Ledger
Is the son of French teacher Sally Ramshaw and racecar driver Kim Ledger
Became interested in acting when he was forced to participate in either a drama or cooking class in junior high
Sat for his graduation exams halfway through eleventh grade in order to pursue an acting career
Quote: "I like to do something I fear․ I like to set up obstacles and defeat them․ I like to be afraid of the project․ I always am․"
A noted method actor, he was known for completely immersing himself in his roles
Once owned a pet kangaroo that his mother found when he was a child
Was the original choice to portray the lead role in "Alexander․"
Directed the music video "Seduction is Evil (She's Hot)" by N'fa in 2006
Turned down a role in "Australia" to portray the Joker in "The Dark Knight․"
Won the Western Australia junior chess championship at the age of 10
Was named after one of the main characters in "Wuthering Heights․"

Awards

1997YoungStar Award-Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film: nominated
1998YoungStar Award-Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama TV Series: nominated
1999AFI Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1999OFTA Film Award-Best Youth Performance: nominated
1999Teen Choice Award-Film - Sexiest Love Scene: nominated
1999YoungStar Award-Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film: nominated
2000FCCA Award-Best Actor - Male: nominated
2000MTV Movie Award-Best Musical Performance: nominated
2000Young Artist Award-Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor: nominated
2000YoungStar Award-Best Young Actor/Performance in a Motion Picture Drama: nominated
2001Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Male - Newcomer: winner
2001Teen Choice Award-Film - Choice Chemistry: nominated
2001Teen Choice Award-Film - Choice Actor: nominated
2001Teen Choice Award-Film - Choice Fight Scene: nominated
2001Young Artist Award-Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor: nominated
2002MTV Movie Award-Best Kiss: nominated
2002MTV Movie Award-Best Musical Sequence: nominated
2003AFI Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2003FCCA Award-Best Actor - Male: nominated
2005ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2005ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2005BSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: nominated
2005Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: nominated
2005Sierra Award-Best Actor: winner
2005LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2005PFCS Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2005SFFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2005Satellite Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
2005SEFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005SLFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2005Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Actor: Action Adventure/Thriller: nominated
2005UFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005VVFP Award-Best Performance: winner
2005WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2006AFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006AFI International Award-Best Actor: winner
2006AFI Award-Best Lead Actor: nominated
2006BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2006COFCA Award-Actor of the Year: winner
2006COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2006COFCA Award-Best Lead Performance: winner
2006CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006DFCC-Best Actor: nominated
2006FCCA Award-Best Actor in a Lead Role: nominated
2006Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
2006Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2006Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
2006Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2006IF Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006ICS Award-Best Actor: winner
2006INOCA-Best Actor: winner
2006ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2006MTV Movie Award-Best Kiss: winner
2006NRJ Ciné Award-Best Kiss (Meilleur baiser): nominated
2006NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2006OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006Breakthrough Performance of the Year Award-: winner
2006VFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2007Best Actor-: winner
2008AAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008EDA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008EDA Special Mention Award-Unforgettable Moment: winner
2008AFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008AFI International Award-Best Actor: winner
2008ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2008ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
2008BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008DFCC-Best Actor: nominated
2008Robert Altman Award-: winner
2008FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actor of the Year: winner
2008HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008ICP Award-Best Supporting Performance: winner
2008KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2008NYFCO Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008OFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008PFCS Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2008SFX Award-Best Film Actor: winner
2008SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008SFFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2008SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Rumble: winner
2008TFCA Award-Best Supporting Performance, Male: winner
2008UFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008VVFP Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2009Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2009BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009COFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2009Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2009Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2009Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor: winner
2009Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: winner
2009ICS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009INOCA-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009IOFCP Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009IFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009IOMA-Best Supporting Actor (Miglior attore non protagonista): winner
2009Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: winner
2009ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2009MTV Movie Award-Best Villain: winner
2009MTV Movie Award-Best Fight: nominated
2009NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2009NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009People's Choice Award-Favorite Cast: winner
2009People's Choice Award-Favorite On-Screen Match-Up: winner
2009Rembrandt Award-Best International Actor (Beste Buitenlandse Acteur): winner
2009Audience Award-Best Foreign Actor (Melhor Ator Estrangeiro): winner
2009VFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2010Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor of the Decade: winner
2010Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor of the Decade: nominated
2012ACCA-Best Supporting Actor of the Decade: winner
2012ACCA-Best Actor of the Decade: nominated
2022OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Character: winner