Global InformationHeath Ledger information
Heath Ledger | |
|---|---|
 Ledger at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival | |
| Born | Heath Andrew Ledger 4 April 1979 Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Died | 22 January 2008 (aged 28) New York City, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Acute combined drug intoxication |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1992–2008 |
| Partner | Michelle Williams (2004–2007) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Signature | |
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Heath Andrew Ledger (4 April 1979 – 22 January 2008) was an Australian actor. After playing roles in several Australian television and film productions during the 1990s, he moved to the United States in 1998 to further develop his film career. His work consisted of 20 films in a variety of genres, including 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), The Patriot (2000), A Knight's Tale (2001), Monster's Ball (2001), Casanova (2005), Lords of Dogtown (2005), Brokeback Mountain (2005), Candy (2006), I'm Not There (2007), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009), the latter two of which were posthumously released.[1] He also produced and directed music videos and aspired to be a film director.[2]
For his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain, he received nominations for the BAFTA Award,[3] Screen Actors Guild Award, Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Actor, becoming the eighth-youngest nominee in the category at that time.[4] In 2007, he played a fictional actor, Robbie Clark, one of six characters embodying aspects of Bob Dylan's life and persona in Todd Haynes' I'm Not There.[5]
Ledger died in January 2008[6][4] from an accidental overdose as a result of prescription drug abuse.[7][8][9] A few months before his death, he finished filming his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight; the performance brought him universal acclaim and popularity, and numerous posthumous awards including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.[10][3][11]
- ^ "Heath Ledger". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Dawtreywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Awards Database". bafta.org. British Academy of Film and Television Awards. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
- ^ a b Savage, Michael (23 January 2008). "Heath Ledger: The Times Obituary". The Times. UK. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
- ^ "Heath Ledger Honored at Independent Spirit Awards". Entertainment Tonight. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
- ^ Barron, James (23 January 2008). "Heath Ledger, actor, Is Found Dead at 28". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ Chan, Sewell and James Barron (contributing) (6 February 2008). "City Room: Heath Ledger's Death Is Ruled an Accident". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ "Ledger's Death Caused by Accidental Overdose". CNN. 6 February 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ "Heath Ledger Died of Accidental Overdose: 28-Year-Old Actor Had Oxycodone, Anti-Anxiety, Sleep Aids in His System". Today.com. 6 February 2008. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
- ^ "Golden Globes: Heath Ledger's Family 'So Proud' of Globe Nod". People. 11 December 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
- ^ Halbfinger, David M. (9 March 2008). "Batman's Burden: A Director Confronts Darkness and Death". The New York Times. pp. 1, 16. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2021.