Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger, dead at 28. What a shame! The first movie that I say Heath Ledger in was A Knight’s Tale. This movie is now on my top movie list.

Heath Ledger was born April 4, 1979 in Perth, Western Australia. He and his sister, Kate, were named after two of the characters from Wuthering Heights - Heathcliffe and Catherine. At age ten is starred in a production of Peter Pan at his elementary school. His big Hollywood break came when he starred in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You. Although, I don’t think his dark hair in that movie did him justice.

From 2000 to 2005 he starred in numerous films including The Patriot, A Monster’s Ball, A Knight’s Tale, The Four Feathers, Ned Kelly, The Order and The Brothers Grimm. He would win a few awards for his portrayal of a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain (which I will not see since I think seeing Heath Ledger as a gay man is not for me!).

In 2007, Ledger played on of the many actors to portray Bob Dylan in the newly released I’m Not There. He had just recently finished filming The Dark Knight, a sequel to Batman Begins, where he played the Joker.

Ledger had reportedly confessed that he had trouble sleeping and had been taking sleeping pills. He was found dead in his apartment with a bottle of sleeping pills in the room. The police saw no signs of foul play or intended suicide.

He was a rising young star that will be missed.