Who was Heath Ledger?
Heath Ledger was an Australian actor who won a posthumous Academy Award for playing the Joker in The Dark Knight. He died in New York in January 2008, aged 28.
Ledger was born in Perth in 1979. He began acting in Australian television series, including Home and Away and Roar, before moving to the United States.
He became known for roles in 10 Things I Hate About You in 1999, The Patriot in 2000 and A Knight's Tale in 2001.
Acclaimed performances
In 2005, Ledger starred in Brokeback Mountain, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The film was praised for his sensitive performance.
His portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight, released in 2008, was widely considered one of the greatest villain performances in film history. He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2009 after his death.
Ledger died from an accidental overdose of prescription medications. He was mourned around the world. The Heath Ledger Theatre at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in Perth is named in his honor.