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{{Current-section|date=January 2008}}
{{Current-section|date=January 2008}}
{{wikinews|Australian actor Heath Ledger found dead in New York City}}
{{wikinews|Australian actor Heath Ledger found dead in New York City}}
Ledger was found dead in his fourth floor apartment at 421 Broome Street <ref>[http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/actor-heath-ledger-is-found-dead/ Heath Ledger, Actor, Is Found Dead at 28]. ''[[New York Times]]''. Retrieved on [[January 22]], [[2008]].</ref><!--Reports that it was Mary-Kate Olsen's apartment have been retracted. Please do not add this incorrect data to this article--><ref name="deathyahoo">{{cite news|last=Hays|first=Tom|title=Heath Ledger found dead in NYC at age 28|publisher=Associated Press|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_on_en_mo/obit_ledger|date=2008-01-22|accessdate=2008-01-22}}</ref> in the [[SoHo]] neighborhood of [[New York City]] on [[January 22]], [[2008]]. Ledger's body was found at 3:26 p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EST]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7203797.stm Heath Ledger found dead]. [[BBC]] News. Retrieved [[January 22]], [[2008]].</ref> by a housekeeper and a massage therapist, who entered the bedroom to find him face down, naked, and unconscious at the foot of his bed with [[sedative|sleeping pills]] on a nearby night table.<ref name="MSNBC">{{cite web| url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22788914/?GT1=10755| title=Heath Ledger Found Dead in NYC Apartment| publisher=[[MSNBC]]| date=[[January 22]], [[2008]]| accessdate=2008-01-22}}</ref> Police found more prescription medication in the bathroom but did not find any illegal drugs.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/movies/23cnd-ledger.html?ex=1358744400&en=cbb47a73f08726f5&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Heath Ledger, Actor, Is Found Dead at 28]. ''[[New York Times]]''. Retrieved on [[January 22]], [[2008]].</ref>
Ledger was found dead in his fourth floor apartment at 421 Broome Street <ref name="NYTChan">{{cite web | url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/actor-heath-ledger-is-found-dead/ | author=Sewell Chan | title=The death of Heath Ledger | publisher=''[[New York Times]]''| date=2008-01-22 | accessdate=2008-01-22}}</ref><!--Reports that it was Mary-Kate Olsen's apartment have been retracted. Please do not add this incorrect data to this article--><ref name="AP">{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/22/AR2008012202944.html | title=Heath Ledger Found Dead in NYC at Age 28 | author=Tom Hays | publisher=''Associated Press'' | date=2008-01-22 | accessdate=2008-01-22}}</ref> in the [[SoHo]] neighborhood of [[New York City]] on [[January 22]], [[2008]]. Ledger's body was found at 3:26 p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EST]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7203797.stm Heath Ledger found dead]. [[BBC]] News. Retrieved [[January 22]], [[2008]].</ref> by a housekeeper and a massage therapist, who entered the bedroom to find him face down, naked, and unconscious at the foot of his bed with [[sedative|sleeping pills]] on a nearby night table.<ref name="MSNBC">{{cite web| url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22788914/?GT1=10755| title=Heath Ledger Found Dead in NYC Apartment| publisher=[[MSNBC]]| date=[[January 22]], [[2008]]| accessdate=2008-01-22}}</ref> Police found more prescription medication in the bathroom but did not find any illegal drugs.<ref name="NYTBarron">{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/movies/23ledger.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin | title=Heath Ledger, Actor, Is Found Dead at 28 | author=James Barron | publisher= ''The New York Times'' | date=2008-01-23 | accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref> In the weeks before his death, Ledger is reported to having been taking [[Ambien]], a sleeping tablet that has reportedly caused bizarre behavior and deaths.<ref name="smh">{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/ledger-taking-us-version-of-stilnox/2008/01/23/1201024963795.html | title=Ledger 'taking US version of Stilnox' | author=Edmund Tadros and Kate Benson | publisher=''The Sydney Morning Herald'' | date=2008-01-23 | accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref> The New York Police Department spokesman said that there were "no obvious signs" of suicide, and that they did not suspect foul play.<ref name="AP" /><ref name="NYTBarron" />


On [[January 23]], [[2008]], in [[Time in Australia|Western Australian time]], Ledger's father Kim Ledger, mother Sally Ledger-Bell and sister Katie Ledger appeared outside Ledger's mother's house in Applecross at 10:50am, when Mr. Ledger read a short statement to the media. "We, Heath's family, confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda, who was found in a peaceful sleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30pm (New York Time)," he said. "We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their kind wishes at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life, but few had the pleasure to truly know him. He was a down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and unselfish individual who was an extreme inspiration to many. Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23096240-5001021,00.html Heath Ledger loved life, family tell] ''[[Daily Telegraph (Australia)]]''. Retrieved on [[January 22]], [[2008]].</ref>
On [[January 23]], [[2008]], in [[Time in Australia|Western Australian time]], Ledger's father Kim Ledger, mother Sally Ledger-Bell and sister Katie Ledger appeared outside Ledger's mother's house in Applecross at 10:50am, when Mr. Ledger read a short statement to the media. "We, Heath's family, confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda, who was found in a peaceful sleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30pm (New York Time)," he said. "We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their kind wishes at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life, but few had the pleasure to truly know him. He was a down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and unselfish individual who was an extreme inspiration to many. Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23096240-5001021,00.html Heath Ledger loved life, family tell] ''[[Daily Telegraph (Australia)]]''. Retrieved on [[January 22]], [[2008]].</ref>

Revision as of 05:13, 23 January 2008

Heath Ledger
Ledger at the New York City premiere of I'm Not There
Born
Heathcliff Andrew Ledger
PartnerMichelle Williams (2005-07)
AwardsNYFCC Award For Best Actor
2005 Brokeback Mountain

Heathcliff Andrew Ledger (April 4 1979 – January 22 2008) was an Academy Award-nominated Australian actor. After appearing in television roles during the 1990s, Ledger developed a Hollywood career. He starred in both critical and financial successes, including The Patriot, Monster's Ball, and Brokeback Mountain, and completed the role of The Joker in the forthcoming The Dark Knight. Ledger died in New York City on January 22, 2008 from a suspected overdose due to the pills found in the vicinity.[1]

Early life and family

Ledger was born in Perth, Western Australia, the son of Sally Ledger Bell (née Ramshaw),[2] a French teacher, and Kim Ledger, a race car driver and mining engineer.[3] Ledger's mother is descended from the Clan Campbell of Scotland and his father comes from a family known in Perth for their ownership of the Ledger Engineering Foundry.[4] Heath (Heathcliff) and his sister Katherine were named after the two main characters in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. The Sir Frank Ledger Charitable Trust was named after his great-grandfather.[5] Ledger attended Marys Mount Primary School, in Gooseberry Hill, and later Guildford Grammar School and Guildford Grammar Preparatory School.

Career

Early career

At sixteen, Ledger sat for early graduation exams, and left school to pursue an acting career[6] with girlfriend Jenna Sorrell. With his best friend, Trevor DiCarlo, Ledger made the cross-country drive to Sydney. He returned to Perth for the TV series Sweat (1996), in which he played a gay cyclist.

Heath Ledger as Ennis del Mar

In 1996, prior to his film debut in the 1997 Australian movie Blackrock, Heath Ledger was involved in the short lived Fox Broadcasting Company fantasy-drama Roar. In 1999, Ledger starred in the teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You and also had the lead role in the acclaimed Australian movie Two Hands, directed by Gregor Jordan.

2000–2008

He starred in The Patriot, Monster's Ball, A Knight's Tale, The Four Feathers, Ned Kelly, The Order, and The Brothers Grimm. In 2001, he won a ShoWest Award for the Male Star of Tomorrow based on his performance in The Patriot, and worldwide release of A Knight's Tale. In 2003, he was named one of Australian GQ's Men of the Year for acting.

In 2005, Ledger received a Best Actor in a Drama Golden Globe nomination for his acclaimed performance in Brokeback Mountain, in which he plays Wyoming ranch hand Ennis Del Mar, who has a love affair with aspiring rodeo rider Jack Twist, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. In the New York Times review of the film, critic Stephen Holden wrote:

"Both Mr. Ledger and Mr. Gyllenhaal make this anguished love story physically palpable. Mr. Ledger magically and mysteriously disappears beneath the skin of his lean, sinewy character. It is a screen performance, as good as the best of Marlon Brando and Sean Penn."[7]

In another review in Rolling Stone, Peter Travers wrote:

"Ledger's magnificent performance is an acting miracle. He seems to tear it from his insides. Ledger doesn't just know how Ennis moves, speaks and listens; he knows how he breathes. To see him inhale the scent of a shirt hanging in Jack's closet is to take measure of the pain of love lost."[8]

Ledger received "Best Actor of 2005" awards for Brokeback Mountain from both the New York Film Critics Circle and the San Francisco Film Critics Circle. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance. In the same year, Ledger played a fictionalized version of Giacomo Casanova in Casanova. The film, a romantic comedy which co-starred Sienna Miller, drew mixed reviews from critics and failed to find a significant audience among general moviegoers.

In 2006, Ledger was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[9] In 2007, he was one of six actors to portray different sides of singer Bob Dylan in the film I'm Not There.

On July 21, 2006, Ledger was officially confirmed to play iconic comic book villain The Joker in The Dark Knight, the sequel to the 2005 film Batman Begins, opposite fellow I'm Not There star Christian Bale. The film is set to debut on July 18, 2008.[10]

The film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, in which he had been cast, was in production at the time of his death.

Music

Ledger started a record company with singer Ben Harper. His first step in the music business was directing Harper's music video for "Morning Yearning". In 2006, Ledger directed three music videos: "Cause an Effect" and "Seduction Is Evil (She's Hot)" for Australian hip-hop artist N'fa, as well as "Morning Yearning" for Ben Harper.

Public image

Press reception

Ledger had a turbulent relationship with paparazzi photographers. It is alleged that he spat at and assaulted a photographer in Sydney in 2004, while a relative also is alleged to have spat on a photographer in 2005. Ledger strongly denied the accusation.[11] On January 13, 2006, several photographers retaliated, squirting Ledger with water pistols as he walked the red carpet for the Sydney premiere of Brokeback Mountain.

Ledger was also subject to criticism in the press following his performance on stage at the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Ledger was seen giggling when presenting Brokeback Mountain as a nominee for Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The Los Angeles Times described his behavior as "some kind of gay spoof."[11] Ledger later called the Times to explain that his actions were the result of stage fright, saying that he was only told he would be presenting the award minutes beforehand. "I am so sorry and I apologize for my nervousness," Ledger told the newspaper.[12]

Ledger also came under fire after he was quoted in January 2006 in Australia's Herald Sun as saying that West Virginia had banned Brokeback Mountain (which it had not). He also referred to the state as having had lynchings as recently as the 1980s. These statements have been roundly disputed by archivists and historians, who have found that the last extra-legal public hanging in West Virginia occurred in 1931.[13]

Personal life

Ledger had a relationship with Naomi Watts, whom he met in 2002 during the filming of Ned Kelly. They started dating in August 2002. The couple ended their relationship in April 2004.[14] Previously, he had dated actresses Lisa Zane and Heather Graham.

Ledger was engaged to actress Michelle Williams, whom he met on the set of Brokeback Mountain.[15][16] Their daughter, Matilda Rose, was born on October 28, 2005 in New York City. The child's godparents are Ledger's Brokeback costar Jake Gyllenhaal and Williams' Dawson's Creek castmate Busy Phillips.

Ledger and his family divided their time between Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Sydney.[2] Ledger sold his Australian residence in Bronte, New South Wales, for A$7 million.[17][18]

In August 2007, Us Weekly reported that Ledger and Williams ended their relationship because of their busy schedules. Neither Ledger nor Williams had confirmed the rumor at that time.[19] On September 4, 2007, Williams' father, Larry, confirmed to Sydney Daily Telegraph that Ledger and Williams had indeed split.[20]

In early 2008, Ledger was reported to have been seeing model Gemma Ward after media articles linked the two together at end of 2007 holiday celebrations.[21]

Death

Wikinews has related news:

Ledger was found dead in his fourth floor apartment at 421 Broome Street [22][23] in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City on January 22, 2008. Ledger's body was found at 3:26 p.m. EST[24] by a housekeeper and a massage therapist, who entered the bedroom to find him face down, naked, and unconscious at the foot of his bed with sleeping pills on a nearby night table.[25] Police found more prescription medication in the bathroom but did not find any illegal drugs.[26] In the weeks before his death, Ledger is reported to having been taking Ambien, a sleeping tablet that has reportedly caused bizarre behavior and deaths.[27] The New York Police Department spokesman said that there were "no obvious signs" of suicide, and that they did not suspect foul play.[23][26]

On January 23, 2008, in Western Australian time, Ledger's father Kim Ledger, mother Sally Ledger-Bell and sister Katie Ledger appeared outside Ledger's mother's house in Applecross at 10:50am, when Mr. Ledger read a short statement to the media. "We, Heath's family, confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda, who was found in a peaceful sleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30pm (New York Time)," he said. "We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their kind wishes at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life, but few had the pleasure to truly know him. He was a down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and unselfish individual who was an extreme inspiration to many. Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."[28]

In reaction to his death, former partner Michelle Williams was reported as saying that she was "devastated" at the loss and had boarded a plane to New York City. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd released a statement saying, "It was with great sadness that I have learned of the passing of Heath Ledger... It is tragic that we have lost one of our nation's finest actors in the prime of his life."[29]

Filmography

Films
Year Titel Role Other notes
1997 Paws Oberon
Blackrock Toby
1999 10 Things I Hate About You Patrick Verona
Two Hands Jimmy AFI Award nominee (Best Actor in a Leading Role)
2000 The Patriot Gabriel Martin
2001 Monster's Ball Sonny Grotowski
A Knight's Tale Sir William Thatcher/Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein of Gelderland
2002 The Four Feathers Harry Faversham
2003 The Order Alex Bernier
Ned Kelly Ned Kelly AFI Award nominee (Best Actor in a Leading Role)
2005 Casanova Giacomo Casanova
Brokeback Mountain Ennis del Mar Academy Award nominee (Best Lead Actor)
Golden Globe nominee (Best Lead Actor - Drama)
BAFTA Award nominee (Best Lead Actor)
SAG nominee (Best Lead Actor, Best Ensemble Cast)
AFI Award (Best Lead Actor)
The Brothers Grimm Jacob Grimm
Lords of Dogtown Skip Engblom
2006 Candy Dan AFI Award nominee (Best Actor in a Leading Role)
IF Award nominee (Best Actor)
FCCA Award nominee (Best Actor)
2007 I'm Not There. Robbie Clark
2008 The Dark Knight The Joker post-production
Tree of Life never completed
2009 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in production at time of death
Television
1992 Clowning Around
1997 Home and Away Scott Irwin
Roar Conor
1996 Sweat Snowy Bowles

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ^ Actor Heath Ledger is found dead. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved on 23 January, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Heathbaby.com
  3. ^ Heath Ledger Biography (1979-)
  4. ^ BANKS, Frederick & Annie, Western Australian Museum.
  5. ^ HEATH LEDGER BIOGRAPHY
  6. ^ Transcript. Rolling Stone interview.| month=March| year=2006
  7. ^ Holden, Stephen (December 9, 2005). "Brokeback Mountain - Riding the High Country, Finding and Losing Love". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Travers, Peter (December 1, 2005). "Brokeback Mountain". Review. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Academy Invites 120 to Membership". Press Release. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. July 5, 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Heath Ledger? It's TRUE". NEWS ARCHIVES 47. BATMAN ON FILM. July 21, 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ a b Snead, Elizabeth (February 3, 2006). "Heath explains his SAG giggles". Styles & Scenes. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Ledger in damage control". The Age. February 12, 2005. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "When'd we stop stringing 'em up in West Virginia?". January 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Gary Susman (October 1, 2003). "Naomi Watts and Heath Ledger split". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Kiki King, Eva Simpson & Caroline Hedley (March 3, 2006). "THE HEATH IS ON". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Eva Simpson & Caroline Hedley (January 24, 2007). "MICHELLE MARRIES HEATH LEDGER". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Ledger hopes for $3m profit on beach house". The Age. February 11, 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ Saurine, Angela (15 April, 2006). "Why the rich are kings of the castle". The Daily Telegraph @ realestate.com.au. Retrieved 2007-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ Heath Ledger Michelle Williams Break Up
  20. ^ "Williams Father Confirms Ledger Split"
  21. ^ Heath Ledger and Gemma Ward are 'dating'
  22. ^ Sewell Chan (2008-01-22). "The death of Heath Ledger". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ a b Tom Hays (2008-01-22). "Heath Ledger Found Dead in NYC at Age 28". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Heath Ledger found dead. BBC News. Retrieved January 22, 2008.
  25. ^ "Heath Ledger Found Dead in NYC Apartment". MSNBC. January 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ a b James Barron (2008-01-23). "Heath Ledger, Actor, Is Found Dead at 28". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ Edmund Tadros and Kate Benson (2008-01-23). "Ledger 'taking US version of Stilnox'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ Heath Ledger loved life, family tell Daily Telegraph (Australia). Retrieved on January 22, 2008.
  29. ^ "Ledger's death a tragic accident: family". ninemsn. January 23, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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