Heath Ledger

Heath Andrew Ledger (4 April 1979 – 22 January 2008) was an Australian actor. Known for his versatility across independent and major studio films, his work consisted of 20 films in a variety of genres. His accolades included an Academy Award, an Actor Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award. After playing roles in Australian television and film productions during the 1990s, he moved to the United States in 1998 to further develop his film career.

His film breakthrough came as the lead in the romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You (1999). He gained further recognition for his roles in films such as Two Hands (1999), The Patriot (2000), A Knight's Tale (2001), Monster's Ball (2001), Ned Kelly (2003), and Lords of Dogtown (2005). For his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain (2005), he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

He also starred in Candy (2006) and portrayed a composite of Bob Dylan's life and persona in Todd Haynes's I'm Not There (2007). In January 2008, Ledger died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. Several months before his death, he had finished filming his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008), which later became his first posthumous release. His performance received widespread media attention and critical acclaim, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

It has since been regarded as one of the greatest villain performances in film history. His final film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, was posthumously released in 2009.