Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Heath Ledger
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Heath Ledger made an impact.
Heath Ledger was an Australian actor who gained international recognition for his diverse roles in a relatively short career. Beginning in Australian television, he transitioned to Hollywood in 1998. He starred in films like '10 Things I Hate About You,' 'The Patriot,' and 'A Knight's Tale,' before receiving critical acclaim for his performances in 'Brokeback Mountain' and, posthumously, as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight,' for which he won an Academy Award. Ledger also had aspirations as a director, producing and directing music videos before his untimely death in 2008.
1991: Clowning Around Role
In 1991, Heath Ledger took a small role in "Clowning Around", the first part of a two-part television series.
1993: Role in Ship to Shore
From 1993, Heath Ledger had parts in the Perth television series "Ship to Shore".
1996: Role in Sweat
In 1996, Heath Ledger worked on the TV series "Sweat", where he played a cyclist.
1997: Roles in Roar, Home and Away, and Blackrock
In 1997, Heath Ledger had roles in "Roar", "Home and Away", and "Blackrock", his feature film debut.
1998: Move to the United States
In 1998, Heath Ledger moved to the United States from Australia to further his film career.
1999: Starring roles in films
In 1999, Heath Ledger starred in "10 Things I Hate About You" and "Two Hands".
1999: 10 Things I Hate About You
In 1999, Heath Ledger starred in "10 Things I Hate About You".
2000: Role in The Patriot
In 2000, Heath Ledger played Gabriel Martin in "The Patriot".
2001: Roles in Monster's Ball and A Knight's Tale
In 2001, Heath Ledger had supporting roles in "Monster's Ball" and leading roles in "A Knight's Tale".
2001: A Knight's Tale and Monster's Ball Films
In 2001, Heath Ledger's career included roles in "A Knight's Tale" and "Monster's Ball".
2002: Role in The Four Feathers
In 2002, Heath Ledger starred in "The Four Feathers".
2003: Roles in The Order and Ned Kelly
In 2003, Heath Ledger starred in "The Order" and "Ned Kelly".
2005: Roles in Casanova, The Brothers Grimm, and Lords of Dogtown
In 2005, Heath Ledger had leading roles in "Casanova", "The Brothers Grimm", and "Lords of Dogtown".
2005: Awards for Brokeback Mountain
In 2005, Heath Ledger received 'Best Actor' awards from the New York Film Critics Circle and the San Francisco Film Critics Circle for his performance in "Brokeback Mountain". He was also nominated for a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA Award, and an Academy Award.
2005: Casanova, Lords of Dogtown, and Brokeback Mountain Films
In 2005, Heath Ledger starred in the films "Casanova", "Lords of Dogtown", and "Brokeback Mountain".
2006: Directing Music Videos and Launching The Masses Music
In 2006, Heath Ledger directed music videos for N'fa and Ben Harper and inaugurated his record label, The Masses Music, with Ben Harper.
2006: Candy Film Release
In 2006, Heath Ledger starred in "Candy", an Australian film about young heroin addicts. He received nominations for 'Best Actor' awards for his performance in the film.
September 2007: Bumbershoot Festival Showing
In September 2007, Heath Ledger's music video set to Nick Drake's 'Black Eyed Dog' was shown at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle.
October 2007: Ledger completes work on The Dark Knight
In October 2007, Heath Ledger completed his work on "The Dark Knight". Director Christopher Nolan described editing the film after Ledger's passing as tremendously emotional but felt lucky to have a performance Ledger was proud of, and Nolan added no digital effects to alter Ledger's actual posthumous performance.
October 2007: Screening at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
In October 2007, Ledger's music video for Nick Drake's 'Black Eyed Dog' was screened at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
November 2007: Insomnia due to Joker role
In an interview published in The New York Times on November 4, 2007, Heath Ledger spoke about his insomnia, which was exacerbated by his role as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" (2008). He mentioned sleeping an average of two hours a night and resorting to two Ambien pills when one wasn't effective, but still finding his mind racing.
2007: Role in I'm Not There
In 2007, Heath Ledger played Robbie Clark in Todd Haynes' film "I'm Not There", portraying one of six characters representing aspects of Bob Dylan's life.
2007: I'm Not There Film
In 2007, Heath Ledger starred in "I'm Not There".
2007: Todd Haynes compares Ledger to James Dean
In 2007, director Todd Haynes compared Heath Ledger's presence to James Dean, casting Ledger as Robbie Clarke, a fictive personification of Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There." Haynes noted Ledger's "precocious seriousness" and intuition, considering him mature beyond his years.
January 2008: Death and Completion of The Dark Knight Role
In January 2008, Heath Ledger completed filming his role as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" shortly before his death. His performance was highly praised and led to posthumous awards.
February 2008: Depp, Law, and Farrell Join "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
In February 2008, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell joined Terry Gilliam's film "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" to take over Heath Ledger's role as a memorial tribute. The three actors donated their fees to Ledger's daughter.
July 2008: Release of The Dark Knight
In July 2008, "The Dark Knight" was released, breaking box office records and receiving critical acclaim, especially for Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker. Critics praised Ledger's performance as both sinister and mesmerizing, dispelling speculations that it led to his death.
2008: The Dark Knight Movie
In 2008, Heath Ledger starred as the Joker in "The Dark Knight", a role which caused him insomnia.
2008: Nomination prediction for Academy Award
In 2008, film critics, co-stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Caine, and Ledger's peers predicted and called for a nomination for the 2008 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in recognition of Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight.
August 2009: "King Rat" Video Premiere
On August 4, 2009, Heath Ledger's animated music video for Modest Mouse's song "King Rat" premiered posthumously.
2009: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Release
In 2009, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" was released posthumously, featuring Heath Ledger.
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