History of Heath Ledger in Timeline
Heath Ledger was an Australian actor who gained international recognition for his diverse roles in films such as "10 Things I Hate About You", "The Patriot", and "A Knight's Tale". His career reached a critical peak with "Brokeback Mountain", earning him an Academy Award nomination. Posthumously, he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the Joker in "The Dark Knight". Beyond acting, Ledger had aspirations in directing, producing music videos and envisioning a future behind the camera. His career, though tragically cut short, left a lasting impact on the film industry.
1931: Last Documented Lynching in West Virginia
Referencing a claim by Heath Ledger during an interview, the text clarifies that no documented lynchings had occurred in West Virginia since 1931, disputing Ledger's claim that lynchings occurred as recently as the 1980s.
1974: Death of Nick Drake and Release of "Black Eyed Dog"
In 1974, Nick Drake died from an overdose of an antidepressant at the age of 26, and he also wrote the song "Black Eyed Dog" in 1974. This song later inspired Heath Ledger to create a music video for it.
1976: Peter Finch's Posthumous Win
In 1976, Peter Finch won a posthumous Academy Award for acting in "Network".
April 1979: Heath Ledger's Birth
On April 4, 1979, Heath Ledger was born in Perth, Western Australia, to Sally Ramshaw and Kim Ledger. Kim Ledger was a racing car driver and mining engineer. This date marks the beginning of his life.
1983: Publication of The Queen's Gambit
In 1983, the novel 'The Queen's Gambit' by Walter Tevis was published. Heath Ledger was working on an adaptation of this novel as his first feature film as a director before his death.
1990: Birth of Half-Sister Ashleigh Bell
In 1990, Ashleigh Bell, Heath Ledger's half-sister, was born. She is the daughter of Sally Ramshaw and her second husband, Roger Bell.
1991: Role in Clowning Around
In 1991, Heath Ledger took on a small role in 'Clowning Around,' which was the first part of a two-part television series. This marked an early step in his acting career.
1993: Role in Ship to Shore
From 1993, Heath Ledger had parts in the Perth television series 'Ship to Shore', further establishing his presence in Australian television.
1996: Role in Sweat
In 1996, Heath Ledger worked on the TV series 'Sweat,' playing the role of a cyclist. This added to his early acting experiences.
1996: Birth of Half-Sister Olivia Ledger
In 1996, Olivia Ledger, Heath Ledger's half-sister, was born. She is the daughter of Kim Ledger and his second wife, Emma Brown.
1997: Roles in Roar, Home and Away, and Blackrock
In 1997, Heath Ledger had parts in the short-lived Fox Broadcasting Company fantasy-drama 'Roar,' the Australian television show 'Home and Away,' and the Australian film 'Blackrock,' marking his feature film debut.
1998: Move to the United States
In 1998, Heath Ledger relocated to the United States to further his acting career. This move represents a pivotal moment in his professional journey, as detailed in the text.
1998: Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction Released
In 1998, the novel 'Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction' by Luke Davies was released. This novel was later adapted into the 2006 film 'Candy' starring Heath Ledger.
1999: Film: 10 Things I Hate About You
In 1999, Heath Ledger starred in the film '10 Things I Hate About You,' marking a significant role in his career. This information is directly from the text.
1999: Starred in 10 Things I Hate About You and Two Hands
In 1999, Heath Ledger starred in the teen comedy '10 Things I Hate About You' and the Australian crime film 'Two Hands,' directed by Gregor Jordan.
2000: Film: The Patriot
In 2000, Heath Ledger appeared in the film 'The Patriot,' contributing to his growing filmography. This detail is explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
2001: Roles in Monster's Ball and A Knight's Tale, and ShoWest Award
In 2001, Heath Ledger played Sonny Grotowski in 'Monster's Ball' and had a leading role in 'A Knight's Tale'. He also won a ShoWest Award as "Male Star of Tomorrow".
2001: Film: A Knight's Tale
In 2001, Heath Ledger starred in 'A Knight's Tale,' a film listed among his various roles. The text directly includes this film in his career overview.
2002: Role in The Four Feathers
In 2002, Heath Ledger had a leading role in the film 'The Four Feathers', continuing to build his acting career.
2003: Roles in The Order and Ned Kelly
In 2003, Heath Ledger played leading roles in 'The Order' and 'Ned Kelly', adding to his filmography.
2003: Ledger's Will Signed
In 2003, Heath Ledger signed his will, prior to his relationship with Michelle Williams and the birth of their daughter. The will divided half of his estate between his parents and half between his siblings.
2004: Relationship with Michelle Williams Began
In 2004, Heath Ledger began a relationship with actress Michelle Williams after they met on the set of Brokeback Mountain.
2004: Denial of Spitting Allegations
In 2004, Heath Ledger denied press reports that he or his relatives spat at journalists on the Sydney set of the film Candy, marking a turbulent period with the Australian press.
October 2005: Birth of Daughter Matilda Rose Ledger
On October 28, 2005, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams's daughter, Matilda Rose Ledger, was born in New York City.
2005: Film: Casanova
In 2005, Heath Ledger appeared in the film 'Casanova,' as noted in the text highlighting his film roles.
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', marking a busy year in his career.
2005: Awards and Nominations for Brokeback Mountain
In 2005, Heath Ledger received "Best Actor of 2005" awards from the New York Film Critics Circle and the San Francisco Film Critics Circle for his performance in 'Brokeback Mountain'. He also received nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA Award, and an Academy Award.
2005: Controversy at Screen Actors Guild Awards
In 2005, after Heath Ledger's performance on stage at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Los Angeles Times interpreted his presentation of Brokeback Mountain as an "apparent gay spoof," leading to controversy. Ledger later apologized for his nervousness, clarifying it was not intended as disrespect.
January 2006: Listing of Sydney Residence for Sale
In January 2006, Heath Ledger listed his residence in Bronte, Sydney, for sale and returned to the US.
January 2006: Paparazzi Incident at Brokeback Mountain Premiere
On January 13, 2006, several members of the paparazzi retaliated against Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams by squirting them with water pistols on the red carpet at the Sydney premiere of Brokeback Mountain. This incident highlights the challenges they faced with the media.
2006: Starring in Candy
In 2006, Heath Ledger co-starred with Abbie Cornish in the Australian film 'Candy,' an adaptation of the novel about young heroin addicts. He was nominated for three "Best Actor" awards for his performance.
2006: Directing Music Videos and Inaugurating The Masses Music
In 2006, Heath Ledger directed music videos for N'fa's "Cause An Effect" and "Seduction Is Evil (She's Hot)". Later that year, he inaugurated a new record label, The Masses Music, with Ben Harper and directed a music video for Harper's song "Morning Yearning".
2006: Admitted Substance Abuse
In 2006, Heath Ledger stated in video footage that he "used to smoke five joints a day for 20 years".
September 2007: Premiere of "Black Eyed Dog" Music Video at Bumbershoot Festival
From September 1 to 3, 2007, Heath Ledger's music video for Nick Drake's song "Black Eyed Dog" was publicly shown for the first time at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle.
September 2007: Breakup with Michelle Williams
In September 2007, Michelle Williams's father confirmed that Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams had broken up.
October 2007: Ledger Completes Work on The Dark Knight
In October 2007, Heath Ledger completed his work on "The Dark Knight". Director Christopher Nolan recalled the emotional experience of editing the film after Ledger's passing and dedicated the film in part to Ledger's memory.
October 2007: Screening of "Black Eyed Dog" at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
On October 5, 2007, Heath Ledger's music video for "Black Eyed Dog" was shown as part of "A Place To Be: A Celebration of Nick Drake" at the Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
November 2007: Dating Gemma Ward
In November 2007, Gemma Ward stated that she had begun dating Heath Ledger. They and their families spent Christmas together in Perth that year.
November 2007: Insomnia Due to The Joker Role
In November 2007, Heath Ledger spoke about his insomnia, which was worsened by his role as the Joker in "The Dark Knight". He mentioned sleeping only about two hours a night and taking two Ambien pills without sufficient relief.
2007: Role in I'm Not There
In 2007, Heath Ledger portrayed Robbie Clark, a fictional actor representing the romantic side of Bob Dylan, in Todd Haynes' film 'I'm Not There.'
2007: Todd Haynes Compares Ledger to James Dean
In 2007, director Todd Haynes compared Heath Ledger's presence to actor James Dean, casting Ledger as Robbie Clarke in "I'm Not There". Haynes highlighted Ledger's "precocious seriousness" and intuition, noting a rare maturity beyond his years.
January 2008: Memorial at Apartment Building
Following the news of Heath Ledger's death on January 22, 2008, media crews, mourners, fans, and other onlookers gathered outside his apartment building, leaving flowers and memorial tributes.
January 2008: Death from Accidental Overdose
In January 2008, Heath Ledger died from an accidental overdose resulting from prescription drug abuse. He had completed filming his role as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight' before his death.
January 2008: Ledger's Death and Incomplete Final Film Role
In January 2008, Heath Ledger died, having completed about half of the work for his final film role as Tony in Terry Gilliam's 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus'. Gilliam adapted the film to allow Ledger's final performance to be seen.
January 2008: Death of Heath Ledger
In January 2008, Heath Ledger passed away, marking a significant event in his life. The text mentions his death as occurring in January 2008.
January 2008: Struggling with Sleep and Illness
In January 2008, Heath Ledger was suffering from a respiratory illness and complained about difficulty sleeping. He mentioned to Christopher Plummer, his co-star in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus", that he was taking pills to help him sleep.
January 2008: Estimated Time of Death
In January 2008, following Heath Ledger's death, the Associated Press reported police estimates that his death occurred between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. on January 22, 2008. However, the Medical Examiner's Office did not publicly disclose the official estimated time of death.
January 2008: Ledger Found Unresponsive
On January 22, 2008, Heath Ledger was found unresponsive in his bed at his Manhattan loft by his housekeeper and massage therapist.
January 2008: Autopsy Conducted
On January 23, 2008, an initial autopsy was conducted to determine the cause of Heath Ledger's death. Subsequently, a complete toxicological analysis was performed.
February 2008: Tribute to Ledger in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
In February 2008, after Heath Ledger's death, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell signed on to take over Ledger's role in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus", becoming multiple incarnations of his character, Tony. The three actors donated their fees for the film to Ledger's daughter.
February 2008: DEA Investigation Results
Late in February 2008, a DEA investigation into medical professionals related to Heath Ledger's death exonerated two American physicians practicing in Los Angeles and Houston. The investigation determined that the doctors in question had prescribed Ledger other medications, but not the pills that caused his death.
February 2008: Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award
On February 23, 2008, Heath Ledger posthumously shared the 2007 Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award with the ensemble cast and director of the film, 'I'm Not There.'
February 2008: Posthumous ISP Robert Altman Award
On February 23, 2008, director Todd Haynes referenced Heath Ledger's aspirations to become a film director upon accepting the ISP Robert Altman Award, which Ledger posthumously shared.
February 2008: Will Filed in New York City
On February 28, 2008, Heath Ledger's will was filed in New York City. His father, Kim Ledger, emphasized the financial well-being of Heath's daughter, Matilda Rose, as an "absolute priority" and recognized Michelle Williams as an integral part of their family.
February 2008: Cause of Death Revealed
On February 6, 2008, the New York City Medical Examiner's Office concluded that Heath Ledger's death was due to "acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine". The manner of death was ruled accidental, resulting from the abuse of prescribed medications.
March 2008: Report of Another Child
On March 31, 2008, a report surfaced asserting that Heath Ledger may have fathered another child. However, the mother and stepfather of the child in question dismissed the claim.
July 2008: "The Dark Knight" Released
Released in July 2008, "The Dark Knight" broke box office records and received critical acclaim, particularly for Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker. Ledger's co-star Christian Bale refuted speculations that the role led to Ledger's death.
August 2008: Olsen Denies Supplying Drugs
On August 4, 2008, Mary-Kate Olsen's attorney, Michael Miller, issued a statement denying that Olsen supplied Heath Ledger with the drugs that caused his death and asserting that she did not know their source.
August 2008: Investigation Closed Without Charges
On August 6, 2008, the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan closed its investigation into Heath Ledger's death without filing any charges, rendering moot the subpoena of Mary-Kate Olsen. It remained unknown how Ledger obtained the oxycodone and hydrocodone involved in the lethal drug combination.
September 2008: Estate Left to Matilda Rose
On September 27, 2008, Kim Ledger stated that the family had agreed to leave Heath Ledger's US$16.3 million estate to his daughter, Matilda Rose Ledger.
November 2008: People's Choice Awards Nomination
On November 10, 2008, Heath Ledger received two People's Choice Awards nominations for his work in "The Dark Knight": "Best Ensemble Cast" and "Best Onscreen Match-Up" (shared with Christian Bale).
December 2008: Golden Globe Nomination
On December 11, 2008, Heath Ledger was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for his performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight".
2008: Inspiration for "Perth" Song
In 2008, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon began working on the song "Perth" and was scheduled to meet with Matt Amato, who was directing the band's "The Wolves (Act I & II)" music video the day that Heath Ledger died. Amato's stories about Ledger became the inspiration for "Perth".
2008: Call for Academy Award Nomination
In 2008, film critics, co-stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Caine, and many of Heath Ledger's peers in the film community joined Christian Bale in calling for and predicting a nomination for the 2008 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in recognition of Ledger's achievement in The Dark Knight.
2008: The Dark Knight release year
The movie The Dark Knight was released in 2008.
January 2009: People's Choice Award Won Posthumously
In January 2009, Heath Ledger posthumously won a People's Choice Award for "Match-Up" with Christian Bale for "The Dark Knight" at the ceremony aired live on CBS.
January 2009: Posthumous Academy Award Nomination
On January 22, 2009, the anniversary of Heath Ledger's death, he received a posthumous nomination for the 2008 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Dark Knight.
February 2009: Posthumous Academy Award Win
On February 22, 2009, Heath Ledger posthumously won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Dark Knight, making him the second person to win a posthumous acting Oscar and the first comic-book movie actor to win an Oscar for acting. His family accepted the award on his behalf. It was decided that his daughter, Matilda Rose, would own the award, with her mother, Michelle Williams, holding it in trust until Matilda's eighteenth birthday.
August 2009: Premiere of Modest Mouse's "King Rat" Video
On August 4, 2009, the animated music video for Modest Mouse's song "King Rat," directed by Heath Ledger before his death, premiered.
2009: Posthumous Release: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
In 2009, 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' was released posthumously, featuring Heath Ledger. The text specifies this film as one of his posthumously released works.
January 2011: Heath Ledger Theatre Named
In January 2011, the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in Perth named a 575-seat theatre the Heath Ledger Theatre after him. Ledger's Academy Award and Joker costume were displayed for the opening.
2011: "Perth" Song Release
In 2011, Bon Iver released the song "Perth", which was inspired by Heath Ledger and his friendship with Matt Amato. Justin Vernon began working on the song in 2008 and was scheduled to meet with Amato, who was grieving Ledger's death.
April 2017: I Am Heath Ledger Trailer Release
On April 4, 2017, a trailer was released for the documentary "I Am Heath Ledger".
May 2017: I Am Heath Ledger Documentary Release
On May 3, 2017, the documentary "I Am Heath Ledger", featuring archival footage of Ledger and interviews, was released.
2017: Forensic Pathologist's Assertion
In 2017, forensic pathologist Jason Payne-James asserted that Heath Ledger might have survived if hydrocodone and oxycodone had been excluded from the combination of drugs he took prior to his death. He stated that the drug mixture, combined with a possible chest infection, caused Ledger to stop breathing.
2023: Matilda Rose Gains Full Ownership of the Oscar
In 2023, Matilda Rose, Heath Ledger's daughter, will gain full ownership of the Academy Award statuette. Until that time, her mother, Michelle Williams, will hold the statuette in trust for her.
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