History of Heath Ledger in Timeline
Heath Ledger was a versatile Australian actor who starred in 20 films spanning various genres. His talent was widely recognized, earning him prestigious awards such as an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Actor Award. He was known for his performances in both independent and major studio productions.
1931: Last Documented Lynching in West Virginia
According to state scholars, no documented lynchings had occurred in West Virginia since 1931, contrary to Heath Ledger's mistaken claim in an interview in 2005.
1974: Death of Nick Drake
In 1974, British singer-songwriter Nick Drake died from an overdose of an antidepressant, inspiring Heath Ledger to create a documentary film about him later in his life.
1976: Peter Finch's Posthumous Oscar Win
In 1976, Peter Finch won a posthumous Academy Award for acting in the movie 'Network'.
April 1979: Heath Ledger's Birth
On April 4, 1979, Heath Andrew Ledger was born in Perth, Western Australia, to Sally Ramshaw and Kim Ledger. His father was a racing car driver and mining engineer.
1983: Publication of "The Queen's Gambit"
In 1983, Walter Tevis's novel "The Queen's Gambit" was published. Heath Ledger planned to adapt it into 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 to his mother, Sally Ramshaw, and her second husband, Roger Bell.
1991: Small Role in "Clowning Around"
In 1991, Heath Ledger returned to Perth to take a small role in "Clowning Around", a two-part television series.
1993: Parts in Perth Television Series "Ship to Shore"
From 1993, Heath Ledger had parts in the Perth television series "Ship to Shore".
1996: Work on TV Series "Sweat"
In 1996, Heath Ledger worked on the TV series "Sweat", in which he played a cyclist.
1996: Birth of Half-Sister Olivia Ledger
In 1996, Olivia Ledger, Heath Ledger's half-sister, was born to his father, Kim Ledger, and his second wife, Emma Brown.
1997: Roles in Roar, Home and Away, and Blackrock
In 1997, Heath Ledger had roles in the Fox Broadcasting Company fantasy-drama "Roar", in "Home and Away", and in the Australian film "Blackrock", his feature film debut.
1998: Move to the United States
In 1998, Heath Ledger relocated to the United States to pursue and develop his acting career further after initial roles in Australian television and film during the 1990s.
1998: Publication of "Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction"
In 1998, the novel "Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction" by Luke Davies was published, which was later adapted into the 2006 film "Candy" starring Heath Ledger.
1999: Breakthrough Role in "10 Things I Hate About You"
In 1999, Heath Ledger achieved his film breakthrough with the lead role in the romantic comedy "10 Things I Hate About You".
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 in the acclaimed Australian crime film "Two Hands", directed by Gregor Jordan.
2000: Role in "The Patriot"
In 2000, Heath Ledger gained further recognition for his role in the film "The Patriot".
2001: Roles in "A Knight's Tale" and "Monster's Ball"
In 2001, Heath Ledger continued to build his career with roles in the films "A Knight's Tale" and "Monster's Ball".
2001: Roles in "Monster's Ball" and "A Knight's Tale", ShoWest Award
In 2001, Heath Ledger played Sonny Grotowski in "Monster's Ball", and starred in "A Knight's Tale". He also won a ShoWest Award as "Male Star of Tomorrow".
2002: Starring in "The Four Feathers"
In 2002, Heath Ledger played a leading role in the film "The Four Feathers".
2003: Will Signed in 2003
Heath Ledger's will, signed in 2003 prior to his relationship with Michelle Williams and the birth of their daughter, divided his estate between his parents and siblings.
2003: Roles in "The Order" and "Ned Kelly"
In 2003, Heath Ledger starred in "The Order" and "Ned Kelly".
2004: Relationship with Michelle Williams Begins
In 2004, Heath Ledger began a relationship with actress Michelle Williams after meeting her on the set of "Brokeback Mountain".
2004: Denial of Spitting Allegations
In 2004, Heath Ledger strongly denied press reports alleging that he or a relative spat at journalists on the Sydney set of the film "Candy".
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. Jake Gyllenhaal and Busy Philipps are Matilda's godparents.
2005: Roles in "Lords of Dogtown" and "Casanova"
In 2005, Heath Ledger appeared in the films "Lords of Dogtown" and "Casanova", adding to his diverse filmography.
2005: Awards for "Brokeback Mountain" Performance
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 role as Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain". He also received nominations for Golden Globe, Actor, BAFTA, and Academy Awards.
2005: Roles in "Casanova", "The Brothers Grimm", and "Lords of Dogtown"
In 2005, Heath Ledger starred in "Casanova", "The Brothers Grimm", and "Lords of Dogtown".
2005: Screen Actors Guild Awards Presentation Controversy
In 2005, following his giggling presentation of "Brokeback Mountain" at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Heath Ledger apologized for his nervousness, clarifying it was not meant as a "gay spoof" or disrespect towards the film.
January 2006: Residence Change and Return to the US
In January 2006, Heath Ledger listed his residence in Bronte, Sydney, for sale and returned to the US, where he shared a house with Michelle Williams in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.
January 2006: Paparazzi Incident at Brokeback Mountain Premiere
On January 13, 2006, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams were squirted with water pistols by paparazzi at the Sydney premiere of "Brokeback Mountain".
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)". He also inaugurated a new record label, The Masses Music, with Ben Harper and directed a music video for Harper's song "Morning Yearning".
September 2007: Premiere of "Black Eyed Dog" Music Video
From September 1-3, 2007, Heath Ledger's music video for Nick Drake's song "Black Eyed Dog" was shown publicly 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
Heath Ledger completed his work on The Dark Knight in October 2007. Christopher Nolan recalled editing the film after Ledger's death as tremendously emotional and dedicated the film to Ledger's memory.
October 2007: Screening of "Black Eyed Dog" in Hollywood
On October 5, 2007, Heath Ledger's music video for "Black Eyed Dog" was screened as part of "A Place To Be: A Celebration of Nick Drake" at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
November 2007: Insomnia and Medication Use
In November 2007, Heath Ledger discussed his struggles with insomnia due to his roles, particularly The Joker in The Dark Knight. He told The New York Times that he was sleeping an average of two hours a night and had taken two Ambien pills to combat it, but even that only resulted in a brief "stupor."
November 2007: Dating Rumors
In November 2007, following his breakup with Michelle Williams, Heath Ledger was romantically linked by the press to supermodel Helena Christensen, actress Kate Hudson, and model Gemma Ward. Gemma Ward later claimed to have begun dating Ledger in November 2007, spending Christmas together in Perth with their families.
2007: Role in "I'm Not There"
In 2007, Heath Ledger portrayed Robbie Clark in the film "I'm Not There", earning praise for representing the romanticist side of Bob Dylan. He later shared the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award for the film in February 2008.
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 personification of Bob Dylan in I'm Not There. Haynes highlighted Ledger's "precocious seriousness" and intuition.
January 2008: Public Gathering
Following the news of Heath Ledger's death on January 22, 2008, mourners, fans, media, and onlookers gathered outside his apartment building, leaving flowers and memorial tributes.
January 2008: Ledger's Death and Completion of "The Dark Knight"
In January 2008, Heath Ledger had finished filming his role as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" before his death. The film became his first posthumous release, garnering widespread acclaim.
January 2008: Heath Ledger's Death
In January 2008, Heath Ledger passed away. During his lifetime, he had a prolific career, consisting of 20 films in a variety of genres.
January 2008: Death by Accidental Overdose
In January 2008, Heath Ledger was found dead from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
January 2008: Estimated Time of Death and Concerns over Drug Abuse
In January 2008, following Heath Ledger's death, the Associated Press reported that police estimated his death occurred between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. on January 22, 2008. The Medical Examiner's Office did not disclose the official estimated time of death, but the announcement heightened concerns about prescription drug abuse and combined drug intoxication.
January 2008: Health Concerns and Sleep Issues
In January 2008, prior to his return to New York City from London, Heath Ledger complained of difficulty sleeping and taking pills to help him, as well as a respiratory illness. Christopher Plummer said Ledger hadn't been feeling well on set and thought he had walking pneumonia.
January 2008: Autopsy Conducted
On January 23, 2008, an initial autopsy was performed as part of the investigation into Heath Ledger's death.
January 2008: Ledger Found Unresponsive
On Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at approximately 3 p.m. EST, Heath Ledger was found unresponsive in his bed in his Manhattan loft by his housekeeper, Teresa Solomon, and his massage therapist, Diana Wolozin.
February 2008: Ledger's Will Filed
In February 2008, Heath Ledger's will was filed in New York City. His father, Kim Ledger, stated that Matilda Rose's financial well-being was an "absolute priority".
February 2008: Depp, Law, and Farrell Join Imaginarium
In February 2008, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell signed on to take over Heath Ledger's role in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus as a memorial tribute. The three actors donated their fees to Ledger's daughter.
February 2008: DEA Investigation
In late February 2008, the DEA investigated medical professionals regarding Heath Ledger's death and exonerated two American physicians practicing in Los Angeles and Houston, determining that the doctors had prescribed Ledger other medications but not the pills that killed him.
February 2008: Posthumous Award for "I'm Not There"
On February 23, 2008, Heath Ledger posthumously shared the 2007 Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award with the cast and crew of the film "I'm Not There".
February 2008: Posthumous ISP Robert Altman Award
On February 23, 2008, Heath Ledger posthumously shared the ISP Robert Altman Award, Todd Haynes praised Ledger's directing aspirations and contributions.
February 2008: Cause of Death Announced
On February 6, 2008, the New York City Medical Examiner's Office released its report concluding that Heath Ledger died from "acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine" and ruled the death accidental, resulting from the abuse of prescribed medications.
March 2008: Report of Another Child
On March 31, 2008, a report surfaced claiming that Heath Ledger may have fathered another child, but the child's mother and stepfather dismissed the claim.
July 2008: The Dark Knight Released
In July 2008, The Dark Knight was released, breaking box office records and receiving critical acclaim, particularly for Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker. Some refuted claims that Ledger's role as the Joker led to his death.
August 2008: Mary-Kate Olsen's Denial
On August 4, 2008, Mary-Kate Olsen's attorney issued a statement denying that Olsen supplied Heath Ledger with the drugs causing his death. The statement asserted that Olsen did not know the source of the drugs found in Ledger's home or body.
August 2008: Investigation Closed
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 its subpoena of Mary-Kate Olsen. It remained unknown how Ledger obtained the oxycodone and hydrocodone in the lethal drug combination that caused his death.
September 2008: Estate Left to Matilda Rose Ledger
On September 27, 2008, Kim Ledger announced 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 Award Nominations
On November 10, 2008, Heath Ledger received two People's Choice Award nominations for his work on The Dark Knight, including "Best Ensemble Cast" and "Best Onscreen Match-Up" (shared with Christian Bale).
December 2008: Golden Globe Nomination
On December 11, 2008, it was announced that Heath Ledger had been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight.
2008: Inspiration for "Perth" Begins
In 2008, Justin Vernon from Bon Iver started working on the song "Perth". He had planned to meet with Matt Amato, a music video director who was close with Heath Ledger, but the meeting coincided with Ledger's death. Amato's stories about Ledger inspired the track.
2008: Calls 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, including Christian Bale, called for and predicted an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in recognition of Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight.
January 2009: People's Choice Award
In January 2009, Heath Ledger posthumously won a People's Choice Award for "Match-Up" (shared with Christian Bale) for his role in 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, Ledger 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 won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor posthumously for his performance in 'The Dark Knight'. His family attended the ceremony, and it was later decided that Ledger's 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 "King Rat" Video
On August 4, 2009, Heath Ledger's animated music video for Modest Mouse's song "King Rat" premiered.
2009: Posthumous Release of "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
In 2009, Heath Ledger's final film performance in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" was released posthumously.
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 in his honor. His Academy Award and Joker costume were displayed for the opening.
2011: "Perth" Inspired by Ledger
In 2011, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon revealed that the song "Perth" from the album Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011) was inspired by Heath Ledger, and that he was scheduled to meet with Matt Amato, a music video director who was close to Ledger. Amato was directing Bon Iver's "The Wolves (Act I & II)" music video the day Ledger died. Amato shared stories about Ledger, which became the inspiration for "Perth".
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' was released, featuring archival footage of Ledger and interviews.
2023: Matilda Rose Gains Ownership of Oscar
In 2023, Heath Ledger's daughter, Matilda Rose, is expected to gain full ownership of the Academy Award statuette awarded to her father posthumously. Until then, her mother, Michelle Williams, will hold the statuette in trust for her.
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