Hollywood actor Heath Ledger has been gone for 18 years. Etched in movie fans' memories for his ahead-of-his-time acting and powerful presence, he still remains the "eternal Joker."
The late Heath Ledger was found dead at his New York home on Jan. 22, 2008, from drug overdose. He was 28. The sudden death shocked the global film community.
Heath Ledger, born in Australia in 1979, began acting in the early 1990s and steadily built his filmography. Especially in Brokeback Mountain (2005), he delivered delicate, restrained emotional acting and instantly rose to the ranks of Hollywood top stars. In that film, he left a deep impression acting alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.
Afterward, he expanded his range as an actor with genre-crossing challenges in 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, Casanova, I'm Not There, and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
The work that made his name legendary was undoubtedly The Dark Knight. In it, Heath Ledger played the role of the "Joker," presenting a radical interpretation that completely overturned the existing image. His crazed gaze, unsteady movements and chilling laugh left a strong impression on audiences, and the famous line "Why so serious?" became part of film history. He received praise that he surpassed the image of Jack Nicholson, who had been considered the ultimate Joker.
For this performance, Heath Ledger won the best supporting actor award at the 81st Academy Awards and the Golden Globe for best supporting actor. However, he was already gone at the time of the awards, and the image of a trophy without an owner made many people heavy-hearted.
In his private life, he had a movie-like love. He became romantically involved with Michelle Williams during the filming of Brokeback Mountain, and their daughter Matilda was born. Although their marriage ended after three years, Michelle Williams later said in an interview that she still misses him, adding to the sadness.
[Photo] Still from The Dark Knight, ⓒGettyimages (unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited)
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