Heath Ledger was one of Australia’s greatest young actors, and he was also noteworthy for his work as a photographer and as a director of music videos. Heath was a multi-talented person who always managed to impress and delight those who has the pleasure of experiencing his work.
He had many famous movie roles, with his most notable early appearances being in Mel Gibson’s’ The Patriot (2000), as well as A Knight’s Tale (2001). His most acclaimed dramatic role was in Brokeback Mountain (2005), which was notable for being one of the first mainstream films to feature a homosexual relationship.
Heath Ledger’s best-known performance before his death is undoubtedly as the Joker in the Dark Knight (2008), a move that was released after his death. Heath Ledger died at the age of 28 after being found unconscious in his bed by his housekeeper. Despite efforts to revive him, he died at the scene.
His official cause of death is listed as cardiac arrest, due to taking too many prescription medications. Ledger suffered from insomnia, and it is speculated that he took a dangerous mix of medications that led to his death. The doctors who prescribed some of the medications he took we exonerated from blame in his death, with the consensus that Ledger misused the drugs and did not follow directions in taking them.
Ledger’s death had a profound effect on the Hollywood community and fans around the world. His performance as Joker became his best-known role because of the timing close to his death, and some have cynically speculated the movie’s performance was boosted by the publicity created by the death of a lead actor.
Ledger received numerous posthumous awards for his portrayal of the Joker in the Dark Knight, considered to this day to be the best Batman film.