In 1999, Ledger starred in the Hollywood teen comedy 10 Things I Hate about You and also had the lead role in the acclaimed Australian movie Two Hands, directed by Gregor Jordan. Since then he has starred in The Patriot as Mel Gibson's character's son, Monster's Ball as Billy Bob Thornton's character's son, A Knight's Tale, Ned Kelly as the title character, The Order, and The Brothers Grimm co-starring Matt Damon.

Ledger had a successful year in 2001, with his ShoWest Award for the Male Star of Tomorrow based on his performance in The Patriot. In 2003, Ledger was named one of Australian GQ's Men of the Year for acting.

In 2005, Ledger received a "Best Actor in a Drama" Golden Globe nomination for his acclaimed performance in Brokeback Mountain.

In Spring 2006, it was announced that Ledger would portray Bob Dylan in the film I'm Not There. On July 31, 2006, Ledger was officially confirmed to play iconic comic book villain The Joker in The Dark Knight, the sequel to the 2005 film Batman Begins, opposite fellow I'm Not There star Christian Bale. The film is due in 2008.

Ledger is currently engaged to actress Michelle Williams, whom he met on the set of Brokeback Mountain. They have a daughter, Matilda Rose, who was born on October 28, 2005.

He died on January 22, 2008 in New York, USA.

Public name: Heath Ledger
Birth Name: Heathcliff Andrew Ledger
Date of Birth: April 4, 1979
Date of death: January 22, 2008
Place of Birth: Perth, Australia.

Filmography

• The Dark Knight, 2008 
• I'm Not There, 2007
• Candy, 2006
• Casanova, 2005
• Brokeback Mountain, 2005
• The Brothers Grimm, 2005
• Lords of Dogtown, 2005
• The Order, 2003
• Ned Kelly, 2003
• The Four Feathers, 2002
• Monster's Ball, 2001
• A Knight's Tale, 2001
• The Patriot, 2000
• Two Hands, 1999
• 10 Things I Hate About You, 1999
• "Home and Away", 1988 TV Series
• Paws, 1997
• "Roar", 1997 TV Episodes
• Blackrock, 1997
• "Sweat", 1996 TV Episode
• "Ship to Shore", 1993 TV Series
• Clowning Around, 1992

Awards

• MTV Movie Award Best Kiss "Brokeback Mountain" 2006
• New York Film Critics Circle Best Actor "Brokeback Mountain" 2005
• San Francisco Film Critics Best Actor "Brokeback Mountain" 2005
• ShoWest Male Star of Tomorrow 2001