Heath Ledger Death Anniversary: 20 Haunting facts about the Joker Actor
Heath Ledger is the astonishing body of work in the tragically portrait of his short career life. The Curious Case of the actor was a result of overdose intoxication which was deemed accidental. The Knight’s tale was the beginning of something new after his starry career in Australian television and film productions during the 1990s, Heath Ledger left for the United States in 1998 to further develop his film career which became the prima factor for his legacy spilled over all of film fraternity and the movie lovers all over the globe. Ironically before putting on the Clown Suit the handsome and the charming man from “Down Under” had his first major break in 1992 Clowning Around.
“I never had money, and I was very happy without it. When I die, my money’s not gonna come with me. My movies will live on for people to judge what I was as a person. I just want to stay curious.” —Heath Ledger.”
Ice Cold
Heath Ledger played field Hockey when he was about 11 years old. He was the player of Kalamunda Hockey Club. He was serious about the way he bought himself into the game. During 1990-1992 his own dad became the president of the club so that his clown prince could prove his adversity as a professional hockey player. Heath had always defined himself as the “sporty type” and excelled in a wide variety of sports particularly in the realm of field hockey. Despite being passed on the U17 Squad mantle and one of the country’s up and coming stars he ultimately chose acting.
Oi Mate!!
The eerie actor was chosen to wear the purple suit. But before every other choice there is an origin story behind the makeup. Ledger was born in Perth Australia and therefore had been casted as the Australian favourite male actor choice. He started his acting career by donning the skin of a young orphan clown who use to perform on the streets. The Title of such a macabre film was called Clowning Around. He was chosen as the fool to spoof the crowd with his magic tricks and animated goofballs. Who knew that one day he would become the chosen prince of his former career. The Handsome Clown was just the beginning but the Clown Prince was the legacy.
The Mixed Race
Ledger’s family is quite a mixed breed. Being the firstborn in Australia his coup had an entirely different existence. His family was a mixture of Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Sephardi, and even a sprinkle of Judaism. For the actor being son of so many different backgrounds was the pipeline for all his characters that he got to play over the years. An actor is a vessel of all the different vibes that the individual can get to breathe with. This is how a 100 different movies were born out of his service for the various directors.
This Is How Stereotypes are Made
The Clown Prince had a Kangaroo for a Pet in case you ever doubt his National Heritage. Like all the scenes that play in front of you the mother was a soul that felt pity for the animal and decided to give his son a pet gift that he would somehow find amusing during his animal days while growing up. So a peculiar boy with his Stranger Things Family was the stereotype that was a joke in everybody’s eyes but was the animal lover in the end that saved the human race.
No Boys Allowed
The only son in the family who was particularly closer to his elder sister Kate. Kate Ledger was an actor born out of marvel and her choice for acting and Heath’s parent’s separation was the connection that made them close. Heath as a child was given the opportunity of choosing between cooking and acting in his school. Growing up it was particularly difficult to figure out what was cooking, so he decided acting as a full time education as it ran in the family. After the divorce when he was 11 years old he had two half sisters Ashleigh and Olivia, from their other marriages.
Heathcliff, It’s Me, Cathy
Sally Heath’s Mom was a French Teacher and she was a follower of Classic Literature. The birthgiver had chosen the names “Heath” and “Kate” after the dark, disturbed couple in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, Catherine and Heathcliff. And hence a pure classic family was heralded out of a literature book, that etched their names forever among the hearts of billion global fans.
Lying in Wait
The Joker was born in true Noir style in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. The actor had a remarkable constraint and never would show off his flourishes until the camera started rolling. The actor kept his disturbances with him until he got the proper permission of letting himself unleash to the filming of the philosophical character that the director had to create with the actor in making. Nolan was very happy with the process of the laugh, he was quite expressive when it came to the actor’s study of creating nemesis powerful to that of Batman. The process involved somewhat of AIDS, SICKNESS and CLOWNING sketches which the legend had made a note of in his book.
Smile for the Camera
The distinctive scars marked on the jokers face belonged to a particular specific expression. The wounds are called as the “Glasgow Smile”.
The Renaissance Man
Disliking the military styled training received at Guildford Grammar School, Ledger decided to leave weaponry and go for sports. The Joker Actor interests didn’t just stop at playing field hockey and acting. The Ledger Guy was an avid fan of Chess and played many tournaments since his teen-age. His adulthood was spent playing chess in Washington Square Park in New York City.
Decisions Decisions
As a young bloke he somehow lost interest in sports. At Guilford Grammar he couldn’t manage both sports and acting at the same time so he chose drama. His understanding of the craft and his knowledge as a Cinephile made him the most popular Actor and Director in Australia.
Book Smart
The actor was too smart to be in school. A scorer of the highest marks at his academy and his penchant for following drama made him want to leave school for good. At 17, he sat in for the exams that would give him a diploma. When the scores came back high enough, and a bold move to leave school at that time was the American dream some would say needed guts to pursue.
Singin in the Rain
A huge admirer and voyeur of Gene Kelle, an actor who used to star in musicals during the 1940’s and 1950’s, there arised a talent none other than Heath Ledger who loved to dance. The famous tap dancer was somehow the behemoth for Heath Ledger to show his moves in the 2001 film A Knight’s Tale, and even has a little number in 10 Things I Hate About You.
Almost Spider Man
The 2002 famous actor was tapped into play the friendly neighbourhood Spiderman. A move that still paralyzes people is how he could turn down such an iconic role. Later the actor was proud to admit that he was satisfied with the Joker character in the Dark Knight movie.
Love Hurts
By 2007, Michelle Williams had called it off with her Lover Heath Ledger. A dark pattern had re-emerged and Ledger admitted to being an introvert, and was painfully shy around new people. The actor had a hard time being himself and he could only be outgoing once he was surrounded with his job. Ledger was asked by Williams to leave the New York City Apartment because of his drug use.
I Believe in Fairies
At 13 years of age Heath starred in the live Broadway production of Peter Pan in Perth. Everybody needed their start, his began with the school.
Matilda, I Am Your Father
Over the course of his life, Ledger was romantically involved with a bevy of rumoured actresses including Naomi Watts, Heather Graham, and even his 10 Things I Hate About You co-star Julia Stiles. But it was not until on the set of Brokeback Mountain Williams and Heath started living together till 2007. In 2005 they had a daughter named Matilda Rose Ledger.
Always Improving
If the actor was satisfied with his best portrayal of the Joker he was also quite disappointed in himself with his portrayal of the famous lover Casanova in the 2005 film of the same name. When asked he was blatant about his role in the movie and was completely open on how he needs to improve himself at every turn.
Open Minded
The actor was also open about his character in the Brokeback Mountain. He replied that the only thing that bothered him was that he wished he was a more experienced actor as he was afraid he would not do the story of Ennis Del Mar justice. This was a reply to one of the questions asked on his confidence of playing a homosexuality character in the film.
Real Deal
Before filming Brokeback Mountain, the producers wanted Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal to attend a cowboy training camp. Ledger told them that he didn’t need it: Since he grew up in Australia, he already had the skills of a cowboy.
They’re Not Going to Take It Anymore
Heath Ledger was the only second actor in the industry to receive an academy award after his death. The first was Peter Finch who died in 1977, he won for the film Network, in which he gives a memorable, crazed rant as anchorman Howard Beale.