In an ideal world, Australian actor Heath Ledger would have been celebrating his thirty-third birthday today. Heartbreakingly, he isn’t here for it: the actor passed away from an accidental prescription drugs overdose just over four years ago, on January 22, 2008. At the time, the actor was shooting Terry Gilliam‘s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” and the director managed to finish the film with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law paying tribute to the late actor by joining the production.
Ledger had a rare talent that seemingly wowed everyone he would work with — Matt Damon, who appeared with the actor in Gilliam’s “The Brothers Grimm,” recently called him “the best actor I ever worked with” — and it’s hard not to be distraught at the thought of the performances we’ll never get to see. But even so, Ledger left behind an enormously impressive body of work for one so young, and in celebration of what would have been his birthday, we’ve picked out five of our favorite of his turns. There’s a number of others that could easily have been included — his take on Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes‘ “I’m Not There” is one of the best in the film, for instance, and only just missed this list. But these are the five that we’ll always remember him for. Weigh in with your own favorites below.
“Monster’s Ball” (2001)
Ledger is not in “Monster’s Ball” very much. As Sonny, the belittled son of misanthropic prison guard Hank (Billy Bob Thornton), he mainly serves to set up exactly how unpleasant his father is, before, shockingly, committing suicide in front of him. But it’s notable as the point where everyone sat up and realized that perhaps Ledger wasn’t simply some prominently cheekboned teen heartthrob. The actor broke through in 1999’s strong teen comedy “10 Things I Hate About You” with rugged charm, before playing Mel Gibson‘s son in “The Patriot,” and, earlier in the same year as “Monster’s Ball,” headlining minor hit “A Knight’s Tale.” He clearly had chops, but his performance as the sensitive Sonny, desperate for love from his father, and taking the bloody way out rather than risk turning into him, made it clear that Ledger had much more to give.
Heath's birthday was April 4, not today…. major fail.
RIP Heath. A lot of us miss you and what you could have done.
I don't think I've seen anyone so effectively articulate the importance of Ledger's Brokeback and TDK performances. The Brando point was spot on. Ledger's performance is genuinely remarkable, I think it made people uncomfortable, so much they needed to find a way to laugh at it (thus the parodies). Great read, thanks.
i really like him in i'm not there him and charlotte gainsbourg have great chemistry
RIP Heath. Really seemed like a hell of a guy
RIP Heath Ledger.
I can't believe it's already 4 years..
the reality of him not on this world again still made me teared up.
Even after 4 years it still hurts, like The Playlist says, he was just peaking. There would have have been lots of Academy Awards in his future. Love you always Heath! RIP
The sad thing which this feature demonstrates: Ledger was JUST beginning to find his groove, score great roles and stand out in them. He really stood out in "Monster's Ball" and "Lords of Dogtown," but how many lead, meaty roles did he get after that? All of the important ones are mentioned here. He was just beginning to peak. Even just 3-4 years of performances and we could have received so much more.
And even then The Joker was a breakthrough performance for him that broke a dam. So much excellence could have come in its wake. Such a tragedy his death.
It's nuts to think that I'm almost as old as Heath was when he died. Everyone always compares him to James Dean so I guess once you pass him in age you really are an adult. Makes me want to get off my ass and accomplish something.
Terrific actor. If only we could see more great performances from Mr. Ledger. He was just getting started at 28 still he left behind some bloody brilliant work.
RIP Heath Ledger
Great!