We Remember: Heath Ledger (1979-2008)

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Welcome to WE REMEMBER, a brand new show here on JoBlo Videos, examining the life and work of some of our favorite celebrities who, sadly, are gone way too soon. Written by Matthew Plale, edited by Dustin Elkin, and narrated by Travis Hopson, for our first episode, we decided to start with the incredible Heath Ledger (1979- 2008).

Born in Perth, Australia, Ledger first came to prominence on Australian TV before crossing over to the U.S as a teen heartthrob in 10 Things I Hate About You. From there, his career skyrocketed, playing Mel Gibson's son in the Revolutionary War epic The Patriot, before leading his own blockbuster with A Knight's Tale. While he could have gone an easier route to Hollywood stardom, Ledger opted to take risks, co-starring as Billy Bob Thornton's doomed son in Monster's Ball, and eventually leading the stone-cold classic Brokeback Mountain, directed by Ang Lee and co-starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Of course, the role his most associated with these days was still to come, with him being the unlikely choice to play The Joker in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. The rest, as they say, is history, but tragically Ledger would not live to see its release. Join us as we examine his amazing life and career – as WE REMEMBER HEATH LEDGER.