Heath Ledger was named after the main characters in Emily Brontë's novel 'Wuthering Heights,' Heathcliff and Catherine.
He made his acting debut at the age of 10 in a school production of 'Peter Pan,' which ignited his passion for acting.
Ledger moved to the United States at the age of 19 to pursue his acting career, landing his first major role in the 1999 film '10 Things I Hate About You.'
He was an avid chess player and won Western Australia's Junior Chess Championship at the age of 10.
Ledger's portrayal of the Joker in 'The Dark Knight' (2008) is considered one of the greatest performances in film history, earning him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
He directed music videos for several Australian artists, including the music video for 'Cause An Effect' by N'fa, a friend of Ledger's.
Heath Ledger was offered the role of Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's 2002 film but turned it down, not wanting to be tied to a franchise.
He took on the role of Ennis Del Mar in 'Brokeback Mountain' (2005), a performance that earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Ledger was a co-owner of a bar in Sydney, Australia, called 'FiveO,' which he opened with a group of friends.
He was known for keeping a 'Joker diary' during the filming of 'The Dark Knight,' in which he wrote as if he were the character, helping him delve deeply into the role.
Heath Ledger was a devoted father to his daughter, Matilda Rose Ledger, whom he had with actress Michelle Williams.
He starred alongside fellow Australian actors Nicole Kidman and Geoffrey Rush in the 1999 film 'The Patriot,' which helped establish him as a rising star.
Ledger was set to direct his first feature film, 'The Queen's Gambit,' based on the novel by Walter Tevis, but the project was never completed due to his untimely death.
He was a passionate photographer and often carried a camera with him on set, capturing moments between takes.
Heath Ledger's final completed film was 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,' where his role was completed by actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell after his passing.
