Heath Ledger died 17 years ago: A look back at the late actor’s legacy

It’s been 17 years since then Heath ledger‘ sudden death and his legacy are still remembered.

The Australian born actor died aged 28 on January 22, 2008, following an accidental drug overdose. The toxicology report released following his sudden death revealed that Ledger died of “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine.”

Ledger was found dead after his housekeeper and massage therapist entered his New York City apartment late in the afternoon. Years later, director Stephen Gaghan he revealed that he intended to turn Malcolm Gladwell a book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking into a movie. But after Ledger (who was attached to the project) died, the film did not come to fruition.

Gaghan got a call from Father of the Ledger, Kim Ledgeron the day of the actor’s death. (Ledger’s friend was also on the call.)

“They were there with the body and our script was in the bed with him, and your book was on the bedside table,” Gaghan recalled speaking to Gladwell during a February 2024 episode. the “Developmental Hell” podcast.. “I think my number on the script is, like, written. These guys, as you can imagine, are shocked, and they dialed that number, and I don’t know why.”

Gaghan said he was at an airport with his wife, Minnie Mortimerwhen he got the call about Ledger.

“The emotion, what they were going through, I shouldn’t have been a party in any way to be honest, yet as a human being or as someone who cares, I was there and I was listening and it was my wife looking at me ,” the director continued. “I remember her face and I was just like, I was speechless. I just listen and listen and listen. It was very, very sad. And it’s still sad.”

Ledger rose to fame in the late 1990s after starring as Patrick Verona in 10 Things I Hate About You. He proceeded to appear in The Patriot, Dance of the Monster, A Knight’s Tale a The Brothers Grimm before playing Ennis Del Mar at Brokeback Mountaina role that earned him a 2006 Academy Award nomination in the Best Actor category.

Ledger also famously played the Joker Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knightwhich was released in July 2008 – months after Ledger’s death. The actor was adjudication after death Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in February 2009, exactly 13 months after he died.

Over the years, Ledger has been remembered positively by fellow Hollywood stars. His longtime love Michelle Williams have talk at length for his death. (Ledger and Williams dated from 2005 to 2007, after meeting on the Brokeback Mountain set. They share a daughter, Matilda, born in October 2005.)

Related: Michelle Williams’ Most Bitter Quotes About Heath, Matilda’s Daughter

Stand strong. Michelle Williams is committed to keeping Heath Ledger’s legacy alive and ensuring that their daughter, Matilda Rose, knows who her father was. Williams and Ledger began dating in 2005 after meeting on the set of Brokeback Mountain. They welcomed Matilda in October that year, but went their separate ways in October (…)

“Every time I really miss him and wonder where he’s gone, I look at her,” Williams said. Vogue in September 2009, referring to their daughter. “I can talk about grief, because it’s mine, about single parenthood, about trying to balance work and children. But what I don’t have to talk about is what happened between Heath and I in our relationship. Brokeback Mountain was an unrepeatable moment in time, a very charming time in my life. I was in love. I was in a film I was proud to be a part of and with a beautiful, brand new baby. Everything was good in that moment.”

10 Things I Hate About You costar Julia Stiles remember even his “magnetic presence” in a past interview.

“He had skin for life and it was like always, it wasn’t checked,” the actress recalled. “He was always fully engaged with everyone. A fascinating, fascinating person and actor.”

It was clear that Ledger’s impact was still great in Hollywood when director Nolan received the Golden Globe Best Director for Oppenheimer in 2024.

“The only time I’ve ever been on this stage before was to accept one of these on behalf of our dear friend Heath Ledger, and that was complicated and challenging for me,” Nolan said, in part, during his speech. “And in the middle of talking, I looked up and Robert Downey Jr. caught my eye and gave me a look of love and support – the same look he’s giving me now, the same love and support he’s shown so many people in our community over so many years.”