When most people hear the name Heath Ledger they automatically think of Christopher Nolan's Batman franchise and the work he did as the Joker. Or some people think of bad boy Patrick Verona in 10 Things I Hate About You.
Heath Ledger gave us some of the best films the industry has ever seen. 10 Things I Hate About You, Brokeback Mountain, Candy, The Dark Knight, and more. Ledger was making his way to the top and nothing was going to stop him. He pushed boundaries and he never played the same character twice. He was always looking for different roles, different ways he could transform himself. And that's his legacy.
10 Things I Hate About You is a cult classic. One of the quintessential teen movies about growing up and falling in love. But it was much more than that. It was Ledger's first major American film role and with a cast including Julia Stiles and a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the movie was hard not to love. After the movie's success, everyone knew the name Heath Ledger and everyone had their eyes on him.
Brokeback Mountain was quite a controversial movie at the time. Depicting a relationship between two men in the 1960s in the American West was something unheard of. Many people were outraged that they would make a movie about this. A Utah theater cancelled the showing of the film stating that it went against "traditional families" and that this was "dangerous". Many conservatives were also furious about the movie, stating that the film was promoting a "gay agenda". As if Heath Ledger couldn't get more amazing, at a press conference he said that it didn't matter that it was between two men. The love between them was the same as anyone else's. He won critical acclaim for this role, many even stating it was his best film.
In 2006, a year after the release of Brokeback Mountain, Ledger starred in the Australian film Candy. A story about love and drugs, it proved further the versatility Ledger had as an actor. The story was heart-wrenching and we watched in agony as our protagonists struggled with drug abuse and the love they had for one another. Not many people know of this movie which is a shame because Ledger puts forth one of his best performances to date.
Ledger's most famous role is playing the Joker in Christopher Nolan's acclaimed film The Dark Knight. When you think of the Joker you most likely think of Heath Ledger. His adaptation is one of, if not the greatest portrayal of the Joker of all time. He worked tirelessly to make sure that this role was perfect. After all, how could you follow up Jack Nicholson? He took it upon himself to perfect the laugh, the dialect, the body language, absolutely everything that could go into carving a character. People would rush to the set when he was on because he was so electrifying. He gave us the modern day psychopath we were so desperately craving.
So why is all of this important? Why is Heath Ledger still important? He made a name for himself and was one of the most versatile actors. He didn't stop at acting either. He directed music videos for friends and wanted to be a director someday. He took every role and made it into his own. He had the whole world ahead of him after the Joker. He was an acclaimed actor and a lot of people didn't start praising him until after his death. His contributions to the film industry are substantial. He's still so important today because he showed us what hard work can give to us. He gave us some of the most iconic roles in film. He had an amazing personality, it was so hard not to love him.
Heath Ledger has shown us that he was one of the most versatile actors in the industry and that he was one of a kind. His legacy will live on and we will always remember what he stood for. He gave us unconventional roles and shocking portrayals. But he never once regretted any of it. And that is why Heath Ledger is still an icon today.
