True or False: Ledger had to attend Cowboy Training Camp to take part in Brokeback Mountain.
Growing up in Australia, Ledger actually already had a lot of experience with rustling cattle and riding horses, so he didn’t have to enrol in any cowboy training camp.
What actress wrote that Ledger was the “love of her life” in her diary after he died?
Surprisingly, Lindsay Lohan and Heath Ledger were allegedly close. Lohan has credited Ledger with helping her with her sobriety. When he died, she wrote a heartbreaking entry in her diary remembering the actor.
Where is Heath Ledger buried?
After he died, Ledger was buried in the family plot next to his grandparents in Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Australia.
When Ledger died, who was the first person notified?
Heath Ledger and Mary-Kate Olsen were close friends, and lived in New York City together. When Ledger’s housekeeper and masseuse found his body, the first person they called was Mary-Kate.
Before his death, what novel was Ledger trying to adapt into a movie for his film directorial debut?
Before he died, Ledger was interested in directing the film version of Walter Tevis’ novel The Queen’s Gambit. The book is about a chess prodigy.
What is Ledger’s very last line in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus?
Ledger actually improvised the “Don’t shoot the messenger line,” as he often improvised the comedic parts of the film.
What was Ledger’s last film?
When Ledger died in 2008, he was still in the middle of filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus with stars like Christopher Plummer and Johnny Depp.
What was NOT in Ledger’s “Joker Diary”?
Ledger’s “Joker Journal” was truly a piece of work, and had stills from A Clockwork Orange as well as pictures of hyenas and clown makeup in its pages.
True or False: Ledger always stayed in character as The Joker.
Although Ledger was very serious about playing The Joker, he wasn’t always in character on set. He would laugh and play around with the crew between takes, and would keep the Joker voice to himself.
Before his death, what blockbuster were producers considering Ledger for?
Since Ledger is Australian and Mad Max is an Australian film, producers were heavily considering him for the title role in the 2015 remake. The role eventually went to Tom Hardy, and the film was a huge hit. Oh, what could have been.
What was NOT one of the creepy things Heath Ledger did to get into character for The Joker?
Ledger took his role as The Joker very seriously. He secluded himself in a hotel room for weeks to get into the mindset, created a journal full of disturbing clippings, and even demanded that Christian Bale really hit him during the interrogation scene in The Dark Knight. But as far as we know, he never visited prison inmates to get into character.
True or False: Heath Ledger was the first person to receive a posthumous Oscar.
Ledger was the first person to receive a posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar, but he was actually the second person to receive a posthumous Oscar in any category. In 1977, Peter Finch won a posthumous Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Howard Beale in the film Network.
True or False: Heath Ledger was the first non-American to play The Joker.
Ledger’s Joker actually had a lot of firsts. In addition to being the first non-American to put on the clown makeup, Ledger was also the youngest person to play The Joker at the time.
What was Ledger’s first American film?
When he auditioned for 10 Things I Hate About You, the future heartthrob was virtually untested, and had never been in a movie across the pond from Australia before.
What classic novel was Ledger and his sister named after?
Ledger’s mother was a huge fan of classic English literature, and she named Heath and his sister Kate after Heathcliff and Catherine, the main characters in Emily Bronte’s novel Wuthering Heights.
Where was Heath Ledger born?
Heath Ledger was born in Perth, Australia, which is in Western Australia.
What is the name for The Joker’s distinctive scars in The Dark Knight?
Those distinctive cuts on The Joker’s face actually have a name in real life: the cut pattern is called a “Glasgow Smile.”
When asked, what did Ledger name as his most disappointing role?
Ledger looked back on his role in the 2005 film Casanova with disappointment. He said he didn’t like the approach he decided to take for the part.
What is Heath Ledger’s daughter’s name?
Matilda Rose Ledger was born in October 2005 to Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger.
According to Ledger, what was his favorite role he ever played?
As it turns out, Ledger’s favorite film role is also most everyone’s favorite film role that he did: The Joker in The Dark Knight.
What film was Heath Ledger’s debut?
Clowning Around was an Australian production, and Ledger’s first feature film role. He played an orphan clown. Eerily, this means that Ledger’s first and last completed film roles were clowns.
Who is NOT someone Ledger dated?
Though Heath Ledger starred alongside Anne Hathaway in Brokeback Mountain, he was never romantically linked to the starlet.
What was the name of the character Heath Ledger played in Brokeback Mountain?
Ledger’s role as Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain was a breakthrough dramatic role for the actor, and made him a true contender on the Hollywood scene. The film won Best Director at the 2006 Academy Awards.
What Marvel superhero did Ledger pass up playing?
Ledger was offered the iconic role of Spider Man in 2002, but he turned it down. Looking at the success of superhero movies today, we wonder if he would have some regrets about this—or if he would have been perfectly happy with his decision.
What 1950s star particularly inspired Heath Ledger?
Although Ledger never starred in a musical, he was extremely inspired by the work of Gene Kelly, and his choreography chops can be seen in movies like 10 Things I Hate About You.
True or False: Heath Ledger is a classically trained actor.
Although he was bitten by the acting bug early and starred in some school productions, Ledger was never classically trained in acting, and used only his natural instincts and talent to propel him to stardom.
What was Heath Ledger’s first starring role?
When he was 13, Ledger starred in his school’s production of Peter Pan, playing the title role. The rest, as they say, is history.
Growing up, what pet did Ledger have?
Fulfilling some ridiculous Australian stereotypes, Ledger did indeed have a kangaroo as a pet when he was a kid—his mom found the kangaroo and gave it to her son.
What sport was Heath Ledger really into as a teenager?
Ledger was in love with field hockey as a child, and even joined the Sate U17 Squad. People thought he might be able to go pro, but he set his sights on acting instead.
How many sisters did Ledger have?
The only boy in a family of girls, Ledger had one full sister and two half-sisters, for three total. He was particularly close to his full sister Kate.
Your Results
You’re a fan of Heath Ledger!
Maybe you saw him first all the way back in 10 Things I Hate About You, or maybe you just admire his work as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Either way, you’re one huge fan of Heath Ledger.
You’re a Heath Ledger Super Fan!
You’ve probably watched The Dark Knight 20 times at this point, and your Heath Ledger knowledge is almost unbeatable.
You’re president of the Heath Ledger Fan Club!
You’ve got all the memorabilia, you’ve seen The Dark Knight countless times, and you loved him from the moment he got his start in 10 Things I Hate About You. You’re a Heath Ledger super fan!
Happy With Your Test Score? This video can help you do better on any quiz... even if you know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the topic.
Quiz
On January 22, 2018, more than a decade ago, Heath Ledger died from accidental intoxication. The world mourned the talented actor who brought so much to his iconic roles in films like Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight—and he had so much more left to give. But although he is gone, he’s not forgotten: his turn as Batman’s nemesis The Joker is still talked about today, and his legacy lives on. So how much do you about Heath Ledger?
More from Factinate
Featured Article
My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.
Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
Featured Article
Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
More from Factinate
Featured Article
I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.
When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
Featured Article
Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.
Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
Dear reader,
Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!
Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!
Warmest regards,
The Factinate team