It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Australian actor Heath Ledger on January 22nd 2008. Although, Heath only starred in one full-fledged teen movie, “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999), he became one of the first actors to be featured at “Hollywood Teen Movies” when the site was launched in 2001. At “Hollywood Teen Movies” we believe that Heath was one of the greatest actors of his generation and sadly his career wasn't even half realized.
In 1999 I viewed “10 Things I Hate About You” at an advanced screening in an Australian cinema. My immediate thoughts were, this is an above average teen movie with an exceptional young cast. Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles stood out as two of the most promising young actors on the scene. A couple of months later I viewed “Two Hands” in an Australian cinema, only a day or two after its initial release. I was simply blown away by the movie and in particular by Heath's performance. A day or two later I was on a flight to Los Angeles and was sitting next a young female that I discovered was involved in the entertainment industry. I cannot remember her name or specifically what kind of work she did, but I think she may have been involved in script writing. What I do remember is a brief part of our conversation. I was flicking through a number of entertainment publications that I had picked up at the magazine outlet of the airport. She saw what I was reading and asked me what films I was interested in and what actors had impressed me most in recent times. I said I had just viewed the film “Two Hands” a couple of days ago. I asked her if she had seen the film and she said no. She asked me about who was in it. I told her that it starred a young Australian actor called Heath Ledger and the older Australian actor Bryan Brown. She said that she had never heard of Heath Ledger, but knew of Bryan Brown. I went on to tell her that I thought that Heath was an actor to watch out for and that I think you will hear a lot about him in the next few years. I also mentioned that I had seen him in the American teen film “10 Things I Hate About You”, earlier in the year and that he had put in a brilliant performance in that film also. She told me, that she had heard about “10 Things” but had not yet seen it. She went on to say that she would keep a look out for Heath in the future.
When “Hollywood Teen Movies” was launched in 2001, Heath's profile page was one of the first of the actor pages to go online and his early films “10 Thing I Hate About You”, “Two Hands”, “The Patriot” and “A Knight Tale”, were among the first films to be featured at “Hollywood Teen Movies”. I am now sure that the young lady I met on the plane back in 1999 has since discovered who Heath Ledger is and now like the rest of the world; knows what Heath Ledger brought to the world of acting in his short life. Heath was a true artist and an exceptional talent who played an array of diverse characters in a collection of high-quality films that both critics and audiences loved. I did not know Heath Ledger, nor did I ever meet him personally. I only knew Heath through his films and I believe Heath was an accomplished artist and a true actor well ahead of his time. He may have only been 28 years of age but the quality of his work was way beyond his years. Heath will be sadly missed by his family, friends and of course his many fans. From “Hollywood Teen Movies” we send our deepest condolences to Heath's family and friends at this very sad time.
The above tribute was originally posted on the front page of Hollywood Teen Movies by Tony (webmaster of www.hollywoodteenmovies.com) on January 22nd 2008.
© Copyright Hollywood Teen Movies. All rights reserved.
If you require further information or have any comments or questions regarding this article you are welcome to send them to the following email address: hollywoodteenmovies@hotmail.com
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Heath's Vital Statistics (2001)
The following Heath Ledger statistics are as published in the Book: "Heath Ledger – Too Good To Be True" by author Grace Catalano.
Full Real Name: Heath Andrew Ledger
Birth Date: 4th April 1979
Birthplace: Perth, Australia
Parent’s Names: Kim & Sally
Siblings: Older Sister, Katie; half-sisters Ashley and Olivia
Hair Color: Blond
Eye Color: Hazel
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 70 Kg
Current Residence: Los Feliz, California
Astrological Sign: Aries
First Ambition: To be a racing car driver
He Drives: 1970 Black Ford Mustang Grande, Land Rover
Little-known facts: He loves rainy days and black-and-white movies
Secret Passion: Photography
Musical Instrument Played: Guitar
Self-description: “Easy-going, independent”.
Best Quality: “I Like To Laugh”.
Secret Desire: He would like to direct a movie someday
Favorite Sports: Hockey, tennis, rugby
Favorite Actors: Gene Kelly, Mel Gibson
Favorite Movie: Summer Stock
Favorite Female Singers: Janis Joplin, Tracy Chapman
Favorite Male Singers: Beck, David Bowie
Favorite Bands: The Doors, Led Zeppelin
Favorite Hobbies: Art, reading, writing
Favorite Exercises: Running, push-ups, chin-ups
Favorite Clothers: Leather jacket, t-shirt, jeans
Favorite Jewellery: Wide black leather bracelet
Message To Fans: “Hold on to your dreams!”
Biggest Thrill: Finding out he got the part in “The Patriot”.
Main Goal: “To succeed, but have fun doing it”.
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Heath Ledger's Key Films:
The following Heath Ledger movies are just a small collection of Key Films that have contributed to his outstanding legacy of work. All of these films are featured here with a brief synopsis and are now available to purchase on DVD. Also, to accompany these fantastic films we have a fine collection of related movie stills that can also be purchased. Please feel free to click the DVD text links or the photos themselves for purchasing information.
"10 Things I Hate About You" Now on DVD:
Click the link below for purchasing details:
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) [DVD]
Flavorful teen farce, loosely patterned after "The Taming of the Shrew," concerns the would-be suitors of a girl forbidden to start dating before her sullen, standoffish big sister, and their schemes to fix the older sib up with the local rebel. Larisa Oleynik, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger star. 97 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital Surround; theatrical trailer.
"10 Things" Movie Stills Now Available:
Click the photos below for purchasing details:
"The Patriot" Now Available on DVD:
Click the link below for purchasing details:
The Patriot (Extended Cut) (2000) [DVD]
Mel Gibson is Benjamin Martin, the legendary "Hero of Fort Wilderness" who has left military life to raise his family on his South Carolina farm in 1776. But after a British commander torches his home and kills one of his sons, Gibson joins with oldest son Heath Ledger to lead a ragtag militia against the Redcoats. This stirring, action-packed epic also stars Chris Cooper, Joely Richardson and Jason Isaacs. Extended version; 175 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital Surround, Spanish Dolby Digital Surround, French Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish; featurettes; filmographies; photo gallery.
"The Patriot" Movie Stills Now Available:
Click the photos below for purchasing details:
"A Knight's Tale" Now Available on DVD:
Click the link below for purchasing details:
A Knight's Tale (Extended Version) (2001) [DVD]
Rousing action scenes and a cheery (if anachronistic) tone drive this medieval romp starring Heath Ledger as a 14th-century squire faced with unemployment when the knight he serves is killed. With help from his sidekicks and a would-be writer named Geoffrey Chaucer, Ledger dons his late master's armor and becomes a hit on the jousting circuit while wooing princess Shannyn Sossamon. With Rufus Sewell, Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, Laura Fraser. Extended version; 144 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French; deleted scenes; "making of" documentary; featurettes; music video.
"A Knight's Tale" Movie Stills Now Available:
Click the photos below for purchasing details:
"The Four Feathers" Now Available on DVD:
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The Four Feathers (Widescreen Version) (2002) [DVD]
Lavish and thrilling treatment of A.E.W. Mason's novel set in 1880s England, as a group of young army officers preparing to fight "Mohammedan fanatics" in the Sudan is shocked when one of their number, general's son Heath Ledger, resigns his commission on the eve of battle. Branded a coward by his comrades and fiancee Kate Hudson, Ledger undertakes a dangerous undercover mission in Africa to redeem his name. With Wes Bentley, Djimon Hounsou. 130 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Surround, French Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; "making of" documentary; featurettes; theatrical trailer.
"The Four Feathers" Movie Stills Now Available:
Click the photos below for purchasing details:
"Lords Of Dogtown" Now Available on DVD:
Click the link below for purchasing details:
Lords Of Dogtown (2005) (Unrated Extended Edition) [DVD]
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke ("Thirteen"), this memorable biopic written by Stacy Peralta examines how he and friends Tony Alva and Jay Adams helped bring skateboarding culture to the mainstream. Rising from their rough Santa Monica neighborhood, the "Z-Boys'" high-flying antics quickly garnered the teens national attention, but they quickly found that staying grounded is the greatest trick of all. John Robinson, Emile Hirsch, Rebecca De Mornay, Victor Rasuk, and Heath Ledger star. Unrated extended version; 110 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; deleted scenes; featurettes; music video; more.
"Lords Of Dogtown" Movie Stills Now Available:
Click the photos below for purchasing details:
"Casanova" Now Available on DVD:
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Casanova (2005) [DVD]
Cheeky romantic comedy stars Heath Ledger as the famed 18th-century womanizer, instructed by a Venetian magistrate to stop his lecherous ways and take a wife or risk banishment. Setting his sights on the virginal Victoria (Natalie Dormer), Casanova soon realizes he's picked the wrong girl when he falls for Francesca (Sienna Miller), a spunky swordfighter who's about to marry a man she's never met. With Oliver Platt, Lena Olin and Jeremy Irons. 111 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English (SDH), French, Spanish; audio commentary; extended scene; featurettes.
"Casanova" Movie Stills Now Available:
Click the photos below for purchasing details:
"Brokeback Mountain" Now Available on DVD:
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Brokeback Mountain (Collector's Edition) (2005) [DVD]
Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) spends the summer of 1963 sheepherding in the beautiful wilderness of Wyoming's Brokeback Mountain, partnering with rodeo cowboy Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal). The two men form a powerful bond they are compelled to hide from their families and from a society unprepared to recognize that their enduring connection is very much a force of nature. A moving and emotional drama from award-winning director Ang Lee, the highly acclaimed film also stars Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, and Randy Quaid. 135 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English (SDH), French, Spanish; deleted scenes; featurettes. Two-disc set.
"Brokeback Mountain" UK Quad Now Available:
Click the British Quad Poster below for purchasing details:
"The Dark Knight" Movie Stills Now Available:
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Heath Ledger Books Now Available:
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