Heath Ledger’s father shared images of the journal written by the actor while preparing to play the Joker in “The Dark Knight”.
Heath Ledger’s father shared images of the journal written by the actor while preparing to play the Joker in “The Dark Knight”.
The journal first appeared in 2012 in the documentary series “Too Young to Die,” about the premature death of stars like Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Kurt Cobain, and Ledger, who passed away at 28 years old.
Recently, clips from the actor’s father showing his son’s journal and talking about his dedication to his most iconic role of his career have resurfaced online.
In a video posted on an Instagram page, Kim Ledger explains how his son “locked himself in a hotel room for weeks” to prepare for filming. While flipping through the journal pages, the father shows how the actor was inspired by clippings from old Batman comics, images of clowns, and the character Alex from “A Clockwork Orange.”
“He dove deeply into the character that was to come, on all levels,” says the father in the clip. “That was typical of Heath.”
Heath Ledger passed away on January 22, 2008, six months before the release of “The Dark Knight”; his portrayal of the Joker was awarded a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and is still celebrated by movie fans today.
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