Heath Ledger was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards, for the extraordinary portrayal of the criminal mastermind the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Ledger’s family announced their pride over the posthumous nomination at the Oscars, but this can’t heal the sorrow they feel for Ledger’s premature death.
The actor died last year on January 22 because of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. Kate Ledger, the actor’s sisters told the Associated Press on Friday that they still feel like it was yesterday when his beloved brother died and that they are all still fighting their broken hearts.
Kate, Ashleigh and Olivia Ledger, his sisters, had read from a statement to reporters on Friday at Cottesloe Beach near Perth, Ledger’s hometown and one of his favorite places. The family also held a memorial lunch at a restaurant on the beach. Bell Ledger added that even if his brother isn’t by their side anymore, they still feel joy and excitement on his behalf for the great nomination.
She also said that Heath had the time of his life interpreting the Joker in “The Dark Knight” and that he used to say that he had had the most fun when working on the movie.
Josh Brolin for "Milk," Robert Downey Jr. for "Tropic Thunder," Philip Seymour Hoffman for "Doubt" and Michael Shannon for "Revolutionary Road” are the ones with whom Ledger competes for the Best Supporting Actor trophy. Many hope for Ledger to win on February 22, as he would be the second actor to receive an Oscar after his death, following Peter Finch in 1976 for “Network.”
There have been a lot of controversies on Ledger’s premature and almost absurd death. The actor, who was 28 when he died, was found by his housekeeper and his masseuse at 2:45 p.m. on January 22 in his fourth-floor loft apartment at 421 Broome Street, Manhattan.
The masseuse had an appointment with Ledger at 3:00 p.m., but she had arrived earlier that day. After she had found the actor’s body, she had called his best friend, actress Mary-Kate Olsen, asking her for help. But because Olsen was in California she sent a New York City private security to the scene.
Wolozin, the masseuse, desperately tried to administrate CPR after she had noticed Ledger wasn’t breathing anymore. Seven minutes after 3:26 p.m. the emergency medical technicians arrived, but it had been impossible to revive him. He was thus pronounced death and taken out of the apartment.
Ledger moved to the United States in 1998 and started forming his acting career. His movies include “10 Things I Hate About You,” from 1999, “The Patriot,” “Monster’s Ball,” A Knight’s Tale” and “The Dark Knight” from 2008. He also used to produce and direct music videos, aspiring to become a film director.
