Prior to Heath Ledger’s sudden and tragic passing in 2008 at the age of 28, the Australian born actor was on his way to becoming one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. From starring alongside Rose Byrne in the indie film Two Hands to winning an Academy Award for his portrayal of the Crown Prince of Crime in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, Ledger’s dedication to his craft could only be matched by a handful of actors in the game.
Seeing as today is the late actor’s 40th birthday, rather than dwell on what could have been and all the awards he undoubtedly would have won, we decided to spend some time highlighting Ledger’s impressive filmography instead. So without further ado, here is our list of Heath Ledger’s 15 greatest performances. Enjoy!
15. The Order (2003)
Synopsis: A young Catholic priest adheres to a rare form of the faith. When he learns of the strange death of his mentor, he travels to Rome with a fellow priest and a woman – who once tried to kill him during an exorcism – to investigate the mystery. What he finds is the truth behind the myth of the Sin Eater, an immortal figure who takes on the sins of the damned to ensure their passage into Heaven.
Cast: Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, Mark Addy, Peter Weller, Benno Fürmann, and Francesco Carnelutti
Director: Brian Helgeland
Source: 20th Century Fox