“I never had money, and I was very happy without it. When I die, my money’s not gonna come with me. My movies will live on – for people to judge what I was as a person. I just want to stay curious.”—Heath Ledger

Exactly one year later ago today, the news of Heath Ledger’s shocking death became known to all across the world. Oddly enough, today is the day that Heath was nominated for an Oscar for his role in The Dark Knight. Quite frankly, I really do despise writing about sad shiznit, so instead of the usual rig-a-ma-role you have access to reading regarding his death, I am instead going to write about happiness, rainbows, and butterflies. I didn’t know Heath personally, but let me tell ya, I loved the guy. He was a talented actor and I miss him. My heart just breaks for that little girl, but I think it is important for her to know that her daddy was a good man and touched the hearts of many in person and in the limelight.

I went through and picked out some of my favorite shots of Heath and a few fun little tidbits about the hunky stud to enjoy. RIP Heathy.

“It’s a little uncomfortable doing love scenes in armor, but, you know, when the heat’s on, the heat’s on.” – Heath told “Access Hollywood” in 1996

**Heath and his older sister, Kate Ledger, are named after the two main romantic characters of the Emily Brontë novel, “Wuthering Heights”.

**Heath concentrated on drama and sports in school. When asked to choose between the two, he picked drama. Attended a private all-boys school called Guildford Grammar.

**Auditioned for the part of Max on the TV show “Roswell” (1999). However, the show was originally developed for Fox and since he had already starred in “Roar” (1997), which was unsuccessful for Fox, they did not want to hire him.

**Had three sisters: Catherine (Kate) Ledger, married to Nathan Buckey, and half sisters Olivia Ledger (b. 1997) and Ashleigh Bell (b. 1989).

**Mother was Sally Ramshaw (daughter of John and Jackie Ramshaw) and father was Kim Ledger (son of Colin and Es Ledger). Stepfather was Roger Bell and stepmother was Emma Brown. His great-grandfather was Sir Frank Ledger, son of Edson Leger.

**Named one of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 2001.

**Dated Heather Graham. [October 2000 - June 2001]

**Was a part of the 1990 Kalamunda Field Hockey team, whose president his father Kim was from 1990 to 1992.

**Was a men’s-fashion judge at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in November 2001.

**Was originally set to star in Oliver Stone’s Alexander (2004) before Colin Farrell took over the role.

**Was considered for the role of Kar in Bulletproof Monk (2003) but eventually turned it down. The role later went to Seann William Scott.

**Dated Naomi Watts from August 2002 to May 2004.

**He and Naomi Watts broke up for the 2nd time in April 2004.

**Worked with Orlando Bloom in Ned Kelly (2003). Ledger worked with Scottish actor James Cosmo in The Four Feathers (2002). Both Bloom and Cosmo worked together in the movie Troy (2004).

**Was named “the new Matt Damon” in Josie and the Pussycats (2001). They now act side by side in The Brothers Grimm (2005)

**Was of Irish and Scottish ancestry.

**Starred in 3 films which screened at the 2005 Venice Film Festival. They included Brokeback Mountain (2005), The Brothers Grimm (2005) and the out-of-competition Casanova (2005).

**Former fiancée Michelle Williams gave birth to daughter Matilda Rose Ledger on 28 October 2005, who weighed in at 6 lb, 5 oz.

**Met Michelle Williams on the set of Brokeback Mountain (2005).

**Heath was selected in the State U17 squad in field hockey and was touted as one of the up and coming young stars, but chose to pack it in and try to make a career out of acting.

Click after the jump for more about the life of Heath Ledger.
(more…)