ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

When Heath Ledger Became The Joker, Off Screen

Heath Ledger’s diary, according to a German documentary, has revealed The Joker’s possible role in his death.

Published
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large

If Coulrophobia was a person, he would be Heath Ledger. The legendary actor who played the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, brought his characters to life and how!

A German documentary, Too Young To Die, has reflected on the life of the late actor, revealing how the actor performed his character to death.

There are many theories surrounding the death of the Australian actor even though he is widely believed to have died of combination drug overdose.

His performance as the mentally unstable criminal, the Joker, won him an Oscar award for the best supporting actor – but alas, posthumously.

His father, Kim Ledger, takes you through the diary that may have been instrumental in the rise and fall of the much loved villain of The Batman movie franchise.

So this is the diary - he pretty well locked himself up in a hotel room for a month or so to galvanise the upcoming character in his own mind.
— Kim Ledger, Heath Ledger’s Father

Heath immersed himself in the characters he played and according to his father, he took his homework, as The Joker, to a whole new level.

Inside. He’s laughing red and black and red and black till there’s nothing left to laugh. Until, almost tenderly, he turns inside out through his mouth.
— Heath Ledger’s Dairy About The Joker

The book is filled with all things random that lead to what The Joker aimed to create in the city of Gotham— Chaos.

In a section titled ‘Things That Make Me Laugh’, AIDS is listed along with brunch, the periodic table of elements, blind babies, land mines and beloved pets in bad road accidents among other things.

Here’s something to turn that frown of yours upside down: Heath’s sister used to dress him up as a nurse when they were children.

(With inputs from PTI)

(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
×
×