Heath Ledger's 10 Best Movie Roles

See all the most iconic works within the Health Ledger filmography in celebration of the Australian actor's lasting impact on the entertainment industry.

Australian actor Heath Ledger first captured the attention of audiences with his breakout role in the 1999 cult-classic film 10 Things I Hate About You, the teen romcom based on a classic Shakespeare play. Thanks to his good-humored nature, charming looks, and masterful acting, Ledger quickly skyrocketed to stardom, and starred in countless films across the following 10 years, all of which stand out in the complete Heath Ledger filmography.

Ledger grew up in Perth, Australia, and discovered his passion for acting at age 10 in a school play. Ledger's older sister was also interested in pursuing acting, and in a chance encounter, he met with her agent for a short moment, and walked out with a role, marking the beginning of his career. Following his high school graduation, Ledger left Perth for Sydney, where he lived until his reputation truly took off.

Ledger tragically passed in 2008, and at just 28 years old left behind an entire career’s worth of work. From sinister characters like the Joker in The Dark Knight to his more warmhearted role as the mysterious jock in 10 Things I Hate About You, the Australian-born actor could do it all. He spent only 33 minutes on screen as the Joker in The Dark Knight and yet won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for the movie. The Dark Knight was released posthumously, alongside Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, the last movie Ledger would star in.

Off-screen, Ledger was equally multifaceted. The accomplished actor was also a photographer, director, and owner of a successful production company called The Masses. When he passed, Ledger was working on adapting the 1983 novel The Queen’s Gambit, which captivated Netflix audiences back in 2020 and would have been the actor’s feature film directorial debut. The movie was a personal choice for Ledger who grew up playing in chess tournaments and continued in his off time as an actor for pleasure.

In honor of his lasting legacy, L’OFFICIEL looks back at his 10 most memorable movie roles from the extensive Heath Ledger filmography.

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In the 1999 film that launched his career, '10 Things I Hate About You' features a young Heath Ledger as the charming yet rebellious love interest of Julia Stiles' character Kat.

In 2001 Ledger stars opposite Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thorton, and Sean Combs in "Monster's Ball." Ledger plays a troubled corrections officer whose concern for the treatment of prisoners by his father (another officer) was an integral part of the film.

Released in 2001, 'A Knights Tale' features 21-year-old Ledger as the handsome and adored hero William Thatcher.

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Perhaps his most ephemeral role, Ledger plays the titular character in 2005's "Casanova."

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Playing opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Ledger's role in the 2005 romance "Brokeback Mountain," has cemented itself in pop culture and is among the most important LGBTQ+ films of the 21st century.

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Set in Venice Beach, Ledger plays surf shop owner Skip Engblom in the 2005 drama "Lords of Dogtown."

Directed by Terry Gilliam, Ledger takes on the role of Jacob Grimm in the adventure fantasy "The Brothers Grimm."

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Ledger plays Robbie Clark, an actor portraying Jack Rollins, in "I'm Not There," a biographical film about Bob Dylan.

The actor's most famous and critically acclaimed role is that of the Joker in "The Dark Knight" which was released after Ledger's death in 2008.

The last movie Ledger would star in is Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." In the movie, Ledger shares a role four ways with Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell.