Heath Ledger and Christopher Nolan drew inspiration from Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (1971) for the portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight. Ledger's preparation for the role included imagining the Joker's inner thoughts and living in seclusion in a London hotel room.

Heath Ledger was born on April 4, 1979. He quickly rose to international stardom in the '90s and early 2000s due to his talent, determination, and diverse roles.

Heath Ledger's parents divorce in May 1988.

Heath Ledger becomes a part of the Kalamunda Field Hockey team where his father serves as the president.

Heath Ledger's aunt passes away due to lung cancer, an event that significantly impacts his perspective on life.

Heath Ledger's graduation in November 1995.

He joins the Globe Shakespeare Company in Perth, Australia.

He portrays a gay cyclist in the Australian TV series, Sweat.

He stars in the Fox drama, Roar, and begins dating co-star Lisa Zane. The series lasts for one season.

He makes his film debut in Blackrock, an Australian film.

In 1998, Heath Ledger relocated to the United States to further develop his film career. This move marked a significant shift in his acting journey.

He stars in an Australian film, Two Hands.

Heath Ledger stars in the movie The Patriot alongside Mel Gibson and performs his own stunts. He was selected for the role due to his 'exuberant youth' as noted by the producers and director.

Heath Ledger plays the character of peasant squire William Thatcher in the movie A Knight's Tale directed by Brian Helgeland. During filming, an incident occurs where Heath accidentally knocks out one of the director's front teeth with a broomstick.

He and Heather Graham end their relationship.

Heath Ledger stars in Monster's Ball alongside Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton, portraying the character Sonny Grotowsky.

Heath Ledger meets Naomi Watts on the set of Ned Kelly and they start a romantic relationship.

Heath Ledger stars in The Four Feathers alongside Kate Hudson.

Heath Ledger stars in the film 'The Order' alongside Shannyn Sossamon and Mark Addy. The movie is written and directed by Brian Helgeland, who previously worked with the trio in 'A Knight's Tale'.

Heath Ledger and Naomi Watts announce their separation through a statement from Ledger's sister and publicist. Both actors decided to end their relationship amicably due to their busy careers leading them in different directions.

Heath Ledger met and fell in love with Michelle Williams on the set of the film Brokeback Mountain in 2004.

He stars in The Brothers Grimm, a film directed by Terry Gilliam and featuring Matt Damon.

He engages in a controversial act by throwing eggs at paparazzi.

He plays a significant role in the movie Brokeback Mountain.

Ledger's daughter, Matilda Rose, was born on 28 October 2005 in New York City to actress Michelle Williams. Matilda's godparents are Jake Gyllenhaal and Busy Philipps.

During the Sydney premiere of Brokeback Mountain in January 2006, several paparazzi retaliated by squirting Ledger and Williams with water pistols on the red carpet.

In 2006, the user starred in the film Casanova alongside Sienna Miller and Jeremy Irons. The movie was directed by Lasse Hallstrom and is a portrayal of the life of Giacomo Casanova.

Filming for the movie 'I'm Not There', which is based on the life of Bob Dylan, starts.

No specific details provided about the event.

Ledger created and acted in a music video set to Nick Drake's song 'Black Eyed Dog' in 2007, inspired by Winston Churchill's term for depression. The video was shown publicly at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle.

During a news conference at the Venice Film Festival while promoting 'I'm Not There', Heath Ledger discusses his fascination with English singer/songwriter Nick Drake, describing him as a mysterious figure. Ledger expresses his interest in telling Drake's story in the future.

US Weekly reports the end of Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams' relationship, although the couple does not confirm the news.

Ledger's music video for Nick Drake's 'Black Eyed Dog' was shown at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on 5 October 2007 as part of a celebration of Nick Drake. The event included short filmed homages to Drake.

Heath Ledger discusses his portrayal of the Joker in the movie 'Joker', mentioning that his version of the character is a psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy. He reveals that he isolated himself in a hotel room for a month to prepare for the role, drawing inspiration from Sid Vicious and 'A Clockwork Orange'.

On November 21, 2007, the movie 'I'm Not There' opens, where Ledger plays Bob Dylan alongside Cate Blanchett.

Heath Ledger passed away in 2008, leaving a significant impact on the entertainment industry.

Heath Ledger is reported to be dating again after his previous relationship with Michelle Williams.

Heath Ledger is found dead in his Manhattan apartment. The cause of death is suspected to be an accidental overdose of sleeping pills, amidst rumors of previous drug abuse problems.

Heath Ledger's family, Australian officials, Warner Bros., and fans worldwide paid tribute to the actor after his death. Messages of grief and condolences were shared by various individuals and organizations.

Michelle Williams publicly expressed her heartbreak over Ledger's death and mentioned how Ledger's spirit lives on in their daughter.

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York released the autopsy and toxicology report on Heath Ledger's death. The report attributed Ledger's death to acute intoxication from a mix of prescription drugs, ruling it as accidental.

A memorial service attended by hundreds of guests was held for Ledger at Penrhos College, followed by his cremation at Fremantle Cemetery and a private service with close family members.

Ledger posthumously shared the ISP Robert Altman Award on 23 February 2008, which director Todd Haynes praised highly Ledger's directorial work in music videos.

After Heath Ledger's death, there was controversy surrounding his will filed in New York City in 2008. His father emphasized the financial well-being of his daughter Matilda Rose and the importance of her mother, Michelle Williams, in their family.

A report published in The Daily Telegraph suggested that Heath Ledger may have fathered a secret love child when he was 17, potentially impacting the distribution of his estate. However, the claims were later denied by Ledger's family and the other party involved.

Reports indicated that there were legal disputes over Heath Ledger's estate, with suggestions that his daughter Matilda Rose might be entitled to a significant portion. The executors applied for probate in the West Australian Supreme Court to handle the distribution of the estate.

The US Attorney's Office in Manhattan closed the investigation into Heath Ledger's death without pressing charges or implicating Mary-Kate Olsen or the two doctors initially under scrutiny. The source of the drugs that caused Ledger's death remained unknown.

Heath Ledger's father announced that the family had decided to leave the $16.3 million fortune to Ledger's daughter Matilda. The entire fortune, including posthumous earnings, was estimated to be around $20 million.

Heath Ledger was nominated for two People's Choice Awards for his work in The Dark Knight, winning the award for 'Best Onscreen Match-Up' shared with Christian Bale.

Heath Ledger won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight, with director Christopher Nolan accepting the award on his behalf.

Heath Ledger posthumously won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Dark Knight, becoming the first comic-book movie actor to win an Oscar for acting.

The film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, in which Heath Ledger starred, was released on Christmas Day in 2009. Ledger's role was recast after his death, with Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell portraying his character in a magical realm.

The State Theatre Centre of Western Australia named a theatre after Ledger in his hometown of Perth, displaying his Academy Award and Joker costume for the opening.

The documentary 'I Am Heath Ledger' was released on 3 May 2017, featuring archival footage of Ledger and interviews.

Heath Ledger, also known as Heathcliff Andrew Ledger, was an Australian actor known for his exceptional talent and versatile roles in various films. He left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry with his memorable performances.