Hometown Names Theater After Ledger
AP
Posted: 2008-07-01 15:03:38
PERTH, Australia (July 1) - The Australian hometown of the late
actor Heath Ledger named a theater in his honor Tuesday for his
commitment to acting.
The $87 million, 575-seat Heath Ledger Theater in Perth is a
fitting tribute because Ledger was always supportive of other young
actors, Western Australia state Premier Alan Carpenter said at a
naming ceremony.
Heath Ledger's turn as the Joker has awed viewers, including his 'Dark Knight' co-star Christian Bale. "It gave me goose bumps throughout, looking at Heath up there," he says.
Warner Bros.
Early images of Ledger in Joker makeup were released on the Web last year, much to the delight of Batman fans.
Warner Bros.
Ledger's take on the character that Jack Nicholson owned in Tim Burton's original 'Batman' film is said to be his own invention. "He's gone in a completely different direction to Jack," said co-star Michael Caine about Ledger last year. "He's a lovely guy and his Joker is going to be a hell of a revelation in this picture."
Getty Images (1) / Warner Bros. (1)
Ledger's Joker was the focus of the film's first theatrical posters, though posters featuring Bale as the Caped Crusader were later released.
http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com
The film's viral Web sites invited fans to dress up as the Joker. The studio has continued to use Ledger as a selling point leading up to the film's July 18 release.
whysoserious.com/rorysdeathkiss.com
'Batman' aside, Johny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell took over Ledger's role in 'The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus' after the young actors untimely death in the early stages of shooting.
Getty Images / WireImage / Getty Images
Ledger, seen here during the filming of 'Dr. Parnassus,' was named an "essential element" to the movie on the film's insurance policy.
Ian Lawrence, Splash News
Ledger died at 28 of an accidental prescription drug overdose in
New York in January.
"Heath Ledger was totally dedicated to the craft of being an
actor and that's what made him successful," Carpenter said. "I
think what we're doing is continuing that support for young people
who want to make a career in the arts and acting, stage and in
film, whatever it happens to be."
Kim Ledger, the actor's father, called the tribute a pleasant
surprise.
"He was such a giver to the arts right across the board. I
really feel that there's not a lot of things he'd put his name to,
but he'd put his name to that," said Kim Ledger, who attended
Tuesday's ceremony.
Kim Ledger said family members would travel to New York later
this month to attend a screening of "The Dark Knight." Heath
Ledger plays the Joker in the movie, his final full film role. The
actor's performance has already been lauded by critics.
The renewed attention on his son because of the film has made
the family's grieving process difficult, Ledger said.
"It's just been a little more public and the films make it a
little more public as well," he said. "It's been a little bit
hard, but we've always been extremely proud of his work and that
hasn't changed."
Ledger received a best-actor Academy Award nomination for his
role in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain."
"The Dark Knight" opens in theaters July 18.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-07-01 15:01:01
