Heath Ledger was an Australian actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He is best known for his roles in films such as 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, A Knight's Tale, Brokeback Mountain, and The Dark Knight. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight. Ledger passed away in 2008 at the age of 28 due to an accidental overdose.