Heath Ledger: Hollywood's Dark Star »

Heath Ledger was one of the most charismatic actors of his generation. After establishing a high-profile Hollywood career at the age of 21 with the lead in A Knight’s Tale, Ledger pursued a series of increasingly diverse, often subversive roles that belied his image as a teen idol. His untimely death rocked the film world to its core, created an international media storm, and threw a poignant shadow over the completed body of work that has become his legacy. This book explores it all, including Ledger’s relationships with actresses Heather Graham, Naomi Watts, and Michelle Williams; the full story of his career (including the making of both Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight); the dissatisfaction with his own performances that plagued Ledger until the very end; and the resolution of the legal situation surrounding his estate.

Introduction     7
Starting Out     15
Hollywood Calls     39
Golden Years     63
Force of Nature     99
Highs and Lows     121
Dark Star     151
The Last Days     173