OlderChristopher Nolan’s Heath Ledger Tribute
Heath Ledger finished filming this summer’s Batman sequel, The Dark Knight, in which he plays a villain, the Joker. Christopher Nolan, the film’s director, recalls Heath’s charisma and shared these beautiful memories in the latest issue of Newsweek:
“One night, as I’m standing on LaSalle Street in Chicago, trying to line up a shot for The Dark Knight, a production assistant skateboards into my line of sight. Silently, I curse the moment that Heath first skated onto our set in full character makeup. I’d fretted about the reaction of Batman fans to a skateboarding Joker, but the actual result was a proliferation of skateboards among the younger crew members. If you’d asked those kids why they had chosen to bring their boards to work, they would have answered honestly that they didn’t know. That’s real charisma—as invisible and natural as gravity. That’s what Heath had.
Heath was bursting with creativity. It was in his every gesture. He once told me that he liked to wait between jobs until he was creatively hungry. Until he needed it again. He brought that attitude to our set every day. There aren’t many actors who can make you feel ashamed of how often you complain about doing the best job in the world. Heath was one of them.
One time he and another actor were shooting a complex scene. We had two days to shoot it, and at the end of the first day, they’d really found something and Heath was worried that he might not have it if we stopped. He wanted to carry on and finish. It’s tough to ask the crew to work late when we all know there’s plenty of time to finish the next day. But everyone seemed to understand that Heath had something special and that we had to capture it before it disappeared. Months later, I learned that as Heath left the set that night, he quietly thanked each crew member for working late. Quietly. Not trying to make a point, just grateful for the chance to create that they’d given him.
Those nights on the streets of Chicago were filled with stunts. These can be boring times for an actor, but Heath was fascinated, eagerly accepting our invitation to ride in the camera car as we chased vehicles through movie traffic—not just for the thrill ride, but to be a part of it. Of everything. He’d brought his laptop along in the car, and we had a high-speed screening of two of his works-in-progress: short films he’d made that were exciting and haunting. Their exuberance made me feel jaded and leaden. I’ve never felt as old as I did watching Heath explore his talents. That night I made him an offer—knowing he wouldn’t take me up on it—that he should feel free to come by the set when he had a night off so he could see what we were up to.
When you get into the edit suite after shooting a movie, you feel a responsibility to an actor who has trusted you, and Heath gave us everything. As we started my cut, I would wonder about each take we chose, each trim we made. I would visualize the screening where we’d have to show him the finished film—sitting three or four rows behind him, watching the movements of his head for clues to what he was thinking about what we’d done with all that he’d given us. Now that screening will never be real. I see him every day in my edit suite. I study his face, his voice. And I miss him terribly.
Back on LaSalle Street, I turn to my assistant director and I tell him to clear the skateboarding kid out of my line of sight when I realize—it’s Heath, woolly hat pulled low over his eyes, here on his night off to take me up on my offer. I can’t help but smile.”
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That really was beautiful and heartbreaking. It sounds like he was a genuine, down-to-earth nice guy, and he was so talented, it’s just tragic.
Thanks for posting it JJ.
That was wonderful. Thank you Christopher Nolan for letting Heath’s legacy live on. He is and will continue to be missed greatly.
That was beautifully written. I was at the market today and saw the People magazine with his cover with the word death so prominent on the cover. Heath Ledger is no more. Heath Ledger is dead. It’s sad and hurtful for so many who never even knew him. I am so sorry for Michelle’s pain and Matilda’s loss. Pain like that is really hard to overcome, but, at least she and Matilda have each other. Heath’s spirit is sure to remain closeby them both. RIP Heath Ledger
Not sure what to say but this story really touched me.
btw: i didn’t know, hat Lohan slept with him *ewww*
Just wanted to say that an actor like Heath, is all it takes to make me believe in making movies again. I go to work and often look at what we do and wonder if its all just a paycheck. Then you see an actor come on set and make it all matter even if its for a moment, its that magic. I thank him for that and wish he could stay. People like this do matter they make us better, and we need to appreciate them and their time with us.
People need to face two real facts at the same time. 1. Heath was a marvelous actor who gave one of the greatest performances ever in Brokeback. 2. Heath was also according to much evidence something of a druggie who did various drugs at various times. It isn’t the first instance in which a great actor was self-destructive and afflicted by substance abuse. Wasn’t the first; won’t be the last.
its hard to understand why he had to go…but its easy to see why he was here. even if for a brief time…I will miss waiting for your next perfomances…you were brilliant in everything….candy, monsters ball, brokeback…but you were better in life it seems. I know your getting your well deserved rest and I pray your loved ones get through it Heath…thanks for your brief but beauitfully inspiring life, sweet dreams Cassanova ;)
Enough about the drugs and the partying, we put them on a pedestal, we admire them and we trash them when they fall. Heath was a fine young man, I know people who had the pleasure of working with him (on Brokeback). He was soulful and caring and kind, he was a beautiful, hardworking human being. Thats the point, a human being, he was still in his twenties and is he not allowed to have fun or make mistakes. I am so sick of media and ignorant ******** taking potshots at the same people they just weeks ago admired. He is only truely known by his family, his wife and probably a handful of good friends. The rest of us are just guessing and making broad statements about a complicated complete individual. I didn’t know him I can only guess as to his qualities so I will take the word of the few that actually knew him and loved and respected him and the rest of you can just shut up and **** off! Life is too short, hate is too draining and we should look for the glimmer of good in things in these times of darkness.
sorry about the swearing I’m Canadian and we tend to get wired up by stupid people.
i’ve been googling chris nolan’s name ever since Heath’s death to find out his reaction, and now he’s issued this statement. It’s a measured, loving tribute and very poetic piece. The joker will be a revelation.
I read this piece in the UK Telegraph and passed it on to my friends as the best article I had seen on Heath. I am glad you published it. Chris Nolan knew Heath, worked with him towards the end of his life and obviously respected him. So pleased to read something that is not sensationalised. From the first time I saw Heath on screen it made me proud to be a fellow Australian. What a brave, talented young man. He is sadly missed,
There’s no earthly way of knowing. What was in your heart?! When it stopped going. The whole world shook. A storm was blowing through you. Waiting for God to stop this. And up to your neck in darkness. Everything around you was corrupted. Saying something. There’s no dignity in death. To sell the world your last breath. We’re still fighting over. Everything you left over. I saw you staying at the gates. When Marlon Brando passed away. You had that look upon your face. Advertising space. No one learned from your mistakes. We let our profits go to waste. All that’s left in any case is advertising space. Through your eyes the world was burning. Please be gentle. I’m still learning. You seemed to say as you kept turning up. They poisoned you with compromise. At what point did you realize. Everybody loves your life but you. A special agent for the man. Through Watergate and Vietnam. No one really gave a damn. Did you think the CIA did? I’ve seen your daughter. Man, she is cute. I was scared but I wanted to. Boy, she looks a lot like you!
R.I.P. HEAT!!! WE LOVE YOU!
Heath! Everything you have done was magic. [*] I can’t believe that You’re dead…
my heart aches for his family. they will never pick up the phone and hear his voice. michelle has to be there when their daughter has her first school program and she says “I wish Daddy was here to see me” . i hope they have plenty of family video and pictures for her to look at. Heath sounds like he was an everyday person and it is so sad that we lost him so early. After seeing the pictures of his friends and family in the ocean it made me smile. They knew him best and if they could all do that and be smiling and laughing you know Heath had a fun life. He will be missed.
I just wish I knew he was filming in Chicago………..
RIP Heath
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