Heath Ledger Photos & Pics Archive

Heath Ledger’s final film has finally found a domestic buyer, according to Variety.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group is in advanced talks to pick up "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," with plans for it to go out theatrically via Sony Pictures Classics.

The film should be released this year, and due to Heath's untimely death and the star studded cast (Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell), the film is expected to be a "lucrative homevideo title."

The trailer for Heath Ledger's final film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was released online Monday.

The Terry Gilliam film, which was completed after his sudden death last year with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law filling in for Heath, is pure fantasy, and looks to be a fitting finale for Heath's illustrious acting career.

Take a look and tell us your thoughts.

After winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, the late Heath Ledger has been on everyone's mind lately. He was absolutely brilliant in The Dark Knight, but there hasn't been much discussion about his final film role in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - until now.

According to the Risky Business Blog, Heath's sister Kate told reporters backstage at the Oscars that her family is very much "in the loop" on her brother's final movie. Kate said, "We've seen a little bit of the footage. I think it's going to be amazing."

Heath died while the film was still in production, but Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Johnny Depp were brought on board as part of an "elaborate workaround," in which they played different parts of Heath's character. While it seems like the film itself has been saved, the sales and the process of acquiring a deal are proving to be a whole different can of worms.

Numerous domestic buyers were said to be interested in acquiring stateside rights, but apparently marketing this film will be a challenge, as it's considered to be more on the experiemental side. Marketing experts say that retailing the flick as a Ledger film "risks running a word-of-mouth problem with general audiences unaccustomed to that kind of material." A source tells Risky Business Blog, "This movie stars Heath Ledger in his final performance - it will get a deal and come out in the U.S., but it's no accident that it's taking this long."

However, despite the drama, a domestic deal is expected to be announced shortly, and a mini-major or larger indie studio is expected to sign on as well.

A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit over a life insurance company's refusal to hand over the money on Heath Ledger's $10 million policy, the Associated Press reports.

Ledger's daughter, 3-year-old Matilda Rose, is the beneficiary of the policy.

The insurance company had refused to pay the value of the policy while they investigated whether Ledger, who died in New York last January, committed suicide.

A coroner later ruled The Dark Knight star died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Heath Ledger won a posthumous SAG award tonight for best supporting actor in The Dark Knight.

Heath's co-star, Gary Oldman accepted the award saying, "It is a great honor to be asked to accept this on behalf of Heath. He was an extraordinary young man with an extraordinary talent, and it is wonderful that you have acknowledged that and honored that talent tonight. On behalf of Heath, his family and his family on The Dark Knight, I thank you."

Ledger is also nominated for an Oscar for the same role.

The other big winners of the night were the cast of Slumdog Millionaire for best cast in a motion picture. Sean Penn won for his part in Milk for the best male actor in a leading role. Best female actor in a leading role went to Meryl Streep for Doubt and the best supporting actress award went to Golden Globe winner Kate Winslet for The Reader.

Television awards went to Mad Men for best ensemble drama series. 30 Rock picked up the prize for best comedy. Hugh Laurie won for best male actor in a drama series for House. And Sally Field won the same prize for her work in Brothers & Sisters. 30 Rock co-stars Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey picked up the awards for best male and female actor in a comedy series. Paul Giamatti won for best male actor in a TV movie/miniseries for John Adams. His co-star Laura Linney also won.

We've all been chomping at the bit waiting for the 81st Academy Awards nominations, and here they are:

Best picture
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Milk"
"The Reader"
"Slumdog Millionaire"

Best Actor
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Best Actress
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Meryl Streep, "Doubt"
Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin, "Milk"
Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

Best Supporting actress
Amy Adams, "Doubt"
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis, "Doubt"
Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"

Best Adapted screenplay
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
John Patrick Shanley, "Doubt"
Peter Morgan, "Frost/Nixon"
David Hare, "The Reader"
Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Best Original screenplay
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges"
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, "WALL-E"

Best Animated feature film
"Bolt"
"Kung Fu Panda"
"WALL-E"

CLICK AFTER THE JUMP TO SEE THE REST OF THE NOMINEES!

Photos courtesy Universal, Paramount, Warner Brothers, Focus Features

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are among the nominees for the 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards.

Pitt's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button tied with Milk for the most nominations with eight.

Angelina Jolie scored a best actress nomination for her work in Changeling, while Brad was nominated for his backwards aging role in Button.

Sean Penn received a best actor nomination for his role as gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk in Milk, while James Franco was nominated in the best supporting actor category for the same film.

Heath Ledger was honored with a posthumous nomination for best supporting actor for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight.

Check out the complete list of nominations after the jump.

Heath Ledger's final performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" has been honored by the Australian Film Institute.

Ledger's family accepted the posthumous best actor award in a ceremony on Saturday in Melbourne, according to the Associated Press.

The Australian Film Institute said: "It was this swaggering, psychopathic clown that turned his career into a legacy and the name Heath Ledger into an ongoing inspiration for actors everywhere."

Many critics believe Ledger's performance has a solid chance to garner a posthumous Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.

Wow, this is really sad...

Heath Ledger's insurance company is refusing to pay $10 million dollars to his 2-year-old daughter Matilda because the company says he died under "suspicious circumstances."

The company also wants Mary-Kate Olsen to tell them what she knows about Heath's death!

Lawyers for Heath's estate are now suing the insurance company, ReliaStar Life, a subsidiary of ING Americas, accusing the company of bad faith and snooping into Heath's life.

The New York Post is reporting that the insurance company is looking into the possibility that Heath took his own life, which would mean the company would be off the hook for the $10 Mil. The NY medical examiner ruled that Heath died of an accidental overdose of prescription medication.

The insurance company isn't commenting on the suit.

It looks like Heath Ledger's fam has decided to do a truly charitable thing and look out for the most important person in Heath's life: his daughter, Matilda Rose.

Perth Now reports that in the late actor's will, half of his estate was to go to his three sisters and the other half to his parents, Kim Ledger and Sally Bell. The document was signed by Heath on April 12th, 2003 - two years prior to Matilda's birth.

But Heath's father has already taken it upon himself to do the right thing. "Our family has gifted everything to Matilda," he says. And just how much is that?

An estimated $20 million!

We're just glad to know that the little girl will be taken care of. R.I.P, Heath.

Remember that undercover video taken of Heath Ledger supposedly doing drugs at the Chateau Marmont?

Entertainment Tonight was going to air it and then the thought better of it after pressure from publicists and viewers ...

So "Jane Doe" was suing the photo agency that was peddling the video, alledging fraud, intrusion, and unjust enrichment, among other claims. The woman was a reporter on assignment for People magazine.

A judge tentatively dismissed 11 of the 12 claims yesterday, saying most lacked legal standing, according to the AP.

The fuzzy video showed Ledger allegedly doing cocaine and some other drugs supplied by the photographers. And you could see a really blurry outline of the reporter. Her attorney says that "ruined her." A judge thought otherwise, stating that the hotel room had been taken by her for an interview with Ledger and that it was therefore a professional setting, not a private one, and that she had no right to claim invasion of privacy.

Moral of this story ... celebs and reporters alike should Just Say No To Drugs!!!

Mary-Kate Olsen must have breathed a sigh of relief today when she learned that the federal investigation into Heath Ledger's death was closed, and that the DEA subpoena against her will not be enforced.

The Associated Press reports that prosecutors have called off the case "because they don't believe there's a viable target." According to a government official, the subpoena is no longer valid because it was contingent upon prosecutors pursuing the case; however, the case could be brought back if evidence of a crime surfaces.

As you may recall, Mary-Kate's masseuse, Diana Wolozin, was the one who discovered Heath's body in his New York City home on January 22, 2008. Wolozin phoned Mary-Kate before calling 911, which raised questions as to what involvement, if any, the 22-year-old actress had in Heath's death.

Looks like the paps aren't the only ones to receive the silent treatment from Mary-Kate Olsen - the New York Post reports that the Full House actress has refused to be interviewed about her friend Heath Ledger's death!

Not Talking To Cops
The Post claims that Mary-Kate's lawyer has repeatedly fended off the feds seeking to interview the pint-sized actress about Ledger's behavior, possible drug abuse, and the events immediately leading up to his death in January.

Police have been avidly pursuing an interview with Olsen ever since word got out that Heath's masseuse - the first person to discover the actor's body on the scene - called Mary-Kate before contacting the authorities.

Could M-K ID OCs?
According to the Post, the Drug Enforcement Agency thinks Olsen might be able to shed some light on a quantity of OxyContin - a powerful painkiller - found on the scene of Ledger's death.

Numerous drugs were found in Ledger's system and around his apartment, but all were legally obtained through two physicians - except for the Oxys.

The Post says investigators "are trying to ID the source of the OxyContin," according to a source. "Did it come from a dealer, from a friend? If he had a bottle from a friend, was it taken by someone else before police responded? That is what is trying to be determined."

Not Without Immunity?
The Post also alleges that Olsen might be willing to speak to authorities - if they can grant her immunity from prosecution.

Mike Miller, Olsen's lawyer, told the DEA that unless his client were guaranteed immunity, she would exercise her constitutional right and plead the Fifth.

When reached for comment by the Post, Miller would only say "We are not going to comment on whether there is a criminal investigation".

We sure hope Mary-Kate opens up to the cops soon - this sad story deserves a full explanation!

We told you yesterday that The Dark Knight broke the midnight opening record by bringing in $18.5 million, but after everything was tallied up from Friday night sales, the film ended up having the best opening day gross EVER, with an estimated $66.4 million in ticket sales.

The film could score the highest opening ever for a non-holiday weekend if people keep flocking to theaters. The previous record holder for both best opening day and best opening for a non-holiday weekend is Spider-Man 3, which made $59.8 million on its opening Friday, and $151.1 million for the weekend.

Madness!

The Dark Knight shattered box office records for the midnight opening, earning an unprecedented $18,489,000 at the box office last night. Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures made the announcement today, and added:

“We have been thrilled by the response to The Dark Knight, first from the critics and now from audiences. From our earliest screenings, the buzz on the film has been white hot and it hasn’t let up. Now that the opening weekend is here, we are very excited to finally share The Dark Knight with moviegoers nationwide.”

The 12:01 a.m. opening grosses beat the previous record of $16.9 million, which was held by Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith from May of 2005. Insiders have predicted that the film could make up to $150 million this weekend, and Heath Ledger has already gotten Oscar buzz for his role as the Joker.

We can't wait to see it!!!!

Heath Ledger's parents and sister Kate are confirmed to attend the world premiere The Dark Knight tonight, according to Australia's Herald Sun. The newspaper reports that the Ledger family have flown in from Heath's hometown of Perth, and described their journey as a "bittersweet experience."

Ledger has already been receiving Oscar buzz for his role as the Joker, and numerous movie critics are predicting that the latest Batman installment could earn somewhere between $130 to $150 mil in it's opening weekend.

Heath Ledger's hometown of Perth, Australia announced today that they will name a theater in his honor, according to the Associated Press. The Heath Ledger Theater cost an estimated $87 million and holds 575 seats.

Western Australia state Premier Alan Carpenter stated, “Heath Ledger was totally dedicated to the craft of being an actor and that's what made him successful. 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 and said, “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."

Ledger will make his final film appearance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" which opens on July 18.