After Heath Ledger's tragic passing, his famous friends stepped in to help his daughter
Johnny Depp was one of several big names who stepped up with an incredibly kind gesture for Heath Ledger’s daughter after the actor’s sudden death.
Ledger, known for unforgettable roles in films like The Dark Knight, Brokeback Mountain, and 10 Things I Hate About You, tragically passed away at just 28 years old. He was found in his New York apartment, and his death was later confirmed to be an accidental overdose.
He left behind his young daughter, Matilda Rose, whom he shared with fellow actor Michelle Williams. The couple met while working on Brokeback Mountain in 2004, and Matilda was born the following year in 2005.
Ledger's passing deeply affected the Hollywood community, and many of his close friends came together to support his daughter Matilda in the aftermath.
Johnny Depp made headlines when he offered to give his entire earnings from the 2009 fantasy film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus to Matilda. The movie turned out to be Ledger’s final role and was released after his death, alongside The Dark Knight.
Depp wasn’t alone in this act of generosity. His co-stars from the same film, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, also pledged their full salaries to Matilda, who was just two years old at the time.
While Matilda is now financially secure, her future was further supported when Ledger’s family chose to pass on his entire estate—reportedly worth around $20 million (£15 million)—directly to her.
Now 19 years old, Matilda tends to live a very private life and is believed to be living with her mother in New York City, away from the spotlight her father once occupied.
Heath Ledger’s place in film history was firmly set thanks to his unforgettable performance as the Joker opposite Christian Bale in Christopher Nolan’s 2008 blockbuster The Dark Knight. His chilling portrayal earned him multiple posthumous awards, including an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, as well as a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.
Ledger's version of the Joker left a powerful impression not just on audiences, but also on his fellow actors. Michael Caine, who played Bruce Wayne’s trusted butler Alfred in the trilogy, once confessed how shaken he was seeing Ledger's performance up close.
"Absolutely floored me the first time I saw him in action - I was terrified," Caine recalled in his book Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over: My Guide to Life.
"We were all terribly shocked, and it made doing the publicity for The Dark Knight that summer much more intense, because all the journalists wanted to talk about his death," he added.
"It still makes me sad to think of it… [it's] a performance for the ages."
