Today, April 4, Heath would be 33 years old. Known for his roles in A Knight’s Tale, Brokeback Mountain and Dark Knight, the actor’s legacy lives on in his movies and through his six-year-old little girl Matilda Ledger. 

Heath’s ex and mother to his daughter Michelle Williams recently commented on the late star’s tragic and sudden passing.

She told GQ‘s January issue of morning the Oscar winner’s death: 

“It was making me crazy. I felt like I was going crazy. It was too much — trying to deal with what had happened and trying to deal with what was at our doorstep. I just felt trapped. And it’s not just me — there’s somebody else who I’m trying to protect, and I can’t. I can’t make it stop, I can’t make it go away. Trying to find ways to explain it or shield her from it. It’s like you’re trying to go about your life, and make dinner…but the roof is off of your house, and the walls are falling down.”

In 2009, Heath won an Academy Award for his role as the Joker in Dark Knight, a part some speculate caused him to gain insomnia and possible drug use. “This award tonight …. validated Heath’s quiet determination to be truly accepted accepted by you all here, his peers, in an industry that he so loved,” Ledger’s father, Kim, said, accepting the Oscar on his son’s behalf with Ledger’s mother, Sally Bell, and the actor’s sister, Kate Ledger. “We have been truly overwhelmed by the honor and respect bestowed on him with this award,” Sally Bell said.

The band’s former bassist, Mikey Welsh, passed away at the age of 40 on October 8 in a Chicago hotel room. While the loss of Mikey is sad in and of it’s self, the circumstances around his death are down right eery.

On September 26, he tweeted:

“dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today.”

Not too much is known around what may have been the cause for his death, although The Daily Mail is reporting that it was a possible drug overdose.

Mikey isn’t the first celeb who has been lost before their time. Check out other celebs who were just simply gone too soon.

It sounds like a good old-fashioned, action-packed western! To celebrate the release, Celebuzz has put together a gallery of some of the most memorable movie cowboys to ever hit the big screen. The gallery includes some of the most memorable performances in film history, and there is no shortage of star power. Big time celebs like Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Hugh Jackman have all flung the lasso and slung their guns on screen, but can you name the movies?

Take a trip down memory lane to see these A-listers in their cowboy hats and plaid shirts, as well as some more familiar faces you may not have seen in a while! For more on the release of Cowboys and Aliens and other upcoming movies, be sure to check out Celebuzz on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

“I can’t find a meaning for it,” the Blue Valentine star said on Nightline. “I can find meanings in things and people and relationships that have sprung up, and friendships that have strengthened. I can find a lot of meaning in that, but not in why.”

Williams also told ABC’s Cynthia McFadden that she misses 2008, the year Ledger died.

“In a strange way, I miss that year, because all those possibilities that existed then are gone… it didn’t seem unlikely to me that he could walk through a door or could appear behind a bush. It was a year of very magical thinking, and in some ways I’m sad to be moving further and further away from it.”

Though Michelle is moving on in her film career, scoring a Golden Globe nomination for her Valentine role, she denies she is romantically involved with co-star Ryan Gosling (who has also been linked lately to Blake Lively.)

But, “Creatively, we are doing it,” Gosling tells Nightline with a sly smile.

Watch the video here:

What do you think about Michelle’s comments on Heath’s death? Sound off in the comments.

Christopher Nolan, who’s currently gearing up to direct the upcoming Batman flick The Dark Knight Rises, is reportedly considering using previously unseen footage of Ledger as The Joker from his portrayal in 2008′s The Dark Knight in the new project. According to a source,

“The idea is to use these fragments of cut scenes and use CGI to have The Joker appear one last time. Chris wants some continuity between movies and for the franchise to pay tribute to Heath and his portrayal of the Joker…It would only be a fleeting moment in the movie and would only be included with the full consent of Heath’s family.”

Ledger died of a prescription drug overdose at the age of 28 in January 2008, shortly after completing work on The Dark Knight. He was awarded a posthumous Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actor category for the role the following year.

Do you think it would be a wise idea to include footage of Ledger in The Dark Knight Rises? Check him out in this clip from The Dark Knight below and let us know in the comments section.

In the 2008 tapes, Lindsay’s mom Dina tells Michael that Heath’s shocking drug overdose devastated their daughter and “f***ed her up.” She reveals,

“And she was dating Heath when he died. I don’t know if you know that, but I know cause I would drop her off and they were friends very, very close, ok?”

Dina went on, telling Michael that she was afraid that Lindsay would meet a similar fate.

“Because when she’s drunk or takes an Adderall with it she will do something like Heath Ledger did in a second without thinking.”

She also emphasized the severity of Lindsay’s addiction to Samantha Ronson and her fear of being by herself.

“She cannot be alone. When she sleeps here she sleeps with me… she has fears from being little and what you did to us.”

“It’s very easy for a rational person to say. But for an irrational person who has a problem with her DNA and alcohol and Adderall and asthma and every other things she’s got wrong with her.”

To listen to the tape, head over to Radar Online.

What do you think about the latest tape?

Check out these French posters for the film featuring Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, plus behind-the-scenes shots of Depp, Farrell and Law on the Vancouver sound stage of the movie.

Do you think Heath’s last film will be a hit? Let us know in the comments section!

Ledger died while filming the Terry Gilliam-directed fantasy, prompting Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law to step into the role so the film could be finished, donating their fees to Ledger’s daughter, Matilda.

Click the pics and let us know in the comments section: Do you plan on seeing Heath in his last performance?

Check out this video from Terry Gilliam‘s upcoming movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which Heath Ledger was working on at the time of his January 2008 death.

Following Heath’s passing, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law stepped in to fill the role of Tony so that  the film could be completed, donating their salaries to Ledger’s daughter, Matilda Rose.

From the looks of the trailer, Doctor Parnassus should be quite the visual feast.

Check out the clip and let us know in the comments section: Do you think The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus will be a hit or a flop at the box office?

At the opening ceremony of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, an 18-second clip from the Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus was played for the lucky audience. Dressed in a white costume, Heath addresses the audience of his traveling Imaginarium.

In the movie, Heath plays the leader of a magical theatre troupe who has made a deal with the devil, and take their audience on a journey through their own imaginations. Heath was in the middle of filming the fantasy film when he tragically passed away last January.

Ledger’s role was recast with Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Johnny Depp, as they play his character Tony as he travels through a dream world. All three actors are donating their salaries from the movie to Ledgers’s young daughter, Matilda.

Currently, the film does not have a release date.

Tell us: Are you excited to see the Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus?

Billboard magazine reports that two music videos directed by the late actor will be released this year. The first video is an animated effort for the song “King Rat,” a bonus track off of Modest Mouse‘s 2007 release We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. Ledger directed the video, which was animated by director and illustrator Daniel Auber, after meeting Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock in Australia.

“Heath and I have a mutual friend and when we were in Australia, my fiancé and some of us in the band went out on a boat with him and his family and friends and talked about the idea,” Brock told VH1 in 2007. “The idea sort of dropped, but then he just sent me an email saying that he wanted to do it.”

The second video will be for Australian singer Grace Woodroofe‘s cover of David Bowie‘s “Quicksand.” Woodroofe’s debut album, produced by Ben Harper, will be released this year. The album will be released by Masses Music Co., a record label launched by Harper and Ledger in 2007.

His father Kim, mother Sally Bell, and sister Kate all spoke about Heath’s “amazing work” on the stage of the Kodak Theatre last night, bringing many of the celebs in the audience to tears (including Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Adrien Brody and Kate Winslet):

In an unsurprising win, Heath Ledger won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 81st Acacemy Awards tonight.

Ledger swept for his portrayal of the psychotic Joker in Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight.

The award was presented by a quintuplet of past Supporting Actor Oscar winners - Alan Arkin, Joel Grey, Adrian Brody, Christopher Walken, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Kevin Kline.

Accepting for Heath was his father Kim Ledger, mother Sally Bell, and sister Kate.

Kim thanked the Academy for “recognizing our son’s amazing work.”

As the trio spoke about Heath and his dedication to be “accepted” by the assembled artists in the auditorium, the ABC cameras cut to several celebrities in the audience whose eyes were welling up with tears.

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Adrien Brody, and Anne Hathaway all looked particularly stricken.

Heath, who died in January 2008 of a prescription drug overdose, is the second actor in Oscar history to win an award posthumously.

Peter Finch won an award for Best Actor for Network in 1976 after his death.

Penelope Cruz won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Javier Bardem’s psychotic ex-girlfriend in Woody Allen‘s Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

She gave her speech in both English and Spanish (just like her beau Bardem last year), and gave a rousing speech about the importance of art and dedicated her statue to “all the actors in my country.”

She charmed the audience when asking “has anybody ever fainted here? I might be the first one.”

Matilda, Heath’s daughter with actress Michelle Williams, will acquire the statuette when she turns 18. That is, if she files the appropriate paperwork, according to the Associated Press.

Ledger is nominated for his performance as the villainous Joker in The Dark Knight. He has already won a posthumous Golden Globe for the role.

The legalities and ceremony behind Heath’s possible win are complex, says Bruce Davis, executive director of the academy.

“It’s complicated, because there are two different questions that have to be answered,” Davis explains. “First, we have to decide who gets the job of accepting the award onstage on the night of the ceremony. And then there’s the question of the eventual disposition of the posthumous statuette, which may not stay with the person who accepts it.”

If the winner of the Oscar is deceased (Ledger died last year of a prescription drug overdose), the statuette goes to his spouse or oldest living child.

Ledger and Williams were broken up at the time of his death, so the Oscar would go to little Matilda. The decision was reached after some careful thought.

“In the event that Heath Ledger should be selected as the supporting actor recipient, the statuette will be held in trust for his daughter by her mother, Michelle Williams, until Matilda reaches the age of 18,” says Davis. “At that point, she may execute what we call an heir’s agreement and keep the statuette forever—or, if she chooses not to do that, it will return to us.”

Producers haven’t revealed who has been chosen to accept the award if Heath wins.

In their annual Hollywood issues, Leibovitz takes sweeping shots of the purely A-list, from Woody Allen to Sean Penn, Meryl Streep to the late Heath Ledger.

Dynamic duo’s certainly dominate the ten page spread, found in full at VF.com. We’re taken aback most by Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes, who collaborating on the wrenching Revolutionary Road.

“A profoundly weird experience,” Mendes said of directing his wife and costar Leonardo DiCaprio in bitter (albeit very naked) love scenes.

Even weirder? The odd but graceful pairing of Woody and Penelope Cruz, who partnered their way to a Best Supporting Actress nomination for the Vicky Cristina Barcelona star.

Check out our full gallery, including the late Ledger and Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan.

Jessica Simpson alluded to the recent controversy over her weight and choice of jeans at a recent concert in another performance in Virginia last night. Clad in tight leather pants, Simpson thanked fans for their support and expressed disappointment over what the “focus” is on, according to People. “I feel like in our world today we focus on so many things that are completely pointless,” she told the audience as they reportedly responded with applause.

Amy Winehouse‘s home in the Camden section of London has been broken into and robbed. TMZ reports that  two men broke into her home and stole guitars and recording equipment. Some of the property has been returned, according to London police. When informed of the robbery, Winehouse (who is in St. Lucia on an extended vacation) informed the press that her favorite guitar is with her.

Scary Movie and Lost In Translation star Anna Faris is engaged. Us reports that Faris has gotten engaged to actor Chris Pratt, who plays Anne Hathaway‘s fiance in Bride Wars. Faris was married to actor Ben Indra for four years before their divorce in February.

A settlement has been reached over deceased actor Heath Ledger‘s insurance policy. Reuters reports that lawyers for ReliaStar Life Insurance Co wanted to investigate whether or not Ledger’s death from an accidental prescription drug overdose was a suicide or not. In the event of suicide, the $10 million dollar life insurance policy would not have been paid out to Heath’s daughter Matilda. A lawyer for Heath’s daughter filed a lawsuit in July 2008 on her behalf. “The parties are pleased that they were able to reach an amicable settlement and solve the dispute,” attorney William Shernoff said.

One year ago, a 26-year-old Ledger was discovered dead in his SoHo apartment from a fatal combination of prescription drugs and over-the-counter cold medicine.

A year later, to the day, Ledger has been honored by the Academy with a nomination for his role in Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight. His portrayal of the devious Joker catapulted Heath into global icon status—albeit posthumously.

Earlier this month, Ledger received a Golden Globe for his turn beside Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart. Director Nolan accepted the Globe on his actor’s behalf.

Ledger is survived by former partner Michelle Williams and their daughter, 3-year-old Matilda Rose.

Heath Ledger received an Oscar nomination this morning – one year to the day he died. Ledger passed away from an accidental prescription drug overdose in NYC on Jan 22, 2008 at the age of 28. He is nominated for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight. “It’s fantastic,” Ledger’s Dark Knight co-star Aaron Eckhart told Us. “It’s wonderful. I couldn’t be happier!”

Details of the plot to extort money from John Travolta over the death of his son Jett on New Year’s Day are coming to light. The Mail reports that Travolta was being asked to pay “millions of dollars” by two Bahamian men who were threatening to sell a photo of his dying son, 16, to the highest bidder. The two men, said to be a politician and a member of the ambulance service, are currently being investigated by local authorities.

George Clooney is rumored to be reprising his role as Dr. Doug Ross for the final season of ER on NBC. Nothing has been confirmed, reports E!, but sources are reporting that Clooney is shooting scenes this week. Producers have already brought back Anthony Edwards as the deceased Dr. Mark Greene for a flashback this season.

Tuesday’s presidential inauguration of Barack Obama was the second most watched inauguration in television history according to MSNBC. The telecasts drew 37.8 million viewers. It still did not top the record, which was for Ronald Reagan‘s inauguration in 1981, which drew 41.8.

Beyonce performed Etta James‘ “At Last” for the newly inaugurated President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the Neighborhood Ball last night. Denzel Washington introduced Beyonce, who sang on an opposite platform as the couple danced, and quietly conversed and laughed with one another, according to SpinTelly.com. Beyonce and the Obamas were reportedly all in tears by the end. “How good-looking is my wife?,” President Obama reportedly asked the crowd before Denzel’s introduction.

Two individuals are being investigated by police in the Bahamas for allegedly trying to extort money from John Travolta and his family. Travolta’s son Jett died after a seizure on New Year’s Day during the family’s holiday stay on the islands. MSNBC reports that the details of the plot are not known. “Regrettably in a time of such terrible grief, there are often a few individuals who attempt to make false claims in hopes of making millions of dollars. We will never let that happen,” Travolta’s lawyers said in a statement.

The Hills star Spencer Pratt reportedly attacked his sister Stephanie Pratt‘s ex-boyfriend, aspiring actor Cameron Huston, at LA’s Coco De Ville lounge on Jan. 17. Star reports that Huston had to be taken to the hospital after a shouting match became violent. “Cameron had to be taken to a local hospital,” a witness said. “There was blood; there was screaming. It was a major scene.”Huston’s mother Cica told Star that the attack was “completely unprovoked.”

A lawsuit over an unaired videotape featuring Heath Ledger at a party at LA’s Chateau Marmont hotel has been settled. TMZ reports that “Jane Doe” alleged that a video shot at the infamous hotel in her suite was shot without her consent. The video was sold to Entertainment Tonight who hyped its by claiming it showed Ledger doing drugs but never aired. The terms of the settlement are being kept confidential.

Scream 4 looks to be a go. Scream and Scream 2 screenwriter (and Dawson’s Creek creator) Kevin Williamson is said to be writing a first draft and original stars Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette have all been approached with offers, according to BD Horror News. It is not known if Wes Craven will return to direct. The film will reportedly be a “younger version” of the movies.

In the new issue, Heath’s friends, former co-stars and those who worked with him behind the scenes open up with their thoughts on the actor, who died nearly a year ago, on January 22, 2008.

Below are some of the quotes from the piece:

Julia Stiles, co-star, 10 Things I Hate About You (1999): “Heath always seemed so mature. I got the sense he was averse to becoming any kind of teen idol. I think he felt like 10 Things had more substance, but he anticipated that if he did more movies like this, he’d get stuck doing teen romantic comedies.”

Mel Gibson, co-star, The Patriot (2000): “His audition for The Patriot was rough. But he got the gig because of some kind of honest thing that was intrinsic to him. He was just authentic and sincere. I don’t think he knew the power he had already. So he’d work himself up into an angst situation, trying to get at things that were already there. You almost wanted to say, ‘Dude, just calm down and be yourself. It’s good.’”

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;strong>Wes Bentley, co-star, The Four Feathers (2002): “Heath didn’t give himself enough credit for his talent as an actor. He didn’t know what he had so he decided to enjoy what was being offered to him. I wanted to explain to him, ‘Please wake up to how great you are’…I didn’t go to the funeral because I know Heath would have been laughing at it. He would have had that smile on his face. At the very least he would have shrugged it off.”

Gary Oldman, co-star, The Dark Knight (2008): “I kind of raised my eyebrow at the casting and thought, Oh, I wonder how that will be. But any concerns that one may have had vanished when you got on the set with him. I did a couple of scenes with Heath in the first leg of the shoot in London. I called a friend and he said, ‘How’s Heath?’ I said, ‘He’s breathtaking. He’s going to be astounding.’ I could tell just working for five minutes with him.”

Ledger was 28 at the time of his death. He would have turned 30 in April.