Heath Ledger: Life in Photos

From being a dad to earning two Oscar nods, see how the actor rose through Hollywood

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By the time he starred in 2005's Brokeback Mountain (left), Ledger had already worked opposite Billy Bob Thornton (Monster's Ball) and Mel Gibson (The Patriot). In his Oscar-nominated role of Ennis Del Mar, director Ang Lee gushed to PEOPLE that Ledger's performance was reminiscent of "a young [Marlon] Brando."