It’s been nearly 20 years since his passing, and still the world continues to mourn the loss of the Oscar-winning Heath Ledger.
An exceptional talent throughout the late ’90s and most of the 2000s, Ledger managed to rise to the forefront of the film industry during the peak period of his career. In addition to starring in classic teen comedies like 10 Things I Hate About You, Ledger proved his eminent potential in more dramatic genres as well, as seen through his acclaimed work in films like Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight.
Sadly, in spite of his unwavering potential within the entertainment industry, Ledger’s career came to a tragic conclusion when the actor passed away in early 2008.
In a rare comment about her three-year relationship with Ledger, actress Michelle Williams offered candid insight into Ledger’s personal qualities, calling him “so special.”
Appearing on the May 19 episode of the “Armchair Expert” podcast, hostDax Shepard discussed the brief time he spent with Ledger, providing numerous compliments attesting to the actor’s upstanding personality.
“I feel obligated to say that I knew him a little bit when he was getting sober, and I don’t know that I’ve ever fallen in love with somebody so quickly,” Shepard said.
“This is one of the most special boys I’ve ever met, and I can feel the weight of the world on him in a very special way that kind of broke my heart,” the comedian continued by saying. “I was very, very sad, and I thought he was just so special.”
Williams, who had grown increasingly emotional throughout Shepard’s dedication, agreed with the podcast host, saying, “[Ledger was] so special, so special.” She went on to acknowledge that her 19-year-old daughter with Ledger helps keep his memory alive, telling Shepard, “Thank God there’s Matilda.”
Ledger and Williams met during the filming of Brokeback Mountain in 2004. After a year, the couple had their first and only child, before eventually splitting up in 2007.
“We had a baby. But I suppose maybe it’s a good thing about being young is that you don’t have so much life experience that you can contextualize things,” Williams said on the podcast. “So you’re really just going with the flow.”
