November 11, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Batman has battled quite a few foes over the years, including The Joker, The Riddler, Two Face and The Penguin.
But now, the Caped Crusader could have a new enemy – the city of Batman.
The mayor of the real city of Batman – an oil-producing city in southeast Turkey – is reportedly suing “Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros., seeking royalties from this summer’s box office blockbuster, according to Variety.
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September 29, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
A former attorney for Heath Ledger is suing over a $10 million life insurance policy he claims has gone unpaid since the actor’s death.
Attorney John S. LaViolette sued Minnesota-based ReliaStar Life Insurance Company in July, claiming the company is trying to avoid paying the claim to Ledger’s young daughter, Matilda Rose.
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September 28, 2008
PERTH, Australia --
Matilda Rose Ledger will inherit her father Heath’s fortune following the actor’s untimely death, Australia newspaper the Sunday Times reported.
The fate of “The Dark Knight” star’s wealth has been up in the air since his death in January, which left behind his former partner, Michelle Williams, and their daughter, Matilda Rose – and a will that left his assets instead to the late actor’s parents and three sisters, Kate and Olivia Ledger and Ashleigh Bell. The will was reportedly prepared before Matilda’s birth. Now, the Ledgers have agreed upon the fate of the money.
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September 26, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Australian actors hoping to follow in the career footsteps of Heath Ledger could benefit from a scholarship set up in the name of the late actor — and Heath’s ex, Michelle Williams, is its first donor, People reports.
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September 19, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
A magazine freelancer suing two photographers and a paparazzi agency over a video that purportedly shows Heath Ledger doing drugs has amended her lawsuit to downplay her role as a reporter.
The revisions come less than a month after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge frequently cited her profession in dismissing most of the woman’s claims.
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September 13, 2008
BROOKLYN, New York --
Late actor Heath Ledger’s Brooklyn bar, Five Leaves, is set to open to the public on Wednesday, Us Weekly reported. The venue reportedly hosted a small opening party for friends and family on Friday night.
The bar, now funded by Heath’s estate, was backed by the actor prior to his death in January.
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August 6, 2008
NEW YORK, NY --
Mary-Kate Olsen is off the hook.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office investigation into the death of “The Dark Knight” star Heath Ledger has been dropped, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to the Associated Press.
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August 5, 2008
NEW YORK, New York --
As the investigation surrounding Heath Ledger’s accidental overdose continues, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration office in New York has confirmed to Access Hollywood that they have issued a subpoena that would force Mary-Kate Olsen to testify in front of a grand jury.
Five medications were found in Heath’s body at the time of his death, according to the DEA, three of which he’d obtained via doctors in Texas and Los Angeles. At the center of the investigation is how he acquired Oxycontin and Vicodin without a legal prescription.
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August 4, 2008
NEW YORK, NY --
Federal investigators want to question Mary-Kate Olsen about how Heath Ledger got two powerful painkillers that contributed to his accidental overdose death, but she’s refusing to talk without immunity, a law enforcement official said Monday.
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July 23, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Day after day, “The Dark Knight” continues to rewrite the box office record books.
The latest installment in the Batman franchise, starring Heath Ledger and Christian Bale, took in an estimated $20.9 million on Tuesday, brining the film’s five-day total to an astounding $203.8 million.
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July 21, 2008
--
Sorry Spidey, but the Caped Crusader is the new king of the box office.
“The Dark Knight” opened with record-breaking numbers this weekend, taking in an astounding $158.3 million from Friday – Sunday, knocking “Spider-Man 3” from atop the box office record books.
In 2007, the third installment in the Spider-Man franchise opened with $151 million.
But that wasn’t the only record “The Dark Knight” claimed in its opening weekend. In fact, a total of eight records now belong to Batman and friends.
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July 20, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Batman has sent Spidey packing as king of Hollywood’s box office superheroes.
“The Dark Knight” took in a record $155.34 million in its first weekend, said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., which released the “Batman Begins” sequel.
That topped Hollywood’s previous best of $151.1 million, set by “Spider-Man 3” in May 2007.
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July 18, 2008
NEW YORK, New York --
As Chris Finegan watched Heath Ledger’s stunning
portrayal of the Joker on Friday in “The Dark Knight,” he couldn’t help but think of another actor who wasn’t on the screen:
James Dean, who also died prematurely and tragically, nearly 53 years ago.
“Heath Ledger is going to have the same impact on our culture as James Dean did,” said Finegan, one of many fans across the country who were both awed and saddened by Ledger’s performance.
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July 15, 2008
NEW YORK, New York --
“The Dark Knight” premiered in New York City Monday night, bringing a taste of Gotham City to the Big Apple.
The cast of the latest installment in the Batman franchise talked to Access Hollywood about one of the most highly anticipated films of the summer, the possibility of a follow up and Heath’s glaring absence from the night’s festivities.
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July 14, 2008
NEW YORK, NY --
The family of late actor Heath Ledger is in New York tonight, attending the premiere “The Dark Knight.”
Heath’s father Kim, his sister Kate, and his mother, arrived to the AMC Loews Lincoln Square IMAX in New York for the premiere. However, they did not walk the red carpet and are now inside the theater.
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July 1, 2008
PERTH, Australia --
The Australian hometown of the late actor Heath Ledger named a theater in his honor Tuesday for his commitment to acting.
The $87 million, 575-seat Heath Ledger Theater in Perth is a fitting tribute because Ledger was always supportive of other young actors, Western Australia state Premier Alan Carpenter said at a naming ceremony.
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July 1, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Heath Ledger passed away five months ago, but according to his co-stars in the latest Batman movie, his performance as the Joker could live on forever.
“The Dark Knight” will debut in theaters in two weeks, and stars of the film sat down with Access Hollywood’s Tony Potts to talk about the film’s performance that is already sparking Oscar buzz.
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June 27, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
The buzz over Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” for the last several months was justified. With his final full film role, Ledger delivers what may be remembered as the finest performance of his career.
A press screening of the “Batman Begins” sequel Thursday night had the audience cackling along with Ledger’s Joker, a depraved creature utterly without conscience whom the late actor played with gleeful anarchy.
Warning: Minor spoilers!
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June 26, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Heath Ledger is getting a fond tribute from his collaborators on “The Dark Knight.”
The end credits of the “Batman Begins” sequel include a farewell note to Ledger, who died in January from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs; and to special-effects technician Conway Wickliffe, who was killed last September in a stunt-car accident.
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June 26, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
“The Dark Knight” looks to be one of this summer’s hottest – and darkest – films, according to Batman himself, Christian Bale.
“Chris [Nolan] manages to make a blockbuster-size, entertaining movie,” Bale told IGN.com of the returning director, who also joined the actor on franchise relaunch “Batman Begins.” “But there’s a whole lot of thought behind it as well.”
Get the full Bat-scoop on why Bale calls Heath Ledger a “kindred spirit” inside!
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June 25, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Michelle Williams is responding to reports that a rift with Heath Ledger’s family is the reason she will not be attending the premiere of Heath’s last completed movie, “The Dark Knight.”
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June 10, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
The family of late actor Heath Ledger will attend the premiere of “The Dark Knight” next month, according to the Los Angeles Times.
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June 11, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Heath Ledger was known for giving aspiring Australian actors a hand in Hollywood. Now, an Australian film organization has established a scholarship fund in the late actor’s name to continue those efforts
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June 9, 2008
NEW YORK, N.Y. --
The New York City Opera commissioned Charles Wuorinen to compose an opera based on “Brokeback Mountain,” the 1997 short story by Annie Proulx that became the basis for a 2005 movie that won three Academy Awards.
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June 9, 2008
By Jesse Spero
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Plus, “Brokeback Mountain” the opera. Jessica Simpson almost asleep at dinner. And “The Hills” girls continue their estrangement.
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June 5, 2008
NEW YORK, NY --
A party being hosted by Eva Mendes and Calvin Klein to launch the brand’s new fragrance, Secret Obsessions, was shut down on Wednesday evening.
The New York party was being held in the same building where actor Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose, earlier this year.
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May 28, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Batman returns this summer in “The Dark Knight,” helping to protect the citizens of Gotham City from the Joker-- and he’s getting a little help from milk!
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May 28, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Christian Bale, who will be suiting up for a second time as Batman in the upcoming “The Dark Knight” alongside Heath Ledger, opens up about working with the late actor and how the role of Batman almost never happened for him.
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May 23, 2008
CANNES, France --
In her first public appearances since the death of Heath Ledger (the father of her daughter, Matilda), actress Michelle Williams walked the red carpet twice in two days at Cannes.
On Thursday, for the world premiere of her new film, “Wendy and Lucy,” the Oscar-nominee dazzled the crowds in a champagne-colored Chanel gown.
On Friday, Michele had a second world premiere, for “Synedoche, New York,” gracing the red carpet in an equally stunning purple dress by Yves Saint Laurent (pictured here with Samantha Morton [left] and Catherine Keener [right]).
See full-length pictures of her dresses, inside!
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May 8, 2008
SYDNEY, Australia --
A portrait of Hollywood star Heath Ledger painted weeks before his death has won an Australian art award.
The painting features a bare-chested Ledger staring from the canvas as two images of the actor whisper into his ears.
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May 5, 2008
By Jesse Spero
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Plus, Which “High School Musical” star looks up to Mary-Kate Olsen as a fashion icon? Zach Braff takes a seat in the music video dirtector chair. And a new “Dark Knight” trailer debuts.
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April 11, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
A woman’s lawsuit against two paparazzi and the photo agency allegedly responsible for the video of Heath Ledger at a West Hollywood hotel room says the late actor was using cocaine that night.
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March 31, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Did Heath Ledger father a love child as a teen? That’s the question fans are asking after the late actor’s uncle spoke to the Australian press.
Heath Ledger’s uncle, Haydn Ledger told Australia’s News Ltd newspapers there was a "real possibility" that late actor fathered a child at 17, with an older woman.
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March 27, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Heath Ledger's frenzied reinvention of the Joker had fans and colleagues buzzing.
Now the Batman archfiend stands as Ledger's next-to-last performance. And while it's not the first, "The Dark Knight" has already emerged as arguably the biggest movie featuring a posthumous role in Hollywood history.
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March 20, 2008
PERTH, Australia --
Heath Ledger's family is embroiled in the midst of a battle for control of the late actor's estate.
The actor's uncles are speaking out against Heath's father, Kim Ledger's, management of Heath's assets.
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March 14, 2008
LAS VEGAS, Nevada --
This time out, there's no vat of chemicals to explain how Batman's greatest enemy came to be the twisted sociopath known as the Joker.
Heath Ledger's Joker springs full-blown in this summer's "The Dark Knight," the sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins" that was previewed for theater owners Thursday with a clip showing the newmovie's opening sequence.
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March 10, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
The late Heath Ledger is garnering early buzz for his role as the Joker in the upcoming Christopher Nolan-directed "The Dark Knight,” but could his performance be Oscar-worthy?
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March 9, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
After documents filed in Manhattan Surrogate's Court revealed that Heath Ledger's will left all his assets to his parents and siblings, the Ledger family is speaking out.
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March 7, 2008
NEW YORK, NY --
In an interview conducted just days before Heath Ledger’s death in January 2008, Academy Award-nominee Michelle Williams opened up about the pain of their break up.
The actress moved to Portland, Oregon, for a film role following her split with Ledger in 2007. Throwing herself into the role of a woman on the precipice of homeless in "Train Choir" was "a very healing process," Williams told Elle magazine’s April issue
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February 29, 2008
NEW YORK, New York --
The two doctors that were being investigated in connection with Heath Ledger’s death have been cleared of any wrongdoing by federal investigators, Access Hollywood has learned.
The Drug Enforcement Administration confirms to Access the doctors (one located in Los Angeles and one in Houston, Texas) have been ruled out as the sources of the Oxycontin and Vicodin found in the actor’s apartment, following his death on Jan. 22.
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February 28, 2008
NEW YORK, New York --
Two doctors are under investigation in connection with prescriptions disbursed to actor Heath Ledger before he died, Access Hollywood has learned.
"The investigation is proceeding aggressively and can conclude from as soon as one day or several weeks," a DEA source told Access.
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February 25, 2008
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. --
Late for the first part of the ceremony?! The Access Hollywood news desk has what you might have missed!
Click inside for an account of tonight's ceremony!
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February 23, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
"Juno," "The Savages," and "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" shared top category honors at the 2008 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards, making the highly anticipated annual event into a celebration of the diverse films that captured the public’s attention this year.
"Once," "Crazy Love," "Talk to Me," "The Lookout," "August Evening," and "I’m Not There" also received awards at the event.
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February 22, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Colin Farrell says it’s an honor to help replace Heath Ledger in the actor’s final film, “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.”
After Ledger died tragically before shooting on the film was complete, it was announced Farrell, Johnny Depp and Jude Law would all step in to the role to help finish the project.
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February 18, 2008
NEW YORK, NY --
Lindsay Lohan is following in the footsteps of the most famous blond bombshell of them all — Marilyn Monroe.
In the issue of New York magazine on sale Monday, the 21-year-old star of "Mean Girls" and "Freaky Friday" poses nude for photographer Bert Stern in a recreation of one of Monroe's most famous photo shoots, done shortly before she died.
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February 18, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law will step in to replace Heath Ledger in “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” Access Hollywood has learned.
Following Ledger’s tragic death, the three Hollywood heavyweights have all agreed to play Ledger’s character, “Tony,” at various stages in the film, directed by Terry Gilliam.
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February 18, 2008
by Jesse Spero
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
On this Presidential holiday, it's only fitting that Hollywood's Heads Of State are up to their usual highjinks, Brit dined out with dad. Paris danced in a giant champagne glass. Klum offers Brit a new house to live in. Alicia nabs Jordin for her tour. And Spencer says Montag's album will be better than Madonna's.
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February 12, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Heath Ledger's family and friends celebrated his life at the actor's favorite Australian beach this past weekend. What makes Heath's death so tragic is that it didn't have to happen. Prescription drug abuse among stars has increasingly become more of an issue, but are doctors bending the rules? Access investigates VIP Docs.
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February 9, 2008
PERTH, Australia --
Heath Ledger's family joined celebrities and other mourners Saturday
to bid farewell to the actor at a memorial service in his Australian
hometown.
Ledger's fiancee, actress Michelle Williams, arrived
along with his parents and sister at Penrhos College, where about 100
other mourners had gather to honor the 28-year-old
star who died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in his
Manhattan apartment last month.
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February 7, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
A day after a toxicology report was released, confirming actor Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose, two pressing questions remain: Why was he taking six different medications? And how did he get them?
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February 6, 2008
NEW YORK, New York --
An official for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed to
Access Hollywood that an investigation is underway now that the New York Medical
Examiner has released the results of Ledger’s toxicology test, which
found the actor died from a combination of oxycodone, hydrocodone,
diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine.
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February 6, 2008
NEW YORK, New York --
The results of Heath Ledger's toxicology report have been revealed.
Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of several drugs. Access Hollywood has all the details, inside.
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February 5, 2008
PERTH, Australia --
Heath Ledger's family evaded scores of photographers Tuesday as they returned to Perth following the Oscar-nominated actor's death in a Manhattan apartment last month.
Several security guards and police officers watched as Ledger's father, Kim, and several other relatives emerged from their plane after other passengers had disembarked.
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February 4, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Actor Heath Ledger was remembered by his family and friends in a moving private ceremony in Hollywood on Saturday.
Naomi Watts, Sean Penn, Sienna Miller, James Van Der Beek and more joined Ledger’s family - father Kim, mother Sally and sister Kate for a service remembering the 28-year-old at Sony Pictures in Century City.
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February 4, 2008
Perth, Australia --
Heath Ledger's hometown prepared Monday for the arrival of his
remains, while locals expressed dismay at speculation in the media that
the actor had used drugs.
Details of funeral arrangements for the
late co-star of "Brokeback Mountain" have not been announced, but
Ledger's family is expected to bring his body back to Perth this week.
Family members have reportedly already attended two memorial services
in Los Angeles.
The Australian newspaper reported Monday that Ledger will be buried next to two of his grandparents in a family plot in Perth.
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February 6, 2008
by Jesse Spero
LOS ANGELES, Calif --
Plus, Beyonce and Tina Turner share a Grammy stage and Diddy is coming to your television.
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February 1, 2008
--
Michelle Williams is planning to fly to Perth for Heath Ledger’s funeral next week according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Williams, Ledger’s ex-fiancee, and the mother of his two-year-old daughter Matilda, will leave New York shortly for the funeral, a friend of the family told the paper.
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