Johnny Depp gave Heath Ledger’s daughter his entire salary from movie they co-starred in
Johnny Depp was one of many actors who made a generous gift to Heath Ledger's daughter after his devastating passing.
Best known for his roles in The Dark Knight, Brokeback Mountain and 10 Things I Hate About You, Ledger shockingly passed away at the age of 28 in his New York apartment. His death would later be ruled as an accidental overdose.
He was survived by his young daughter Matilda Rose, whom he welcomed alongside fellow actor Michelle Williams in 2005, after meeting on the set of Brokeback Mountain the previous year.
Ledger's death sent shockwaves through Hollywood, with many of the star's A-list friends rallying together to look out for Matilda.
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This would involve a particular kind act from Depp, who pledged to give his salary from 2009's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus to Matilda. The fantasy film would be the last project which Ledger would star in and was one of two to be posthumously released, alongside The Dark Knight.
Depp wasn't the only actor to make such a generous gift to then two-year-old either, with co-stars Colin Farrell and Jude Law also pledging their fees to the child.
Although Matilda is more than set for life financially, she would eventually inherit the actor's estate - rumoured to be around $20 million (£15 million) - after Ledger's family voluntarily donated it to her.
Now aged 19, Matilda largely stays out of the limelight and is believed to live with her mother in NYC.
Meanwhile, Ledger's legacy as an actor was cemented after starring opposite Christian Bale in Christopher Nolan's 2008 blockbuster The Dark Knight. His role as Joker would win the actor awards, including 'Best Supporting Actor' at the Oscar, as well as a BAFTA and Golden Globe awards.
Ledger's portrayal of the Joker would also leave a lasting legacy on that of his co-stars, with Michael Caine even admitting he was terrified after seeing him in action as the Clown Prince of Crime for the first time.
"Absolutely floored me the first time I saw him in action - I was terrified," Caine, who played Alfred Pennyworth in the trilogy, admitted in his memoir, 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."
Topics: Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger, Money, Celebrity
Brenna Cooper