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Heath Ledger's sister denies 'Joker role killed him' rumours

Ledger... was not depressed by his role as the Joker, says sister Kate - Credit: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
Ledger… was not depressed by his role as the Joker, says sister Kate – Credit: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Heath Ledger’s sister has strongly denied the rumour that it was the intensity of his role as the Joker in ‘The Dark Knight’ that contributed to his death.

Speculation around the star’s accidental suicide in 2008 suggested that he had immersed himself in the role, was working too hard and had become depressed as a result.

This, it would seem, was not the case, as confirmed by Kate Ledger during a Q&A session at the Tribeca Film Festival, where documentary ‘I Am Heath Ledger’ is being premiered.

“I was really shocked because that was him having fun,” she told the audience.

“Every report was coming out that he was depressed and that [the role] was taking this toll on him, and we’re going, honestly, it was the absolute opposite. It couldn’t be more wrong.

“He had an amazing sense of humour, and I guess maybe only his family and friends knew that, but he was having fun.

(Credit: Getty)
(Credit: Getty)

“He wasn’t depressed about the Joker.”

The movie’s producer Matt Amato added: “I hope [the film is] an antidote to a lot of the gossip that exists in the world. There are some really terrible things about Heath out there.”

Others echo such sentiments in the movie itself, Ledger’s Hollywood agent Steve Alexander, who is one of the film’s talking heads, says: “He was super happy and he was loving life. He struggled with some demons but he wasn’t one to go anywhere but forward.”

Ledger was found dead at his apartment in New York on January 22, 2008. It was concluded that his death was accidental, and the result of the combined effects of a number of prescribed medicines.

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