It's been five months since Heath Ledger passed away, but he's far from being forgotten. During the Australians in Film 2008 Breakthrough Awards in Beverly Hills on Thursday night, his good friend Gregor Jordan announced the formation of the "Heath Ledger scholarship fund," which will help struggling Australian actors.
Before he found success on 'Brokeback Mountain,' Jordan recalls having to lend Ledger a few hundred dollars. "The first thing he does with the money is go into a bar and buy everyone ... a round of drinks," remembered Jordan.
He added, "It is that generosity that somehow sums Heath up. When he had nothing, he still found a way to give to others."
According to the speech, the purpose of the scholarship is to select one young Australian actor each year and give him or her the chance to "crack it" in Hollywood.
"It's going to involve a number of benefactors and there's been a lot of interest already," the director explained. "I was talking to Michelle Williams, his partner and the mother of his child, today and Michelle has said she would be very proud and happy to be the first benefactor."
Heath was obviously not just a loving father and actor, he was clearly a good friend. It's still so tragic that his life ended so early, but it's super cool that his legacy will live on through a scholarship like this.
Before he found success on 'Brokeback Mountain,' Jordan recalls having to lend Ledger a few hundred dollars. "The first thing he does with the money is go into a bar and buy everyone ... a round of drinks," remembered Jordan.
He added, "It is that generosity that somehow sums Heath up. When he had nothing, he still found a way to give to others."
According to the speech, the purpose of the scholarship is to select one young Australian actor each year and give him or her the chance to "crack it" in Hollywood.
"It's going to involve a number of benefactors and there's been a lot of interest already," the director explained. "I was talking to Michelle Williams, his partner and the mother of his child, today and Michelle has said she would be very proud and happy to be the first benefactor."
Heath was obviously not just a loving father and actor, he was clearly a good friend. It's still so tragic that his life ended so early, but it's super cool that his legacy will live on through a scholarship like this.
