Heath Ledger, known for “The Dark Knight” and “Lords of Dogtown,” passed away in 2004. His daughter, Matilda Rose, suffered, and three costars offered to support her.
In 2007, Ledger and Michelle Obama broke up, but Ledger’s love for his daughter remained strong. In 2008, Ledger passed away accidentally at his New York apartment, leaving Matilda to ask questions about him, which Michelle struggled to answer. She would always ask:
“Where’s my daddy?”
Heathcliff’s Costars saved his daughter from her father’s financial ruin during “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.” Terry Gilliam replaced Ledger with Jude Law, Johnny Depp, and Colin Farrell, ensuring the film was completed in Heath’s memory.
Celebrities like Tom Cruise and three actors offered to replace Ledger, but Gilliam declined due to lack of familiarity. Actors donated salaries to Matilda, revealing Ledger’s uninheritance of his daughter.
Ledger’s father, Kim Ledger, told The Sunday Times that his family would not claim any part of Ledger’s wealth and would instead give it all to the actor’s daughter. He said as Fox News reports:
“There is no claim. Our family has gifted everything to Matilda.”
Kim and brothers dispute actor Ledger’s estate, defending Kim against Australian executor Robert John Collins. 17-year-old Matilda, a Ledger granddaughter, resembles her father and inherited traits.
Ledger’s family commends Michelle on the beautiful job she has done raising Matilda on her own since her father’s demise, and as the actor’s sister Kate Ledger would tell People:
“I think that she provides such a wonderful environment for Matilda to grow up in, especially in the sort of industry that she’s in.”
Kate described Michelle as grounded and admired Matilda’s resemblance to her late brother, Ledger. Matilda performs simple tasks like drawing and skateboarding, and keeps his memories alive. Despite having star parents, Matilda maintains a low profile, with only photos of her with her mother taken in public places.