NICOLE Kidman described his death as “a terrible tragedy”, Cate Blanchett “always admired his continuing development as an artist” and Mel Gibson said, “I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off.”

The father of his former partner [Michelle Williams], Larry Williams, said Ledger’s death was “a tragedy to his family and for us all to lose such a brilliant artist”. Quoting the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, Mr Williams said: “He burned the candle at both ends, so his years were few. But, oh, what a beautiful flame he made.”

Australian casting agents Christine King and Ann Fay were integral to his early success. “He was completely charismatic from themoment I met him,” said Ms King. “He had star quality. He was very confident, extremely mature for his years. I always found him delightful and warm and friendly.” Ms Fay described Ledger as his own person. “He was good fun. All the Hollywood hype was so not in keeping with his personality.”

NICOLE Kidman described his death as “a terrible tragedy”, Cate Blanchett “always admired his continuing development as an artist” and Mel Gibson said, “I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off.”

The death of Heath Ledger at the age of 28 yesterday brought together the friends, colleagues and family of the Australian actor who launched his career with soap opera bit parts and went on to conquer Hollywood.

The father of his former partner Michelle, Larry Williams, said Ledger’s death was “a tragedy to his family and for us all to lose such a brilliant artist”. Quoting the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, Mr Williams said: “He burned the candle at both ends, so his years were few. But, oh, what a beautiful flame he made.”

Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush said he had admired Ledger enormously. “He was such a sensitive and committed and daring actor,” he said.

Neil Armfield, director of 2006 Australian movie Candy, in which Ledger starred, said “Heath was one of the greatest actors of his generation”.

“With the support of his agents, Heath had taken his career in his own hands. He broke with the career that had been planned for him and started seeking out the great and interesting roles for which he’ll be remembered,” Armfield said.

“Heath was an intensely private but intensely loving human being, a complex mixture of shyness and gregariousness. He was a young man with an incalculable number of great performances waiting to be created.”

Brokeback Mountain producer James Schamus called him “a courageous actor, a great soul”.

“He gave us the gift of sharing his fearless and beautiful love of his craft and of all who worked with him, for which all of us will be eternally grateful,” he said.

Director Todd Haynes, who cast Ledger in I’m Not There, said “there is no finer person on this earth”.

“Heath was a true artist, a deeply sensitive man, an explorer, gifted and wise beyond his years.”

The president of Warner Bros, which is in July releasing the Batman movie The Dark Knight, starring Ledger as the Joker, said thestudio was devastated. “The entertainment community has lost an enormous talent,” Alan Horn said. “Heath was a brilliant actor and an exceptional person.”

The impact Ledger made in Hollywood was reflected in the number of A-list actors eager to express their sorrow.

Charlize Theron said the news was “really, really sad” and wished the best for Ledger’s family. Dennis Hopper described him as “a great talent”.

Lindsay Lohan, who has spent a lot of time with Ledger over the past few months, was too upset to speak in Los Angeles.

Karl Zwicky, director of the TV series Sweat, in which Ledger played a gay cyclist in the late 1990s, said: “The casting people saw immediately his potential and ability, even though he had come out of nowhere. It was pretty clear even then he was very focused. Taking on a gay character with that level of inexperience and making it a believable character was some achievement.”

One of his co-stars in Ned Kelly, Australian Joel Edgerton, described Ledger as “an exceptional human being with a massive heart: always generous, adventurous and impressive”.

“I always believed, as a young man, he was wise well beyond his years,” he said.

Marian Macgowan, producer of Two Hands, described him as “a fragile, sensitive man. It’s why he was able to do the sort of work he was able to do.”

Australian casting agents Christine King and Ann Fay were integral to his early success. “He was completely charismatic from themoment I met him,” said Ms King. “He had star quality. He was very confident, extremely mature for his years. I always found him delightful and warm and friendly.” Ms Fay described Ledger as his own person. “He was good fun. All the Hollywood hype was so not in keeping with his personality.”

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said: “We have lost one of our nation’s finest actors in the prime of his life. Heath Ledger’s diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the great performances by an Australian actor.”

Arts Minister Peter Garrett said Ledger had an instinctive and powerful screen presence. “Australia’s lost a talent, a bloke that achieved a lot in a short time and had so much more to give.”

LIFE AND TIMES

April 4, 1979: Heath Andrew Ledger born in Perth, Western Australia

1985: Attends Marys Mount Primary School in the Perth hills and Guildford Grammar

1996: Sweat – First came to prominence by acting as a homosexual athlete in this little-known Australian soap opera.

1997: Paws, Home and Away, Blackrock

1999: Stars in the Hollywood teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You

* Secures his first AFI nomination for best actor in Two Hands

2000: Roar (TV series)

* The Patriot (wins a ShoWest Award for the Male Star of Tomorrow)

Rolling Stone magazine says: “The Aussie newcomer has the talent and looks to become a major star”

2001: A Knight’s Tale, Monster’s Ball

2002: The Four Feathers

* Having previously dated Hollywood actor Heather Graham, starts seeing Naomi Watts, who is 10 years older than him

2003: Ned Kelly (wins second AFI nomination), The Order

2004: Ends relationship with Watts

* Makes headlines when photographer accuses Ledger of spitting on him. “It’s disgusting and awful. I would never in a million years

do anything like that”

2005: Casanova

* Brokeback Mountain (nominated for Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards)

Rolling Stone magazine says: “Ledger’s magnificent performance is an acting miracle. He seems to tear it from his insides”

* Lords of Dogtown

USA Today says: “Ledger is a keen acting surprise”

* In October, Brokeback Mountain co-star Michelle Williams gives birth to their daughter, Matilda Rose

* The Brothers Grimm

Washington Post says: “Ledger’s performance is awful; he hardly registers. He should have been replaced by someone who did”

2006: Candy

The New York Times says: “Ledger looks and plays the part of the scheming user exceptionally well. He’s deep in the character’s skin

right from the start. He’s very fine”

* He is invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Scores the role of The Joker in the sequel to Batman Begins, to be released in July.

Directs three music videos, one for Australian hip-hop artist N’fa, a fellow Guilford Grammar student

* Ledger sells his $7million Bronte home in Sydney and moves his family to Brooklyn, New York

2007: I’m Not There

* Ledger and Williams end their relationship amicably

2008: Batman, The Dark Knight

Australian actor Samuel Johnson says: “His portrayal of The Joker in the new Batman is going to rival Jack Nicholson’s in theoriginal”

* The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (unfinished)

* Seen with Perth-born international model Gemma Ward

* January 22: Ledger’s body is found in his Manhattan apartment