years ago while working on `` The Patriot . '' He became a star while we were sequestered away in a small town in South Carolina based on the strength of the dailies going back to Los Angeles . Heath was a fantastically kind and sweet young man . He surrounded himself with his friends from Australia and never forgot any of us he ever worked with . I last saw him in Australia when he called my name on a Melbourne street and introduced me to Michelle , his -LRB- then -RRB- pregnant -LSB- girlfriend -RSB- . I have great memories of going for runs with him or watching a bootleg copy of a Parker and Stone 's musical called `` Cannibal ! The Musical of the Donner Party Tragedy . '' Heath must have been in a place of great pain and sadness to be split from his wife and child . He was sensitive and unfairly victimized in his native country by the unfortunate Australian custom called the `` tall poppy syndrome '' in which an Australian , the second he or she achieves global success , is immediately and arbitrarily accused of losing all of their
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- CNN.com reader Kristy O'Connor took a prenatal yoga class with Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams and says she was `` in awe of his devotion and attention to Michelle . '' Reader Dena Michnowih says she came across Ledger in Brooklyn , New York , teaching his young daughter Matilda her right from her left , and was enchanted . Heath Ledger is pictured with crew of the 2005 film `` Lords of Dogtown '' and members of the Zephyr skating team . CNN.com asked readers to share their memories of Ledger , who was found dead in a New York apartment Tuesday , January 22 . Famous for his roles in the films , `` The Patriot '' and `` Lords of Dogtown , '' Ledger was widely acclaimed for his portrayal of the homosexual cowboy Ennis del Mar in 2005 's `` Brokeback Mountain . '' CNN.com readers describe meeting Ledger in person , and call him humble and kind . Below are a selection of their responses , some of which have been edited for length and clarity . Donal Logue , actor , of Los Angeles , California I met Heath eight