<div><p>On what would have been Heath Ledger's 38th birthday, Spike TV released the trailer for their upcoming documentary <em>I Am Heath Ledger. </em>Filmmaker Derik Murray explores Ledger's rise in Hollywood, from <em>10 Things I Hate About You</em> to <em>The Dark Knight.</em></p><p>The film will show a more intimate side of the actor that many people haven't seen, including some self-shot footage by Ledger himself. </p><p>"He was always a director, acting was just a way to get there," Trevor DiCarlo, a childhood friend, <a href="http://ew.com/tv/2017/04/04/i-am-heath-ledger-trailer-spike-tv-documentary/">says </a>in the preview.</p><p>Ledger was a method actor, but the role of The Joker in <em>The Dark Knight</em> consumed him entirely. </p><p>"He pretty well locked himself up in a hotel, in his apartment, for a month or so, to sort of galvanize the upcoming character in his own mind," his father <a href="http://ew.com/tv/2017/04/04/i-am-heath-ledger-trailer-spike-tv-documentary/">said</a>. "That was typical of Heath on any movie. He would certainly immerse himself in the upcoming character. I think this was just a whole new level."</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_1550px.jpg 1550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger_GH_content_1630px.jpg 1630w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Collider</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>Heath Ledger died in January 2008 of a drug overdose. </p><p>The film will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 23, and will hit select theaters on May 3rd. Spike will air the documentary on May 17th at 10pm.</p><div><div><div><amp-youtube height="9" width="16" layout="responsive" data-videoid="5PPTDsTnaPk"></amp-youtube></div></div></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p></div>