This week marked the 10th anniversary of late actor Heath Ledger’s untimely death at just 28-years-old.
And Aussie singer Cody Simpson, 21, opened up about a tattoo he proudly wears as a tribute to the Dark Knight star.
Speaking to Build Series in New York on Tuesday, the Gold Coast native pointed out a phrase inked on his arm: ‘I actually got this one as a tribute to Heath Ledger, the Australian actor.’
‘I actually got this one as a tribute to Heath Ledger’: Singer Cody Simpson reveals tattoo to mark the late actor’s death after claiming ‘he’s one of my greatest inspirations’
Taken too young: Heath passed away in 2008 following an accidental overdose of prescription medication just as his career in Hollywood was really beginning to blossom (pictured in The Dark Knight, 2008)
He added: ‘He’s one of my greatest inspirations, even though I’m not a film active, but as a creative person. That’s for him.’
The hunky musician claimed to have never met Heath, who died when Cody was 11, but has had the pleasure of meeting his family.
Showing the capitalised words ‘old man river’, which he had inked in early 2017, Cody told the host: ‘He(Heath) had the very same tattoo.’
‘He(Heath) had the very same tattoo’: Cody (R) showed off the capitalised words ‘old man river’, which he had inked in early 2017, to the cameras. Heath had the exact inked phrase on his right arm (L)
It was reported that Heath’s girlfriend, Michelle Williams, wrote the song title on his forearm and he got a tattoo artist to run the needles over her words.
Heath once opened up about the tattoo in an interview, revealing one of its many meanings: ‘I just felt there was something eternal about the phrase and I feel that I’m at a stage in my life now where life is just about to really speed up and flash by and so I feel like I am on old man river paddling on a little row boat.’
Meanwhile, Cody said his other tattoos don’t always necessarily have meaning: ‘A lot of them I just get on a whim and walk in without any idea and just kind of do it because I have a few free hours.’
‘I just get on a whim and walk in without any idea’: While his tribute tattoo had meaning to the star, he claimed most of his tattoos are done because he had free time to waste
The Australian singer-songwriter rose to fame in 2009 at just 12-years-old after gaining attention with his impressive YouTube videos.
Releasing three albums since his debut single ‘IYiYi’ in 2010 – that featured American rapper Flo Rida – Cody’s music has undergone a transformation in recent years.
The California-based singer released new EP ‘Wave One’ in September as part of new rock band, Cody Simpson & the Tide.
Flashback! Releasing three albums since his debut single ‘IYiYi’ in 2010 – that featured American rapper Flo Rida – Cody’s music has undergone a transformation in recent years (Pictured in 2010)