The Heath Ledger/Ennis Delmar Connection

I was informed some months ago having seen this fantastic movie on DVD, that the late Heath Ledger was inspired by BBT's portrayal of Karl Childers when it came to Heath playing the Brokeback Mountain character of Ennis Delmar.

I believe the two actors had crossed paths, they may even have been buddies for all I know but the moment I first watched Sling Blade, I was strangely reminded of Ennis Delmar - in terms of some of the drawl and idiosynchrosies.

Is this true? It must have been on the Brokeback Message Board because I am relatively new to the Sling Blade board. Did anybody else notice a similarity between the two characters? Not in terms of their circumstances of course, just the occasional mannerism and the dialogue/vocal style.

What a top film! I can't believe it managed to go undetected by my movie radar for twenty years! That said this is, I am convinced, the only movie I have watched with BBT in as the lead. I am horribly and ashamedly unfamiliar with his work. I am a Brit and only really knew of him due to his brief marriage to Angelina Jolie whom I admire! His transformation into Karl Childers on an interview (via a YouTube clip I sought out), was simply astounding!

"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"