Last night dozens of Heath Ledger’s friends and relatives gathered in Beverly Hills to remember the 28-year-old actor in a low-key ceremony that remarkably wasn’t swarmed by members of the paparazzi.
The young father, whose dead body was discovered in his New York apartment Tuesday afternoon, was memorialized by A-list celebs including Australian actress Naomi Watts. The private event reportedly took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel just hours before the actor’s body was scheduled to return to his native Australia. That’s where news reports say Ledger’s family is planning to hold another memorial service before the “Brokeback Mountain” star’s body is finally laid to rest.
Just hours before the ceremony to remember Ledger took place in Los Angeles about 1,000 guests heard a message from Ledger’s father, Kim at the G’Day USA Australia Day Ball in Manhattan.
The touching handwritten message was delivered by Australia’s consul-general, according to the Melbourne newspaper The Age.
“Heath did not become an actor for the fame or fortune. He loved his craft and he loved helping his friends. He loved chess and skateboarding too,” the senior Ledger wrote about his beloved son. “My image of Heath in New York is him with his skateboard, a canvas bag and his beanie. That was Heath to me.”
Ledger’s father ended by noting, “Heath is and always will be an Australian.”
According to the paper, Kim, Ledger’s mother Sally and sister Kate were in Los Angeles for the private memorial and are planning to accompany Heath’s body back to the family’s home in Perth sometime today.
Meanwhile, while a cause of death has not been determined, in a strange twist investigators close to the case are saying that the actor might have died of natural causes.
TMZ.com is reporting that sources close to the investigation recently revealed that the level of toxicity from ingested medications found in Ledger’s system was low enough that it may not have caused his death. These “sources” claim the actor could have suffered a heart attack but it’s not certain-—just more speculation.
In another development, contrary to earlier reports, police records do not reflect that Ledger’s housekeeper heard the actor snoring when she walked into his bedroom at around 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Sources tell TMZ, a fireman observed rigor mortis in Ledger’s body shortly after arriving on scene at 3:30 p.m. If you do the math it would appear that Ledger had been dead for at least three hours prior to their arrival, which is why police say they don’t believe the masseuse could have heard snoring.
Related Articles:
Heath Ledger’s Death—What’s Real and What’s Rumor
What of Michelle Williams and Ledger’s Other Loves?
Heath Ledger and Mary Kate Olsen More Than “Just Friends”
Reaction to Heath Ledger’s Death
Celebrities and Sleeping Pills – Part One
Celebrities and Sleeping Pills – Part Two