Hometown farewell for Heath Ledger

Published on Saturday 9 February 2008 19:11

HEATH Ledger's family joined celebrities and hundreds of other mourners yesterday to bid farewell to the actor at a memorial service in his Australian hometown.

The star's former fiance, actress Michelle Williams, arrived in a six-car cavalcade with his parents, Kim Ledger and Sally Ledger-Bell, and sister Kate Ledger at Penrhos College for the service in Perth.

Australian actress Cate Blanchett, who starred with Ledger in the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, was among the celebrities, who included actors, directors and sports stars.

Blanchett spoke about the times she shared with Ledger in New York and Los Angeles.

A video tribute compiled by family and friends included footage from Ledger's films and of his two-year-old daughter, Matilda, whom he fathered with Williams.

Among the first to arrive at the high-security ceremony was model Gemma Ward, a former girlfriend of Ledger's.

The music reflected Ledger's eclectic tastes: Dylan's 'The Times They Are A-Changin', The Beatles' 'Here Comes The Sun', Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' and Neil Young's 'Old Man'.

Local musician Levi Islam opened the service by playing traditional Aboriginal music on a didgeridoo.

The service was followed by a private funeral in Perth.

Kim Ledger said: "It's a pretty sad time. We're finding it difficult to cope by ourselves, let alone cope with everybody around the world.

"Having said that, we do really appreciate the outpouring and the emotional support from all over the globe."

The 28-year-old star of Brokeback Mountain died of an accidental prescription-drug overdose in his Manhattan apartment on January 22.

The New York City medical examiner announced last week that Ledger died from the effects of taking six types of painkillers and sedatives.