Heath Ledger Mourned In Private Los Angeles Memorial

Heath Ledger was mourned in a private memorial Saturday in Los Angeles attended by family, friends and former girlfriends. He was found dead in New York on Tuesday. His casket was taken from New York to Los Angeles late Friday afternoon.

The New York Daily News reports:

Security guards stood at the gates of the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary as LAPD officers swept the grounds after closing hours.

Soon after, three black SUVs believed to be carrying Heath's father and other relatives as well as his ex-fiancée, the actress Michelle Williams, sped onto the grounds. They left a half hour later.

Also spotted entering the chapel where Heath's coffin lay was actress Naomi Watts, who dated the Oscar-nominated actor for nearly two years...

Two SUVs also left Williams' Brooklyn townhouse early yesterday for the airport. Several bags of luggage and a car seat used by Ledger's 2-year-old daughter with Williams were loaded into the vehicles before they whisked several people away from the Boerum Hill home.

People Magazine reports:

A memorial that drew Naomi Watts and other friends and relatives of Heath Ledger was held in Beverly Hills on Saturday night, just hours after the actor's death was marked at a New York event.

A small gathering of black-dressed mourners, including the Australian actress, was seen in the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel around 8 p.m. for the private event, a source said. Ledger's rep had said that no public memorial was planned for Los Angeles.

Us Magazine reports the Beverly Hills Hotel event was an intimate memorial dinner:

Around fifteen people wore black for the occasion as they reminisced about the 28-year-old actor who was found dead in Manhattan on Tuesday.

An onlooker tells Usmagazine.com, "Even though it was a sad occasion, everyone was smiling, hugging each other and holding hands. It was a really positive group."

His body is now expected to be taken to Perth by his family. Mary-Kate Olsen continues to maintain her silence over the 3 phone calls she received before 911, other than a brief statement she released on Friday. His inconclusive autopsy has toxicology results still pending.

Comments

[mouselion]

The headline was "Heath Ledger's Private Memorial Details".

If it's supposed to be private -- shouldn't you be NOT posting the details?

The famous, just like the rest of us, should be left alone when it's the appropriate thing to do -- as in the case of a private memorial service.

[Maplebird]

Relax, folks. Regardless of what any of us thinks about his talent, Heath Ledger has had an influence on popular culture and on society. I, for one, am glad to see that his family at least got enough privacy to gather and celebrate his life without being under a microscope the entire time. Though I don't know the Ledger family, my heart goes out to them.
To those of you who seem to either love/hate this man, be warned that he should neither be worhsipped nor demonized. It is too easy when a young, vibrant and popular person dies so suddenly to treat him as much greater and much worse of a man than he might actually have been. Not that any of us actually knew the fellow well enough so as to be able to say the first thing about him. All we can do is speculate.
So perhaps all of us could get a life and start talking about something else. After all, we may never know why or how he died. Best to celebrate the fact that he did the work he loved while he was alive, and best to try to emulate that.

[unclesmedley]

The people who report stories such as this--details of private, personal, intimate, painful events--should be named. Paparazzi stalkers should be accredited for their work.

A young man dies, leaving a small child and devastated parents. The family seeks privacy in their darkest hour. And here we are, weighing in on the tragedy as if it were any of our business.

gee whiz

[ellezeebub]

Godspeed Heath Ledger. May your family be cheered by your kindness and good works.

[Guitarsandmore]

No, this is the third twenty-something death I have heard about in the last couple weeks related to heart/drugs/anxiety issues. One of them was my cousin. Something is up and there should be an investigation.

People in they're twenties should not expire under these circumstances. Something strange is going on - maybe with the food or the medicine or the too many energy drinks.

We need Columbo.

[jennmce]

If anything good comes out of this talented actor's death, it will be that the contempt for stalker paparazzi will grow to a point where there will be a public outcry to enact laws against them, or at least make their business so unprofitable, or even unlawful, that they have to stop following these celebrities around. The general public has been screaming for the press and paps to leave Heath Ledger's family and friends alone, and hopefully those cries will finally be heard for the whole business. I don't know about any of you, but I'm sick of hearing about how many Starbucks and drug store runs Britney Spears makes in a day, and it's even more awful when legitimate talent is subjected to this sick treatment.

[Vutan]

"It's common knowledge that this train wreck Heath was an alcoholic and addict, he's spoken about it himself and he died from a drug overdose, only thing remaining to determine is if it was suicide or accidental."

Actually, Boo, none of that is common knowledge, and actually none of that is true. It turns out that the cause of death, acording to some rumours, might be natural. One thing that is sure though, no illegal drugs were involved.

The rest of your rant is, quite frankly, broad armchair moralism, without any real understanding, let alone empathy, of human nature.
And please, keep on using the Iraq civilians analogy as if it made an ounce of sense...I find it amusing...

[kellygrrrl]

not pointing any fingers here, BUT, something that keeps bothering me:

What the hell does Mary Kate Olson need a maaeuse for? I mean, how does one massage bones?

[larry278]

How do the folks at Westboro Baptist plan to drive to Australia to desecrate the man's grave since they never made it to LA for that service? Anyone wanna buy 'em a fleet of reconditioned WWII ducks? They will need lots of gas money for the trip too. By bye, Westover or Whatever?

[liliperl]

Heath Ledger was a talented young actor who made his cinematic signature by his unforgettable roles/characters. He should be remembered and understood as an artist and the comments should focus rather on what he created and offered us. His private life was his and of those who were part of it. All the speculations and gossip...It is really disgraceful.

[WilliamWallace]

As usual, media hanging on the all the gory details, like leeches.

R.I.P., Mr. Ledger, you were a talented young man, and will be missed.

[dawp]

and you know this personally? just STFU.

[cheesewiz]

And you know all this about him because....?

[cheesewiz]

Oh, fuck off. The man was an artist of extraordinary talent. He brought characters to life like very few actors are able to do. You should be so lucky to have a tiny bit of that. And as far as Iraq, what does that have to do with mourning a great talent? We are suppose to limit our compassion?