Tuesday, 5 February 2008

• Prev
• Next

A sorrowful return to Australia for Heath Ledger's family

Actor's family arrive back in Perth

Heath Ledger's family made a sad return to Australia, arriving in their hometown of Perth for a private funeral for the actor.

Ledger's father Kim and other relatives appeared solemn and tired as they walked through the airport Tuesday afternoon local time.

Asked by PEOPLE for a comment about his long trip home, Kim Ledger said only, "I'm sorry," as he was escorted with his family by heavy security off the plane. They then went into an elevator.

Kim, Ledger's mother Sally and elder sister Kate first arrived in Brisbane in the morning after an overnight flight from Los Angeles.

That evening, Kim and his daughter were spotted entering Sally's home in the suburb of Applecross.

Their arrival comes two weeks after the death of Ledger, whose body was found in his Manhattan apartment. No cause of death has been determined. Authorities are awaiting the results of a toxicology report.

The family had spent more than a week in Los Angeles attending memorial services for the actor.

On Saturday, friends and celebrity colleagues – including Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Sienna Miller, Ellen DeGeneres and director Todd Haynes – gathered on the Sony lot in Culver City to remember Ledger.

The memorial came a week after relatives and close friends paid tribute to the 28-year-old actor at a smaller service at an L.A. cemetery.

According to Australian newspaper reports, Ledger is expected to be buried in a family plot with two of his grandparents at Perth's Karrakatta Cemetery.

Brenda Rodriguez