Funeral Plans Set for Ledger

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The New York Sun

Funeral arrangements for Heath Ledger have been completed and his relatives are expected to arrive in New York tomorrow, according to a funeral home spokesman.

George Amado, general manager of the Frank E. Campbell funeral home, refused to disclose any more details, saying that any additional information would have to come from Ledger’s manager.

“The family doesn’t want us to give out any information,” he said today.

The body of the 28-year-old Australian-born actor was taken to the funeral home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side yesterday, a day after he was found dead in his SoHo loft with bottles of prescription drugs nearby.

A Medical examiner’s office spokeswoman, Ellen Borakove, said an autopsy yesterday was inconclusive and that authorities would know more in about 10 days, when more tests are expected to be complete.

Ledger’s housekeeper and a massage therapist found the “Brokeback Mountain” star dead Tuesday, lying naked and face-down on his bed, police said.

There were six different types of prescription drugs in the room, including pills to treat insomnia and anxiety, and an antihistamine, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

A rolled-up $20 bill was found on the floor near the bed, but a New York Police Department spokesman, Paul Browne, said lab tests found nothing to indicate the bill had been used to snort drugs. Police also said no illegal drugs were found in the apartment.

The law enforcement officials said three of the drugs were prescribed in Europe. Ledger had recently been filming in London.

Police have said Ledger’s death may have been caused by a drug overdose and appeared to be accidental.

Today, the makeshift memorial outside Ledger’s apartment building had grown to more than 100 bouquets including tulips, daisies, carnations, and tropical flowers, along with candles, signs, notes and other memorials.

A computer printout of an Australian flag bore the message: “We will always be proud of you, Heath. Rest in peace, mate. You will be missed.”

Some of Ledger’s friends and relatives said they were baffled by the actor’s death because he had appeared to be happy and healthy in the last months of his life.

One of his uncles, Haydn Ledger, said his nephew wouldn’t have done anything rash. “It just wouldn’t come into the equation at all,” he said today in an interview on CBS’ “The Early Show.”

He and another of the actor’s uncles, Mike Ledger, deflected a question about whether their nephew had been depressed, saying that should be left to his parents to address.

Lee Daniels, who produced the critically acclaimed 2001 movie “Monster’s Ball,” in which Ledger starred, disputed any notion that Ledger had a drug problem.

“The definition of substance abuse is really up to one’s perspective,” Mr. Daniels said. “I didn’t see him as a drug addict. I saw him as someone who enjoyed life. I know drug addicts — he was not a drug addict.”

Mr. Daniels also said the actor was in great spirits when they saw each other a few months ago.

“He was in a good mood, he was in a great place … he was excited about living in New York,” Mr. Daniels said.


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