Heath's Family Speaks

Filed under: Australiastic > Heath Ledger

Taking a moment from their grieving, Heather Ledger's family addressed Australian television on Wednesday.

His dad, Kim, said:

"We, Heath's family, confirm, the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda. He was found peacefully asleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30 p.m. U.S. time.

We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well wishes and kind thoughts at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him.

He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many. Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."

[Image via WENN.]

Posted: Jan 23, 2008 at 4:59 am / Email this »

See All 114 Comments

114 comments to “Heath's Family Speaks”

More comments: [1] 2 »

micka says – reply to this

1

sad
Ruben M. says – reply to this

2

You will be dearly missed Heath!
clauds says – reply to this

3

damn this is all so sad
CARA says – reply to this

4

we love you heath
blah says – reply to this

5

Awww. First!
johnny says – reply to this

6

rip
panulay says – reply to this

7

first!
dmt says – reply to this

8

1st?
Ava says – reply to this

9

I am truely so sad about Heath. I'm still shocked.
becs says – reply to this

10

everyones thoughts and hearts go out to them
Jen says – reply to this

11

third?
RIP says – reply to this

12

RIP
Betty says – reply to this

13

Rest In Peace Heath.
Sam says – reply to this

14

RIP Heath xxx
Victoria says – reply to this

15

Such a tragic loss to the acting community. May he rest in peace
cathy says – reply to this

16

first?
HoneyD says – reply to this

17

very sad…a good Perth boy
willers says – reply to this

18

"He was found peacefully asleep" implies life.
mel says – reply to this

19

i ♥ heath
jess says – reply to this

20

I can't believe it.
It can't ahve been his time to go already.
So very sad and tragic.
RIP
You will be missed greatly.
enomis says – reply to this

21

fisrt!
Amanda says – reply to this

22

First!
devi says – reply to this

23

so sad!!! I am so sad!
ilaria says – reply to this

24

it's a very pity.
too talented, too gorgeous, too father to die.
karen says – reply to this

25

poor family - i am still shocked whenever someone in the public eye dies.
Such a waste
SICK FUCK says – reply to this

26

Re: ally – WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?
Marley says – reply to this

27

Beautiful, poignant, and heartbreaking statement regarding the tragic death. May Heath Ledger (and because I never said anything about him…) and Brad Renfro R.I.P. Hopefully their personal struggles are over, and they are content now.
amanda says – reply to this

28

Re: ally –
Strangely that is a fake link and searching CNN produces no articles that match that which you listed. Nice try.
amy says – reply to this

29

r.i.p, i loved him. this is so sad. x
kiwi girl says – reply to this

30

So so sad. I do hope everyone gives his family and former partner and daughter privacy and time. The media, his fans and general public should do it out of respect for him as he was such a wonderful actor and seemed to be a kind and gentle man.
steph says – reply to this

31

RIP this is very sad news
Matilda says – reply to this

32

*snyft* Hemskt….

COME ON! Stop the damn "first"!!! You are almost NEVER first and to comment someones death with that crap is disgraceful!
Erin says – reply to this

33

You will be missed
Kate @ lovekatie.net says – reply to this

34

…still can't quite believe he has died.. his poor daughter.
WTF ALLY WTF ALLY WTF ALLY says – reply to this

35

STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY STOP MAKING UP SHIT ALLY
Me Me Me says – reply to this

36

Re: ally –
what the heck?
shell says – reply to this

37

Please do not post images of the body being taken from the apartment, this is disrespectful and i know you have more compassion than that perez
elyse. says – reply to this

38

ugh!
how can you people 'first' when the topic is something like this.
best wishes go out to his family.
rip heath, you good old kid from WA.
Victoria NYC says – reply to this

39

TO YOUNG! SO SAD!!! & HEY WE WERE NEIGHBORS! R.I.P MY SOHO FRIEND!
& THANKS FOR YOUR TALENTED MOVIES!
Victoria NYC says – reply to this

40

Re: ally – ally- IS A LIAR! YOU DONT EVEN LIVE HERE SO WHY WOULD YOU LIE! ally-LIVES IN A TRAILER PARK IN OHIO! GROW UP SKANK!!! STOP EATING YOU SUN FLOWER SEADS & GO TO BED IN YOUR TRAILER HOME!!!
GOOD NIGHT PEREZERS & R.I.P HEATH- FROM VICTORIA IN SOHO NYC.
joeyOh says – reply to this

41

I'm mad, so this is the glamourous drug culture Tinseltown worships…CRAP I say. Wake up people.
clover says – reply to this

42

this is really sad..
Lisa says – reply to this

43

Incredibly tragic. He exemplified what true celebrity should be. Grace, dignity, talent, success, individuality, and a subtle demeanor. May he rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to his daughter, family, friends, and ex, Michelle.
Monique says – reply to this

44

This is really sad. His poor daughter she will never really know her father.
RIP Heath!
JulieJulie says – reply to this

45

One of the movie stars i actually respected, it is sad.
Brittany says – reply to this

46

Don't you mean HEATH and not HEATHER?!
edmund says – reply to this

47

australians just love to treat everything australian like it's gold. oh pls, heath is just a fucking actor, not the president. stupid
edmund says – reply to this

48

australians just love to treat everything australian like it's gold. oh pls, heath is just a fucking actor, not the president. stupid
natalie says – reply to this

49

Australia has truley lost an amazing man, father and actor…Rest In Peace xo
taylor says – reply to this

50

this is so sad. i am shocked. you will be missed dearly heath by a lot of people. RIP
Nicole says – reply to this

51

My thoughts and prayers are with the faimly.
But man the media makes me so sick. Fliming his body.
Let him have some peace.
and those stupid fuckers who filed it on there camera phones sending it to people and putting it on youtube you are fkn sick!!!
the man just died. Give him so fkn privacy and privacy for his family and Daughter.
Would you like it if it was ur father, Husband or Son laying in that body bag and people filming you.
No!!1 So all of you sick fucks .Get some help!!

r.i.p heath. ill miss you
Rachel says – reply to this

52

Re: edmund – Did you get dropped as a child or something, because you have to be mentally retarded to say something as disrepectful as that. Come to australia and say that to our faces you selfish disrespectful prick. People are simply expressing their feelings about losing a great actor and person.
memoirable says – reply to this

53

u have a typo in there .. it's not heather .. it's heath
Emelie says – reply to this

54

WE LOVE YOU HEATH… REST IN PARADISE.. &HEARTS;
S says – reply to this

55

Re: ally – …sad he isn't trully alive…well it woul've also been sad to have his brother die…shocking news ….so sad
Rj says – reply to this

56

Well…from the old man's asshole comments I guess we can see how the "family's truth" is going to go! Such parental bullshit gives me wonder as to how this young 28 year old man left his child's mother so early, has a massage waiting, surrounded by pills…all the while dear old Dad and Mom praise him! Yea, the whole family smacks like the Jackson clan…real narcissists who always fail to show up for their appointments with the shrink! Clowns…
teens says – reply to this

57

Re: Rj – don't be too hard on the parents…they are still in shock and i guess any parent would want to believe their child's death to be accidental…….I'm surprised that perez didn't pick up on the substance abuse problem! or did i miss it! ?!
HeatRock says – reply to this

58

Re: ally –
Are you mentally imbalanced, ally? You need to get a job/find a hobby. Why the heck would you make up such a stupid story and try to pass it off as something from CNN…for starters, I'd think their reporters know how to string a sentence, unlike yourself. Get a life.
laura says – reply to this

59

Re: edmund – u dick he was a fucking person thats all that matters!!! RIP Heath!!!
WHY!!! says – reply to this

60

WHY COULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN BRITNEY OR LINDSAY OR PARIS
WHAT? says – reply to this

61

Re: ally – You're a stupid cunt.
PP says – reply to this

62

I'm so sad. May God bless Heath and his family. Poor little Matilda will never know her father. Too sad.
Ashley says – reply to this

63

Re: edmund – Just becasue we have loyalty to our people doesn't mean you have to be disrespectful. We know he is not the president becasue we have a Prime Minister, dumb shit and we know he was an actor but we also know that he was a human being, a son, a brother, a father and a good decent human being. Whereas you are a ignorant, disrespectful, good for nothing, piece of shit on the bottom of my shoe dick head, that needs to take his head out of his ass and realize that people are mourning the loss of a truly great person, a truly great Australian whose heart was as good as gold. RIP Heath
Chelle says – reply to this

64

My heart goes out to Heath's family and friends. He will be missed.
CHRIS says – reply to this

65

GOD BLESS THE LEDGER FAMILY AND MICHELLE WILLIAMS AND HIS DAUGHTER MATILDA LEDGER MAY HEATH REST IN PEACE. OUR SENCEREST CONDOLENCES
denean says – reply to this

66

heather, perez? really? please tell me that's a typo and you're not being a disrespectful queen. nobody wants to see that shit.
HEATH SHOULD OF KNOWN BETTER!!!!!!! says – reply to this

67

HEATH TOOK HIS OWN LIFE SLOWLY BY DOING DRUGS.
HE SHOULD OF KNOWN BETTER.
I'M SO SICK AND TIRED OF SEEING PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE OF THE STUPID, IRRESPONSIBLE CHOICES THEY MAKE BY DOING DRUGS AND DRINKING LIKE FISH.
IT'S INSANE.

WE ARE TAUGHT AT VERY EARLY AGE IN LIFE THAT DRUGS KILL BUT IDIOTS STILL DO THEM.

HEATH MADE A STUPID SELFISH CHOICE BY DOING DRUGS AND PAID FOR IT BY TAKING HIS OWN LIFE.

LET THIS BE A LESSON TO ALL.

RESPECT THE LIFE AND THE BODY THAT GOD GAVE YOU AND STAY AWAY FROM DRUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DRUGS KILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Annie says – reply to this

68

Perez can u find out if this "ally" girl is telling the truth.
it better not be a sick joke.
im sick of ppl being insensitive.
he doesnt even have a brother called paul u tool.

Heath,
i hope where ever you are that you are able to see that
even though ur life was short
it was appreciated and i hope that ppl can accept your fate.
Raven21 says – reply to this

69

Re: Ashley –

Well said Ashley!! Edmund is an idiot.
You disrespectful asshole says – reply to this

70

Change "Heather
to "Heath" immeadiatly Perez. You are discusting pig if you dont. My god, what if you died and someone mis-spelled your name on their website as a way to inadvertently disrespect you. You fucking cow.
helene says – reply to this

71

Re: ally – Is that supposed to be a joke?
allison says – reply to this

72

its sooo sadddd
i cried when i found out
... says – reply to this

73

With all due respect to his grieving family- a "Selfless…doting father…" doesn't get so hooked on ANY drug that they purposely or accidently kill themselves. Those of you making him out to be this wonderful "Father" should redefine your meaning.
Mr. Awesomeness says – reply to this

74

why would you call him heather? you are a stupid, fat, ugly fucking piece of flaming dog shit. i hope you die and everyone makes fun of you.
HEATH DIED BECAUSE HE MADE A STUPID CHOICE TO DO DRUGS. PERIOD. says – reply to this

75

WAKE UP EVERYONE!!! HEATH DID NOT DIE OF UNEXPECTED NATURAL CAUSES. WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SAD TO ME IF HE HAD DIED FROM THAT BUT HE DIDN'T.

HE DIED FROM DRUGS. I'M SORRY I CAN'T FEEL SORRY FOR ANYONE MAKING THE STUDID ASS CHOICE FOR DOING THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THEN TAKING THEIR OWN LIFE BECAUSE OF IT.

DOING DRUGS LEADS TO DEATH SOONER OR LATER.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

HEATH KILLED HIMSELF BY DOING DRUGS. PERIOD.

BE SAD FOR PEOPLE WHO DIE FROM STARVATION IN 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE IT.
BE SAD FOR CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH FATAL DISEASE.
DON'T BE SAD FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE ONCE HEALTHY AND WHO MADE THE WRECKLESS CHOICE OF TAKING DRUGS AND DRINKING AND POISONING THEIR ONCE HEALTHY BODIES AND THEN DYING FROM IT.

IDIOTS LIKE THAT DON'T THINK. THAT'S WHY THEY END UP DEAD AND WE HAVE TO FEEL SORRY OR SAD FOR THEM?
NOT ME. NO WAY. I'M SICK OF IT.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO FEEL BAD FOR SOMEONE WHO MADE A INSANE CHOICE TO DO DRUGS AND DIE FROM IT. IT'S NOT LIKE SOMEONE PUT A GUN TO THEIR HEAD AND SAID DO IT.

DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR OR RESPECT STUPIDITY THAT PEOPLE DO TO THEMSELVES.
SO STAY ON THE RIGHT PATH. EAT AND DRINK HEALTHY STAY AWAY FROM POISONING YOUR BODIES AND YOU'LL LIVE A LONG HAPPY LIFE.
TutorGirl23 says – reply to this

76

I send my condolences to Heath's family.
Heather says – reply to this

77

YOU WROTE HEATHER !!!! PEREZ CMONNNNNNNNNN..
.....::: SELFISH SELFISH SELFISH SELFISH :::..... says – reply to this

78

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I SEE YOU CORRECTED THEIR STATEMENT PEREZ !!
THE FATHER ACCIDENTLY SAID : SELFISH
NOT SELFLESS !!
WHICH IS KIND OF FUNNY ..BUT IN A NON LAUGHING WAY
BAD MISTAKE TO MAKE.
ANYWAY YEAH,
THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
(go watch the videos, he says he was SELFISH. I'm sure it was a mistake and he meant selfless)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
master patrick says – reply to this

79

rest in peace
MGS says – reply to this

80

Anyone speculating about Heath's death really sound ignorant. You didn't know him, you aren't the coroner, his family or friends. Jumping to conclusions is foolish, and berating a dead man when you don't know what really happened yet, is just plain wrong.

I can't even get into reading people criticizing his family, that is just over the edge horrible.

R.I.P. Heath. Regardless of what happened, it's damn sad.
Jennie From the Rock says – reply to this

81

This is so sad, I'm so sad for this loss of a great person. He was different from most actors and hollywood stars. He wasn't just putting it out there like a lot of stars do now, he was actually normal and sweet. He will be missed, he's missed by so many that have never even met him including me. I hope he is resting in peace now and that his baby girl will be able to have some form of memory of her daddy.
Alex says – reply to this

82

Its Really Sad , i Cant Actually Believe it , He Seemed Like Such a great man , Its a sad loss for His Family i do feel for Them
natali says – reply to this

83

Re: ally – Heath Ledger only had sisters. If you want to make up stories like that, make sure they sound real.
Ginger says – reply to this

84

I am 1 of Heaths cousins, Our family is going thru a crazy, still in shock time right now. The media does NOT know all the facts, nor does anyone at this point. Please be kind in your words you write, Stop and think for one minute how you would feel if this was your loved one. Our family will be making more statements later regarding this Horrible shock. Also to "Ally" Dont believe what you read hunny, There is NO "DEAD BROTHER PAUL"… It is CRAP like this that hurts our Family the most…. Heath, You know how much we all loved you. I will never forget our childhood days of Hide and Go Seek, and most of all Doorbell Ditchem… I Love You, May you rest in peace now.
ayda says – reply to this

85

aw, God bless
LI says – reply to this

86

Re: HEATH DIED BECAUSE HE MADE A STUPID CHOICE TO DO DRUGS. PERIOD. – ok judgmental..
kim says – reply to this

87

sad sad sad God be with his family at this time. such a talented actor. condolences
Jessica says – reply to this

88

Re: Ginger –

umm yeah. okay.
Paula says – reply to this

89

whoever posted that is a douchebag…its a fake page, and show some goddamn respect for the dead. sick f***
josefina says – reply to this

90

im still shocked.
ill always remember u heath.
love u very much.
jose (argentina)
Lamb Chop says – reply to this

91

This just breaks my heart. So very sad. RIP
Lamb Chop says – reply to this

92

This just breaks my heart. So very sad. RIP
eomp says – reply to this

93

you typed heather ledger, not heath. how disrespectful perez! change please!
lola says – reply to this

94

Re: HEATH DIED BECAUSE HE MADE A STUPID CHOICE TO DO DRUGS. PERIOD. –
I forgot it was the 19th century where people thought drug and alcohol addictions indicated some inherent flaw in that person's soul. Jesus, shut up, you ass. I have lost so many family members to addiction. You wouldn't blame someone with OCD or bipolar disorder for having a genetic predisposition to a behavior, but why would you blame someone with an addiction?
This man left behind a daughter and a film career that meant something to a lot of people. Grow up and let people grieve.
Gi says – reply to this

95

heath was my ultime faveorite actor
he will be missed by so many people
even though many of us did not know him personally im sure i can speak for many when i say we felt like we knew him through his acting
through his acting he spoke to the people
he was a truly talented actor and all of his work will be remembered for many years to come.
R.I.P Heathcliff Andrew Ledger
J. Tall says – reply to this

96

My heart goes out to the Ledger family. What a terrible tragedy. I am so very sorry for your loss. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. God bless,Janice and family from Maryland
A sad fan says – reply to this

97

My heartfelt condolences to the family of Heath Ledger. Heath was an excellent, amazing actor. I personally think his favorite role was that of a doting father. I will alway think of him that way, images of Heath and Matilda walking the street in their neighborhood, you could just see his love for her in every picture. Matilda, your daddy will always love you!
Meagan says – reply to this

98

I'm hoping calling Heath, Heather was just a typo on your part, otherwise you are probably one of the most tasteless people in the media to be making fun of a man right after his tragic death.
Rachel says – reply to this

99

I cant believe there is such of person like Ally … how can you make up something out of a tragedy
DD says – reply to this

100

Re: ally – Not cool - stop.

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Give it a listen (above)!

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