Heath's Family Says Goodbye
Filed under: Australiastic > Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger's family is publicly sharing their grief.
The actor's parents and sisters each wrote touching tributes in the Friday edition of the West Australian newspaper.
Here's what they said.
His father, Kim, wrote:
"'Heatho,' 'Beef,' . . . my beautiful boy, so loving, so talented, so independent, so caring, so young . . . no more chess games mate . . . this is it, couldn't beat you anyway!
My body aches for the sound of your voice, our chats, our laughs and our life and times together."
Your truly varied artistic skills, insatiable desire to improve and eclectic abilities set you apart from any other person on the planet . . . it had only just started for you … and for us to further enjoy. We were one, in soul and commitment. Just . . . Father and Son. I will love you forever, Dad."
His mother, Sally, wrote:
"Our darling boy, special in so many ways to all of us. You knew you were so loved. You lived life with courage and daring and we are so grateful for the wonderful times we shared. We will be there for Matilda. Your loving Mamma, Rog and Ash."
His older sister, Katie, wrote:
"I can hardly breathe when I try to write this. We were the ultimate in soul mates. I feel both my heart and life have been torn apart. I loved our special talks, our daily chats from where ever you were in the world.
I especially loved all the precious time we spent together. We were so fortunate to have you as long as we did. You were so many things to so many people, but to me you were just my little brother.
There will never, ever be another "Heath" and I think that in itself is the greatest tragedy.
I will continue to talk with you everyday and love you just as if you were here. You will never leave my thoughts "Roast", ever."
His younger sister, Olivia, wrote:
"You're my idol, my hero, but most importantly, my loving big brother. I'll treasure every moment we spent together. I love you Heath, I miss you and pray every night you're safe."
His entire family wrote:
"How do we describe our sudden and tragic loss? … You were the most amazing individual "old soul" in a young man's body.
You so loved us, as we dearly loved you. As a close knit and very private family unit we have observed you so determined yet quietly travelling in your self-styled path in life, nothing would get in your way … no mountain too tall, no river too wide.
You dreamed your dreams and lived them with passion and intelligent commitment. We have been privileged to accompany you on a ride through life that has simply been amazing and through it all, we have loved each other beyond imagination.
Your true legacy lives on in beautiful little Matilda, who will always remain in the greatest of care. Our hearts are broken . . . Dad and Ines, Mum and Roger, Kate and Nathan, Rori and Scarlett, Ashleigh, Olivia, Elana and Nadia."
[Image via WENN.]
i almost cried. that was so sad
I am on the verge of tears. My heart breaks for Heath's family and friends. God bless!
my heart just breaks for his family. i can't even imagine what it would feel like to lose someone that close to you. so young and so incredibly talented; thats pretty much all i know of him, but my heart is broken with loss of another young artist who should've had many more days, years even ahead of him. it isn't fair. life isn't fair, but we move along anyways.
this so totally made me cry. heath will be missed by all!!!
that was serioulsly the saddest
thing ive ever read.
His family had beautiful words to say of their Heath! I am glad to hear the servie will be private, his family needs to say goodbye without all the camera watching them. I certainly hope no protesting will be going on! I am a Christian and in NO way support what that fanatical group is planning on doing! Heath was a wonderful actor, a loving father and should be laid to rest with respect and peace! You will be missed, Heath. My thoughs and prayers go out to all who knew and loved you!
Crying for their loss. SO Sad…
James Dean of our generation, Rest in Peace. Lets pray for the LIttle Matilda to have the most beautiful life with you lookin after her up there.
losing my mom when i was 19 … she was the center of my world … i know this raw grief heath's struggling with so, so well … the pain is so overwhelming … these letters break my heart all over again … 15 years later, I know that life continues, joy is felt again, and memories of the person your missing get easier and happier to let in … but, that doesn't make what they're going through easier … all of my heart hurts for them.
His father adored his son..what an an amazing relationship they had..i have cried a little everyday since Heath moved on….
i feel as if i knew him.. i wish to God i had..he was truly a beautiful soul….
RIP ENNIS…you will never be forgotten
I don't know this man except for the characters he brought to life on the big screen.
However, I seem to feel a level of grieving as it is obvious he has touched so many people deeply and he is loved by so many that knew him.
Daniel Day Lewis was on Oprah, and he said to her that he has just heard about Health's death and he was so unsettled that he needed to talk about that - he also never met him but felt the loss of a great talent.
What a tragedy
Re: I know – SO SAD
gorgeous man, truly amazing actor, loved by millions….. Rest in Peace, will miss you always. xoxoxoxox
That was the most sweetest tear jerking message i have ever read! God Bless the Heath Family~
Wow, I am in tears. Its so sad, seems as though he has a wonderful family. My heart and prayers go out to his family. Such a sad time for them =(
Is one of his nicknames among his family Roast Beef? lol. His dad called him "beef" and his sister called him "roast"
R.I.P
you could sure get a glimpse of how close-knit their family was. So much love and so much heartache over his loss. I feel so bad for their family, he was my age, and I couldn't imagine, so much left to do in life. I hope that the paparazzi can let them get on with thier grieving and leave them be
how can you put another heath ledger article when agreeing to what star jones had written about the media being disrespectful to the privacy of the situation?
I can't imagine my dysfunctional family having the wherewithal or the intelligence to post an obituary like this for a member of our family. If only all of us were blessed to have come from a family who spoke, cared, supported and loved to the depths that this family did - and does - perhaps all of us could accomplish as much in our lives as Heath Ledger did in his all too brief life. My condolences to the Ledger family on their loss.
Love
So eloquently written. We can only imagine this family's pain through their written words. God bless Heath and his family and friends.
Heath is gone and Madonna is still around. What gives?
This made me cry-
This was not a troubled man who lost his way. I just believe that he made a mistake, he ingested too mnay combinations of medicines in his desire for sleep and to feel better.
It happens so often… why do you think they are telling parents not to give over the counter cough syrup and cold medications to to kids under the age of 2?
I truly believe that he didn't know that he was in danger of losing his life.
Re: {♥♀krazihottkelli☻bitchygrl@☻krazihouze☻♀} –
what the fuck are you smokin?????????
I believe this is truly a tragedy for his family and I too feel sad for them. As far as being sad myself I cannot admitt to that as I did not know him. People die everyday from horrible things and they are not recognized! I think it is silly that people use the words I LOVE YOU on someone they don't know. In fact I think it is absolutely idiotic! This simple act devalues the words and renders them worthless when you say them to someone that you actually feel love for. To all the idiots that claim they "loved" heath: it is no wonder our world is in the state that it is simply because you think you value a movie star!
Yeterday Perez said he wouldnt show any photos of the funeral or of the family and now he is posting the intimate letters?
PEREZ is a HYPOCRITE
SHAME ON YOU…SHAME, leave the family alone.
Not that it at all matters, but I'm sure you, Perez, feel really bad for making fun of him a few weeks ago. He was everything his family described him as, I still can't help but cry for him, he was a real gem of the earth and a rare find, if ever found. I hope Matilda is taken amazing care of with lots of love and kisses, everyday by her mom and heath's beautiful family. I love him, and his family and his baby, and Michelle. My heart breaks for them but in time everything will be o.k, even though he his missed so much that bodies physically can't breathe, I hope the hype will go away soon, it is so depressing to see his beautiful face on television now, I hope he will get the respect he deserves. He is a great man.
Doesnt it make you mad to know that when YOU die…no ones gonna be on here worshipping you like your a god?…so whyyyyyyyyyyyy??????????….Feel bad for people you actually KNEW who died! THAT matters! Let those who knew this guy Ledger mourn for him as it should be. Go on with your lives people.
that is prob the saddest thing ive ever read…
Re: Howard –
how dare you even say anything like that, your pathetic comment about the god damn movie doesn't even deserve to be heard. Of course it willbe magnificent, Heath and Christian Bale are in it and they are amazing and talented. If you don't care, it's pointless to say you don't care.
thats really sad,i cried when i read it.
i dont even know what i'd do if i lost a sibling or my niece. it's just terrible.
r.i.p
I am going to call my younger brother up right now and tell him how much I love him, as well as other members of my family
I am in tears. Heath is so loved and so missed.
Re: Howard –
dont be ignorant you fool!
R.I.P Heath. You we're one hell of an actor.
Its really sad that that happen, first he is hot and he is an amazing actor.
The nights tale was my favorite movie and now its gunna be hard to watch it seeing as the main actor is dead!
Hats off to his family and daughter!
Crying at work right now… devistating… absolutely devistating
It's sad, very sad…I love You
What a refreshingly classy family. They didn't have to publicly say anything, but what they did was say goodbye with an honest eloquence that I doubt many of us could have mustered in such a tragic time. My heart goes out to them. I'll be hugging my sons a little more often now.
Boy this must make the families of fallen HEROES in the armed forces really feel like shit! Seeing an ACTOR who used drugs to get thru the day and was irresponsible in reading the warning labels….get all the headlines on every news channel this week….Shows how fucked up our priorities are in America when good people die every day in Iraq serving their country…and you never even hear the names mentioned..just forgotten. Fuck hollyweird and its "actors"…theyre the ones who are meaningless!!!
How heartbreaking to read those words. I have a lump in my throat and am ready to cry. Beautiful words written by obviously a very close knit and loving family. A great actor only just beginning. He will be missed!!
Reading these puts celebrities into a whole new, much more real, persepctive. Its hard to imagine most celebrities today as sons and daughters, brothers and sisters- those people that people dedicate their whole lives to stalking and obsessing over are simply part of someone else's family. My heart goes out to Heath and his loved ones- so tragic.
wow, that so very beautiful and touching….. i don't think that perez has done anything wrong by posting this beautiful tribute that his family made for him. if anything i think it helps us to realize that he wasn't just some actor who died, he was someone's father, son, brother and friend. may god bless Heath, and may good bless his family in these difficult times.
He was nothing but a junkie..
the real misfortune is to his child and Michelle.
She should have know better than that.
Bring a child to this world, that would have a junkie,
a drug addict as a father
OK, why is it the only people making cruel, snarky, asinine ,mean spirited comments are guys???. Good lord It's enough to make me go Lesbian. STOP WITH THE HATE AND BIGOTRY ALREADY!!! you minutely endowed cretins. Go crawl back under whatever log you came out from and die, you slimey, hateful, pathetic bottom feeders. It's cowardly assholes like you who spread hate and violence in the world and ruin it for the rest of us.
Re: ashley – oh gawdddddddd get a grip!!!!!!!!!! you didnt even KNOW him,paleeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: jerks –
our military men and women will always have our support, our love, thoughts and prayers. everytime i hear about another soldier die i cringe, and it saddens me, and i pray for them and their families. it pisses me off that a war is going on for all the wrong reasons. Heath was an actor and famous person who was loved by so many. what is wrong with mourning his death.
Re: WTF?? – Hey ASSley learn how to read this has nothing to do with him and everything to do with pathetic mean spirited idiots like you. Ciao BIMBO!
Re: WTF??? – no its you who idolize a drug infested "actor"!! get over yourself! He died at his own doing…deal with it! Find whats important in the world and try to make it a better place instead of crying over H.L. ughhhhh
Re: beely – one of those HEARTLESS PEOPLE, that's why you don't feel NOTHING , you are just like a STATUE , COLD , LIFELESS, HARD AS A ROCK , I feel sorry for people like yourself
Re: YOU FUCKING BASTARDS – TRUST ME YOU WON'T BE MISSED HERE
AND THE WHOLE WORLD WILL CELEBRATE ,BECAUSE HEARTLESS PIECE OF SHIT LIKE YOU HAS NO PLACE IN THIS WORLD
REST IN PIECE HEATH LEDGER
Re: YOU FUCKING BASTARDS – CLEARLY you are the BASTARD HEARTLESS DOUCHE BAG HERE
SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH DIPSHIT
such a beautiful soul. Such a loss.
Broke my heart reading that. I feel horrible for his family. What they must be going through I can't even imagine. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
omg, i couldn't even make it through the first line without tears in my eyes…those were very beautiful. R.I.P. Heath
Re: Jerks! –
AGAIN learn how to read. It is not about HL. I really am not a fan of his. I am just amazed by the hatred that ignorant neanderthals like you spew on the internet. How old are you 12? If you are an adult the world is now a scarier place. You must have a small one. I'm sick of people like you. Go DIE. You are a waste of humanity. No more tit for tat either you feminine little bitch. i won't be reading any more of this bile. I have better things to do.This is a complete waste of my time Ciao BITCHES!!
rest in peace heath. israel loved you.
wow, i hadn't cried about it yet, but reading this just made me lose it. he was an amazing person. i pray his daughter comes to know the man he was, and appreciates him and carries on his legacy. wow
Re: Lauren – Have some RESPECT you FUCKING DOUCHE , but then again I am asking too much , people like you are NOTHING BUT A SAD PIECES OF SHIT
please kill yourself , and let everyone mourn peacefully
May he rest in peace
Re: Jerks! – and this world will be a better place without people like yourself , FUCKING DOUCHE BAG !!!!!
Re: WTF??? – see I KNEW you had better things to do than sit around crying over Ledger!! Have a nice day!!
I wish you can READ MY LIPS ….FUCK YOURSELF !!!!!!
anyone praying and hoping anyone to DIE is a COMPLETE DOUCHE BAG just like yourself , I mean I can't even do that to you and I despise you so much , i just hope you live longer and continue living your MISERABLE EXISTENCE FUCKTARD DOUCHE BAG
god, that is sooo sad =(
he will be greatly missed
RIP Heath
ok, it made me cry, the death of a loved one is the worst things that can happen to someone because there is just not way around it.
i dont think I have ever been so moved and hurt by someone else's deatht who I barely knew. I am at lost for words. To Heath's family and friends, I am truly sorry about your loss…God Bless all of you & I will keep your family in my prayers. Such a tragic tragic loss…
Im crying.. so sad… RIP …Heath… GOD BLESS U and ur family
R.I.P Heath Ledger, i don't know what more too say then that we all gonna miss you and we feel the pain he cause his family..
wow, that made me cry, but i suppose i wouldnt have expected anything less. So very sad, Rest In Peace Heath, it seems very unreal to lose a young Light
really sadness
just pure sadness……
so sorry for all of you… we all will miss him too
That's a hard read. What a tragic pity.
Im cring like a baby.
rest in peace heath, I will always love you
i love you heath!!! please watch over this crazy world
This is a terrible lost indeed, I wonder if Michelle Williams send her tributes to any newspapaer in New York City, I know she's greaving his dead but she's sorrounded by frinds, family and her publicist.
I think is strange his family didn't sign Matilda's name at the end as a member of the family even though they did mention her in their good bye notes.
SAD! GOD BLESS YOU HEATH!
it's heartbreaking.
RIP Heath. we'll miss your beautiful smile
I am crying my eyes out..How tragic for everyone. Just a sad sad waste. Does anyone know how to send a not to Michelle Williams?
I carn't Beleive this..hes left this world so soon…He was a one in a million his family letters are so heart breaking and i wish them peace and this tragic time for their great loss. R.i.P Heath u'll remain in our hearts forever xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wow. That brought tears to my eyes. It made me think about my family.
No way this guy committed suicide.
What beautiful tributes…..such a close family.
My heart goes out to them.
I can hardly believe the impact of this… I never saw Brokeback Mountain, but of course I heard all about it and saw the stills. And I love those stills! I have read a lot about him this week… My favorite was the 1-column jump-headline in the LA Times Wednesday: "Ledger a brave actor." For sure!!!
That gave me goosebumps. So sad. They really were so close. I feel bad.
Touching words.Heath you will be missed. You were a great and versatile actor. R.I.P. Wish I got to meet you, but one day I will.
Peace to all.
oh, so sad!
I can't even imagine the pain that his family is going through. The world lost an amazing talent and the Ledger family lost their son. The media needs to back off and let them grieve in peace. R.I.P Heath…you will be missed.
he was one of a kind. although his life was short he graced us with an incredible body of work, full of soul and integrity.
so sad I couldn't finish reading it
It is so hard to loose a child at any age. This family is grieving so badly and will miss their son, and brother more than the world can imagine. I know their feeling, I too lost a son this way. Rest in Peace, Heath, you were a fantastic actor and will always be remembered
aaawww…. thts so sweet…. it brought tears to my eyes
rest in peace, Heath xxxx.
This made me cry
Those poor people. My heart is with them. they must be devastated.
I only hope Heath rests in peace and watches down on his family and his little girl.
Matilda, your daddy was a true man. Don't ever let anyone tell you different.
this is the saddest of tragedies. and all you who continue to hog the spotlight by adding "first" are a bunch of cunts. find just a little respect in your shitty hollow hearts.
too heartbroken over this for words.. the messages from the family just took me over the edge.. i can't even imagine their pain.. it's just unfair..
To anyone whose ever lost an immediate family member, you are never the same. Just reading their thoughts, my heart just aches for them.
His fathers word were especially touching, I shouldnt of read this at work know everybody is asking me whats wrong =( I always thought Heath was a very gifted actor loved his work. God Bless his family may he rest in peace
Re: Lauren – #105 you deserve to be thrown off a cliff, you ignorant, hateful, disgusting waste of a human being. go make yourself useful and keep your close minded moronic thoughts to yourself because no one here wants to read them.
Oh my god! It is so sad, i'm crying so hard.
we'll miss you Heath!
Thats So Lovely.
It Made Me Cry.
R.I.P Heath .x.o.x.o
That was so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes. Very classy Perez for putting that on the site. R.I.P. Heath and my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed.
Oh my god, that's so heart breaking
that would warm even the coldest of hearts. I wish his family all the best.
I am sick of seeing and hearing about this doper assholio!