The family of the late Heath Ledger arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday, four days before the Academy Awards on Sunday.
According to The Australian newspaper, Heath’s parents – Kim and Sally, and his sister, Kate — were among the family members who landed at LAX and spoke with reporters.
The family will be attending the Oscars this weekend.
“They’re very excited, they are actually quite relaxed. It’s been such a difficult last 12 months for them,” a rep for the Ledger family told the newspaper. “But they are in a position [where] they feel like they can relax now and enjoy his talent and the accolades he has enjoyed.”
Kim and Kate will wear Giorgio Armani on the red carpet after the fashion house offered to dress them for the event, the Ledger rep told The Australian.
Earlier in the day on Wednesday, it was announced that Heath’s 3-year-old daughter, Matilda, would be the recipient of the Oscar should Heath win the award for Best Supporting Actor for his turn as The Joker in “The Dark Knight.”
However, Matilda (who Heath had in 2005 with actress Michelle Williams) won’t be given legal possession of the statue until October 28, 2023 – the day she turns 18.
Until that time, her mother Michelle will technically be the award’s legal custodian.
Other supporting-actor nominees include Josh Brolin, “Milk”; Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”; Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”; Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road.
Heath has already won the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for the role, with “Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan and co-star Gary Oldman accepting the awards on his behalf, respectively.
No word yet who will be on stage to accept the Oscar on Heath’s behalf if he wins.
Heath died on January 22, 2008, of an accidental prescription drug overdose. He was 28.
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