Hollywood Joins Ledger’s Family For Emotional Service

Actor Heath Ledger was remembered by his family and friends in a moving private ceremony in Hollywood on Saturday.

A host of stars reportedly joined Ledger’s family – father Kim, mother Sally and sister Kate including the actor’s ex-girlfriend Naomi Watts as well as Sean Penn, Josh Hartnett, Sienna Miller, Orlando Bloom and Portia De Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres, who became friends with Heath after selling him their former Hollywood home.

Ledger’s “A Knight’s Tale” co-star Shannyn Sossamon and director Todd Haynes, who directed Ledger in “I’m Not There,” were also present at the ceremony.

Lily Cole, the supermodel who was starring alongside Ledger in “The Imagninarium of Dr. Parnassus,” came as well.

Michelle Williams and Matilda, her two-year-old daughter with Ledger were not in attendance according to reports but her “Dawson’s Creek” co-stars James Van Der Beek and Katie Holmes reportedly attended as did Tom Cruise.

According to Australia’s Herald Sun, Mark Ruffalo, who is married to Sunrise Coigney, Williams’ best friend also attended the service.

Supermodel Gemma Ward, who was rumored to be dating Ledger recently also attended the service which was held on the Sony Pictures lot in Century City.

The Herald Sun reports that around 1,000 gathered to pay their respects to the celebrated actor.

“It was a very loving tribute – emotional and loving,” a guest told the paper. “At times it was very sad and then there were some lighter moments.

A host of photographs of Ledger on sets and in tender moments of his life, like those he spent with his daughter were shown to the gathered.

“The service was a very simple, moving tribute from family and people who had worked with him,” the source told the paper.

Musician Ben Harper performed a song, which the paper reported he wrote specifically for his late friend.

Ledger’s family are now on their way to their native Perth, Australia, where the actor is expected to be laid to rest, People reported.

The actor is reportedly set to be buried alongside his grandparents following a hometown service.