'Let Heath go in peace'
2008-02-04 17:03
Perth - Locals in Heath Ledger's hometown prepared on Monday to welcome home the remains of one of their biggest stars, while expressing dismay at media speculation about the 28-year-old Oscar-nominated actor's alleged drug abuse.
Details of funeral arrangements for the late co-star of Brokeback Mountain have not been announced, but Ledger's family is expected to bring his body back to Perth in western Australia this week.
Family members have reportedly already attended two memorial services for the actor in Los Angeles.
The Australian newspaper reported on Monday that Ledger will be buried next to two of his grandparents in a family plot in Perth.
Ledger's publicist, Mara Buxbaum, didn't immediately respond to an e-mail from The Associated Press seeking comment.
Ledger died in his New York City apartment on January 22.
Authorities suspect a drug overdose, but the cause of his death is still pending the outcome of toxicology tests.
Police said several prescription drugs were found in the apartment where the actor's body was found.
Residents of this idyllic city located on the western Australia coast expressed sadness at his sudden death - and outrage over rumours of his alleged drug use.
Much attention has been focused on footage showing Ledger at a party where drugs were being taken. The American TV show Entertainment Tonight dropped the footage from an upcoming show after a Hollywood publicity firm that represented Ledger protested.
'A lot of rubbish'
A sister show of Entertainment Tonight, which showed parts of the video reportedly shot two years ago, said the footage doesn't show Ledger taking drugs. At one point, however, Ledger says he "used to smoke five joints a day".
"If a person dies, let him go in peace. All this rubbish they bring up about drugs and everything else, I think it's a lot of rubbish," said Margaret Byrne, a 58-year-old catering supervisor at Royal Perth Hospital.
"He was a great star for us. We don't have many stars from here," she said.
"I think it's disgusting how the media has played it out," said Justin Kestel, a 28-year-old travel agency manager who played against Ledger at field hockey in opposing secondary school teams.
Another Perth resident, Ian Bennett, said he was indifferent about Ledger's death and believed allegations of his drug use.
"It's part of the scene," the food services attendant at Royal Perth Hospital said.
Perth journalists who covered Ledger said he was a huge source of pride.
"It's probably the biggest news we've had in Perth in a long time ... He's probably the highest-profile star who's ever come out of Perth and probably our greatest success story," said Shannon Harvey, film critic at The Sunday Times.
Harvey said Ledger returned to Perth to promote some of his earlier movies, but he tried to keep a low profile when returning to visit his family.
It appears Ledger wasn't a natural at handling the press.
"He was not easy to interview," Harvey said. "It appeared he was uncomfortable with doing interviews and feature stories and having media and complete strangers prying into his personal life."
- AP