HEATH LEDGER - PUBLIC MEMORIAL SERVICE TO BE HELD FOR LEDGER

PUBLIC MEMORIAL SERVICE TO BE HELD FOR LEDGER

U.S. fans will pay tribute to late actor HEATH LEDGER next week at a public memorial service in Los Angeles. Australia's foreign minister Stephen Smith gave no details of the remembrance ceremony in California but confirmed a private service had been held in New York on Saturday (26Jan08), where members of Ledger's family joined the actor's ex-fiancee Michelle Williams and their daughter Matilda to pay their respects. The casket then began its two-day journey to the actor's hometown of Perth, Australia, where Ledger will be laid to rest at a family funeral next week. The 28-year-old was found dead in his New York apartment on Tuesday (22Jan08). An autopsy carried out on Wednesday (23Jan08) failed to reveal how the actor died, although police believe his death is drug-related as sleeping pills were found by his bed.