Memorial held for Heath Ledger

A private memorial service for actor Heath Ledger has been held in Los Angeles.

Immediate family and and close friends - including former girlfriend Naomi Watts - gathered in the city on Saturday.

It came just hours after the Brokeback Mountain star's passing was marked at an Australian gala in New York.

According to US reports, a low-key 30-minute service took place at Westwood Village Memorial Park, during which Watts was "visibly upset."

Security guards stood at the gates of the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park while Los Angeles Police Department officers made sure the grounds were empty after closing hours.

Soon after, three black SUV trucks believed to be carrying Heath's father and other relatives as well as his ex-fianc?e, the actress Michelle Williams, sped onto the grounds. They left half an hour later, the New York Daily News reports.

Then at around 8pm on Saturday night, a small gathering of black-dressed mourners, including the Australian actress, was seen in the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel for a private event.

A spokeswoman for Ledger had said that no public memorial was planned for Los Angeles.

Meanwhile in New York, about 1,000 guests at an Australian event heard a message from Ledger's father, Kim Ledger, read by Australia's consul-general.

"Heath did not become an actor for the fame or fortune. He loved his craft and he loved helping his friends. He loved chess and skateboarding too," said the letter read to guests at the G'Day USA Australia Day Ball in Manhattan.

"My image of Heath in New York is him with his skateboard, a canvas bag and his beanie. That was Heath to me."

Kim wrote: "Heath is and always will be an Australian."

Kim, Ledger's mother Sally and sister Kate were in Los Angeles on Saturday awaiting the arrival of the actor's body from New York.

Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment on Tuesday. He was 28. A cause of death has not yet been determined.

A memorial and burial in Ledger's hometown of Perth are also expected soon.

By Gavin Wilson, Jan 27 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy