Posted Mar 25th 2008 4:05PM by TMZ Staff
There have been news reports that Heath Ledger left a grand total of $145,000 in his estate, and, as a result, his daughter might not be taken care of properly -- BOGUS!
True, we know the will lists $145,000 in assets. But here's the deal. The will was drafted in 2003. Since then, sources say, Heath accumulated lots of jack, from movies like "Lords of Dogtown," "The Brothers Grimm," "Brokeback Mountain," "Casanova," "Candy," "I'm Not There" and "The Dark Knight."
We're told Heath has considerably more assets than the $145k. On top of that, sources say he lived all over the world and was smart enough to know all of his money shouldn't sit in the U.S., where taxes are a bitch.
On the other hand, one of Heath's uncles has said the late actor's estate is valued at $60 mil. We're told that's absurd as well (on the high side), and the uncle doesn't know jack since he's been estranged from the family as well.
Bottom line -- Matilda will be fine, and there's a lot of $$$ on the line.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Movies, Heath Ledger
Posted Mar 23rd 2008 12:23PM by TMZ Staff
Could it be that one of the hottest actors in Hollywood barely had a pot to piss in when he died? If reports out of Australian papers are to be believed, Heath Ledger was only worth $145,000 at the time of his death.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the total value of Heath's estate is "$145,000, with furniture and fixtures worth $20,000, a Toyota Prius worth $25,000 and $100,000 in miscellaneous bank accounts." It also names Heath's father, mother and sisters as the only beneficiaries, but acknowledges his two-year-old daughter Matilda Rose as an interested party.
What this doesn't jibe with is family sources are telling TMZ that Matilda will be "well taken care of." So, where's the money?
Stay tuned ...
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Posted Mar 20th 2008 10:00PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned Michelle Williams had been desperately trying to help Heath Ledger battle his addictions before his shocking death in January.
Watch the story from TMZ TV and check local listings.
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Posted Mar 8th 2008 6:51PM by TMZ Staff
Heath Ledger's family was quick to speak out today to quash any ideas that his daughter, Matilda Rose, would not be provided for after his death.
Heath's dad, Kim, released a statement that said, "Matilda is our absolute priority and Michelle is an integral part of our family ... They will be taken care of and that's how Heath would want it to be."
Details of Ledger's will were made public today and it didn't specify anything for his ex-fianceé, Michelle Williams, or their daughter -- that's because it was drawn up back in 2003.
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Posted Mar 8th 2008 11:39AM by TMZ Staff
If it turns out that Michelle Williams and Matilda Rose get nothing from Heath Ledger's will, Michelle shouldn't expect her dad to provide much financial help -- since he's currently fighting the Feds.
Larry Williams is currently wanted in the U.S. for alleged tax evasion, but has been living in Australia and fighting off extradition since 2006. Just this week, he hired the same legal team that got Wesley Snipes off the hook.
Williams, who is considered by many to be a stock market guru, is wanted by the IRS on charges of willfully attempting to evade $1.5 mil in taxes from 1990 to 2001. He has denied all charges.
Details of Ledger's will were released today -- it was drawn up before he met Williams and before Matilda Rose was born. It dictates everything goes to Heath's parents and siblings.
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Posted Mar 2nd 2008 1:00PM by TMZ Staff
Heath Ledger's father Kim -- who is sorting out his deceased son's estate -- has discovered that Heath's cherished 1975 green Volkswagen van was stolen around the time of his death, and his father desperately wants it back.
According to news.com.au, Kim reported the stolen van to Australian police last Friday. Heath had reportedly given the van to a long-time friend for safekeeping when he moved to the U.S. from Australia.
Because of Heath's celebrity and mass vehicle upgrades, the van is now valued at $70,000.
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Posted Feb 29th 2008 10:05AM by TMZ Staff
After an investigation, federal agents have reportedly cleared two doctors in Los Angeles and Houston as those that prescribed the OxyContin and Vicodin found in Heath Ledger's system at the time of his death.
The NY Post reports DEA agents interrogated the docs and determined that although they had prescribed medication for the actor, they had not written the scripts for these two specific drugs.
The 28-year-old Ledger was found dead in his NYC apartment on January 22.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Heath Ledger
Posted Feb 28th 2008 10:44AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has confirmed that federal drug enforcement agents are investigating at least two MDs who prescribed drugs to Heath Ledger.
Immediately following the actor's death, DEA reportedly subpoenaed several documents from the NYPD and the Medical Examiner to try to determine exactly where Ledger got his cocktail of prescriptions that eventually caused his death. The agents are looking into whether these drugs were properly prescribed by physicians.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Nurse!, Heath Ledger
Posted Feb 9th 2008 3:50PM by TMZ Staff
Michelle Williams arrived for today's memorial service for her former fiancé, Heath Ledger, arm-in-arm with Heath's sister, Kate.
The service was held at Penrhos College in Perth, Australia. Ledger's father, Kim, said the service would be followed by a private funeral -- he requested privacy and did not reveal the time or location.
"The funeral will be very, very private and there will only be 10 people there, immediate family and nobody else,'' he told reporters. "It's a pretty sad time. We're finding it difficult to cope by ourselves, let alone cope with everybody around the world. Having said that, we do really appreciate the outpouring and the emotional support from all over the globe."
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Heath Ledger
Posted Feb 9th 2008 7:50AM by TMZ Staff
Over 300 family members and friends attended a 2-hour tribute to celebrate the life of Heath Ledger today in Australia. Heath's 2-year-old daughter made an appearance in a video montage, which included a song written by Ben Harper just for Matilda, called "Happily Ever After in Your Eyes."
Close family members later traveled to a small chapel where an emotional Michelle Williams paid tribute to the father of her child and read Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" The family then joined fellow mourners at a restaurant on the beach. According to People, the actor's remains were cremated later in the day.
Ashlee Simpson Hearts Romo
Jessica Simpson may need to keep an eye on her little sis. Ashlee says Tony Romo, Jessica's latest boytoy, is "really cool" and that she "loves him."
The face-changing poptart gushed that the Dallas Cowboys QB makes her big sister "absolutely happy" (Via
Us). The Love doesn't stop with Ashlee; boyfriend Pete Wentz has a man crush on the Cowboy, calling him a "cool dude."
Way to man up.
Boston Squashes the Little People
Earlier this week, oompa loompas from Beacher's Madhouse performed in Boston at an event for Playboy's new energy drink. Everyone was having a good time until police crashed the party and threatened to arrest Beacher because he was breaking a law that prohibits the promotion of albinos and little people, according to the
General Laws of Massachusetts.
Police left with a warning, but the little people are outraged, and Beacher says he will "orchestrate the largest little person protest and performance" with 1,000+ little people set to hit the streets of Boston next month.
Party Favors: Is Hayden an Obama Girl? ... Hillary Clinton not Pimpin' ... David Beckham has a 25-Foot Package
Hayden Panettiere really loves whales and expects Hillary and Barack to work hard for her vote, according to
Us. She already got a call from Obama about what he would do to save the whales and is waiting on Hills. ... Senator Clinton, meanwhile, is not laughing after learning that an MSNBC anchor asked a panel if the former First Daughter was being "pimped out" by her presidential campaign. The host has since apologized and been suspended (via
NY Post) ... Soccer dude, David Beckham, proves his assets sell. Since filling up the Armani briefs for a new ad campaign, sales have risen 150% in one London department store (via
Showbizspy).
Filed under: Jessica Simpson, Heath Ledger
Posted Feb 6th 2008 3:25PM by TMZ Staff
The feds are trying to figure out how Heath Ledger got all the prescriptions for the dangerous combination of painkillers and sedatives that led to his accidental overdose.
TV Guide reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration has launched an investigation into how Ledger got prescriptions, if in fact they were prescriptions. According to officials, the DEA has requested copies of Ledger's autopsy as well as the original police report from the crime scene. The NYC medical examiner said this morning that he found the cause of death to be a lethal array of opiates and benzodiazepines; oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Posted Feb 6th 2008 10:56AM by TMZ Staff
Heath Ledger's father has issued a statement following the release of the Medical Examiner's report:
"We remain humble as parents and a family, among millions of people worldwide who may have suffered the tragic loss of a child. Few can understand the hollow, wrenching, and enduring agony parents silently suffer when a child predeceases them. Today's results put an end to speculation, but our son's beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts.
While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage."
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Posted Feb 6th 2008 10:17AM by TMZ Staff
The NYC medical examiner has finished the toxicology report following the death of Heath Ledger, and has just ruled that the actor's death was caused by "acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine."
The NYPD found five medications in Ledger's apartment after his death, including anti-anxiety medications alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and Lorazepam (Ativan). The sleeping medication zopiclone (Imovane) and the sedative temazepam (Restoril) -- which is used by people with "debilitating insomnia" -- were also found. Doxylamine is an antihistamine used in the short-term treatment of insomnia.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Heath Ledger
Posted Feb 5th 2008 8:10AM by TMZ Staff
The family of Heath Ledger returned to their hometown of Perth, Australia today -- his father, mother and sister fending off paparazzi at the Brisbane and Perth airports.
A private funeral is planned in Perth.
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Posted Feb 1st 2008 12:49PM by TMZ Staff
Ten days after the death of Heath Ledger, former fianceé and baby mama Michelle Williams released a statement. It reads:
"Please respect our need to grieve privately. My heart is broken. I am the mother of the most tender-hearted, high-spirited, beautiful little girl who is the spitting image of her father. All that I can cling to is his presence inside her that reveals itself every day. His family and I watch Matilda as she whispers to trees, hugs animals, and takes steps two at a time and we know that he is with us still. She will be brought up with the best memories of him."
Filed under: Heath Ledger
