Posted Jul 18th 2008 8:51AM by TMZ Staff
The uncle of the late Heath Ledger was popped Wednesday for stealing tractors -- and a tomahawk -- in Heath's hometown of Perth, Australia.
Haydn Ledger -- brother of Heath's dad Kim -- was charged with receiving stolen goods when three bobcat tractors worth over $100K were found at his office. They'd been stolen from a building site and a contractor's yard.
Earlier this year, Uncle Haydn accused Heath's dad of mismanaging his late son's trust fund, a claim which Kim Ledger denied. Heath's "The Dark Knight" premieres today.
Filed under: Breaking News, Heath Ledger
Posted Jul 15th 2008 3:00PM by TMZ Staff
Heath's father Kim and wife Ines were outside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York yesterday where he showed praise to Heath's performance as the Joker.
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Posted Jun 4th 2008 7:03PM by TMZ Staff
A chi-chi party that is being thrown one floor above the place Heath Ledger died has just been 86'd.
We're told the building owners weren't informed Calvin Klein was throwing a glitzy, tight-invite soiree tonight in the penthouse, one floor above the unit where Ledger lived and died.
Owners just shut down the shindig. Eva Mendes, who was the party's main attraction, was the only celeb who had arrived before the party was broken up. We're told a fleet of 25 BLS limos arrived to shuttle guests to a different location.
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Posted Apr 25th 2008 1:50PM by TMZ Staff
Former BFFs Heather Locklear and Denise Richards are both in Hawaii this week -- but that's clearly where the similarities end.
Heather's 46-year-old rockin' bikini bod proved she's still hotter than any husband-stealer 10 years younger.
Meanwhile, 37-year-old Denise will just have to be content with all the extras that come with being a wannabe reality TV star.
Filed under: Paparazzi Video, Paparazzi Photo, Celebrity Feuds, Denise Richards, Heath Ledger
Posted Apr 11th 2008 3:33PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has just obtained a copy of the bizarre lawsuit that was filed minutes ago in L.A. County Superior Court, alleging that Heath Ledger was set up by two photographers who allegedly fueled him with cocaine and secretly videotaped it for profit.
The suit was filed by a woman who called herself Jane Doe. At the time of the incident -- the 2006 SAG party at the Chateau Marmont hotel -- she was a freelance reporter for People magazine. Doe, who had booked a room at the Chateau, was dating Darren Banks, a photog. Banks and a photog friend met up with Heath on the outside patio and "shared a smoke." That's when the alleged trickery began.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Heath Ledger
Posted Apr 11th 2008 2:10PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned a lawsuit is about to be filed, alleging two photogs and a photo agency set Heath Ledger up in a cocaine sting.
According to the as yet to be filed suit, Heath was at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in West Hollywood the night he lost the SAG award for "Brokeback Mountain." The plaintiff, listed as Jane Doe, was dating one of the photogs.
The photogs had befriended Heath and invited him up to the woman's room to party, never disclosing their true intentions. As Heath allegedly did coke, the photogs secretly videotaped the whole thing. When Heath realized what was happening, he went ballistic. A rep for Heath tells TMZ the video does not show the actor doing illegal drugs.
"E.T." bought and promoted the tape, but then decided not to air it.
Unclear why Jane Doe is suing.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Heath Ledger
Posted Apr 4th 2008 2:15PM by TMZ Staff
Heath Ledger's sudden passing on January 22 shocked his friends, family and fans across the planet. Today would have been the young father's 29th birthday.
Filed under: R.I.P., Heath Ledger
Posted Mar 27th 2008 3:25PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has obtained a copy of the 2003 will of Heath Ledger. It leaves 50% to his sisters and the remainder to his parents.
The supporting docs list $145,000 in assets, though we've reported Heath had a lot more -- in the millions.
As previously reported, Heath's daughter, Matilda, was not mentioned in the original will. But we're told she'll be well taken care of.
Read it for yourself.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Heath Ledger
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
