Hollywood stars Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman mourned the death of the 28-year-old former Oscar nominee who was found dead in his New York apartment on Tuesday.
MELBOURNE: The family of Hollywood actor Heath Ledger on Wednesday described his death as an 'accidental passing' as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd led the Australians in paying tribute to the 'Brokeback Mountain' star.
Hollywood stars Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman mourned the death of the 28-year-old former Oscar nominee who was found dead in his New York apartment on Tuesday.
Gibson expressed his grief at the death of the fellow Australian actor. "I had such great hope for him...he was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family," he said.
Ledger, who hails from Perth, left for Hollywood at the age of 19, where his standout talent was spotted by Gibson when auditioning 500 actors for the role of his son in 'The Patriot'. The casting was Ledger's first big-time break and led to his leading role in 'A Knight's Tale'.
Gibson has described Ledger as possessing 'the unknown factor' that 'sort of lights up the screen'.
"What a terrible tragedy," Australian screen star Kidman said through her publicist Wendy Day. "My heart goes out to Heath's family." One of Kidman's closest friends is Australian actress Naomi Watts, who dated Ledger for two years from 2002.
In Ledger's hometown of Perth, his parents Kim and Sally addressed the media outside the family home along with his younger sister Kate.
"We, Heath's family can confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda," Kim said.
"He was found peacefully asleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper," Kim said, reading from a statement.
"He was a down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving, unselfish individual who was extremely inspirational to many."
Kim said while the family was grateful for the tributes which have poured in for their son, "please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described Ledger's death as a tragedy. "It was with great sadness that I have learned of the passing of Heath Ledger. It is tragic that we have lost one of our nation's finest actors in the prime of his life".
"Heath Ledger's diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the great performances by an Australian actor," he said adding, the nation's thoughts were with Ledger's family and close friends.
Actor Guy Pearce said he admired the young actor, who "shook the world". Film critic Margaret Pomeranz said she was shocked by the news of the 28-year-old actor's death. "I am so upset, I just can't tell you," she told ABC radio.
Australian director Neil Armfield, who directed Ledger in 'Candy', said he was "incredibly saddened" by the death. "He made a decision about four years ago to stop being led by producers and managers and to forge his own way...he was so successful at breaking out of the teen idol image."
Warner Bros chief Alan Horn and Warner Bros Picture Group president Jeff Robinov said they were "stunned and devastated."
"The entertainment community has lost an enormous talent," they said in a statement.
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