PERTH, Australia - Heath Ledger's family arrived back in Australia on Tuesday and started the final leg of the star's long journey home following his premature death last month in New York City.
The actor's father, Kim Ledger, and other relatives touched down in the family's home city Perth on Tuesday afternoon local time. They left the city's airport without speaking.
Local news media reported Kim Ledger was accompanied by the actor's mother, Sally Ledger Bell, sister Kate and several people. There was no immediate indication the actor's remains were aboard the flight.
Ledger died in his New York apartment Jan. 22. He was 28. Authorities suspect a drug overdose but the cause of his death is still pending the outcome of toxicology tests. Police said several prescription drugs were found in the apartment where the actor's body was found.
Details of funeral arrangements for the late co-star of "Brokeback Mountain'' have not been announced and the mother of his two-year-old daughter Matilda, actress Michelle Williams, has requested privacy for those in mourning.
The family will reportedly hold a private ceremony for the actor and then either bury his remains or have them cremated and interred at the family's plot at a cemetery in Perth, where his two grandparents lie.
Ledger's publicist, Mara Buxbaum, didn't immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
As Ledger's hometown prepared for the arrival of his remains, residents of the idyllic and isolated city on the southwestern corner of Australia expressed sadness at his sudden death -- and outrage at rumours that he was a drug user.
"If a person dies, let him go in peace. All this rubbish they bring up about drugs and everything else, I think it's a lot of rubbish,'' said Margaret Byrne, a 58-year-old catering supervisor at Royal Perth Hospital.
Much of that speculation was fuelled by video footage showing Ledger at a Hollywood hotel party where drugs were being taken two years ago.
"Entertainment Tonight'' decided against airing the footage after a Hollywood publicity firm that represented Ledger mounted a protest that included several A-list stars.
"He was a great star for us. We don't have many stars from here,'' Byrne said.
"I think it's disgusting how the media has played it out,'' said Justin Kestel, a 28-year-old travel agency manager who said he played field hockey against Ledger when they attended different high schools.
Another Perth resident, Ian Bennett, said he was indifferent about Ledger's death and believed allegations of his drug use.
"It's part of the scene,'' the food services attendant at Royal Perth Hospital said.
Ledger was a big source of pride for Perth -- a metropolis of some 1.3 million people that lies one on the edge of Australia's vast Outback and is thousands of kilometres from the nearest major city.
"It's probably the biggest news we've had in Perth in a long time,'' said Shannon Harvey, film critic at the Sunday Times newspaper.
"He's probably the highest-profile star who's ever come out of Perth and probably our greatest success story.''
Harvey said Ledger returned to Perth to promote some of his earlier movies but he tried to keep a low profile when visiting his family.
"He was not easy to interview,'' Harvey said.
"It appeared he was uncomfortable with doing interviews and feature stories and having media and complete strangers prying into his personal life.''
