Jan 26, 2008 6:39 am US/Eastern
Ledger's Body Leaves NYC Funeral Home
Actress Olsen Issues Statement: 'His Death A Tragic Loss'
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) ―
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Actor Heath Ledger, right, poses with actress Berenice Bejo during the photocall for "A Knight's Tale" on Spet. 1, 2001, at the Deauville Festival of American Cinema in Deauville, France.
Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
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Heath Ledger and Kate Hudson onstage at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, on Aug. 29, 2002.
Scott Gries/Getty Images
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Heath Ledger and Naomi Watts share a laugh at the premiere of "The Ring" at the Bruin Theatre and after-party at the Garden in Westwood, Calif., on Oct. 9, 2002.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
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Actors Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams arrive to the 78th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre on March 5, 2006 in Hollywood.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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The scene was chaotic outside Heath Ledger's SoHo apartment after the actor was found dead inside on Jan. 22.
CBS
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Memorial flowers and a candle are seen in front of the house where Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams lived together on Jan. 23, 2008, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Ledger, died Jan. 22, 2008, at the age of 28.
Brad Barket/Getty Images
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Names and foot imprints of Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams' baby, Matilda, and of family dog, Hugo, are seen on Jan. 22, 2008, in front of the house where the family once lived in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Brad Barket/Getty Images
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A memorial to actor Heath Ledger is seen outside his apartment building on Broome St. in SoHo on Jan. 23, 2008, in New York City.
Scott Gries/Getty Images
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Australian actor Heath Ledger's grieving parents Kim, left, and Sally, center, with his sister Kate outside appear outside their home in Perth, Australia, on Jan. 23, 2008.
Tony Ashby/AFP/Getty Images
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Mary Kate Olsen arrives at the 2007 7th on Sale Black-tie Gala Dinner at the 69th Regiment Armory on Nov.15, 2007 in New York City.
Jim Spellman/Wire Image
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Actress Mary-Kate Olsen arrives at the premiere of 'The Wackness' held at the Racquet Club Theater during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 18, 2008 in Park City, Utah.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
The body of Heath Ledger left the funeral home as the family prepared to bury the "Brokeback Mountain" actor Friday, the same day police insisted they have no interest in interviewing Mary-Kate Olsen.
Details about the Ledger's funeral remained shrouded in secrecy. The body was moved from the police-barricaded funeral home at about 4 p.m. amid a swarm of cameras and reporters. Ledger's publicist, Mara Buxbaum, said funeral arrangements "will continue to be kept private at the family's request."
Their immediate plans were not known, though Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said his government would do whatever is needed to help the family bring back his body to Australia.
Also Friday, Olsen said Ledger was a "friend" in a brief statement released Friday, her first word since the Australian-born actor's death. In its entirety, it reads: "Heath was a friend. His death is a tragic loss. My thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time."
Police said the masseuse who found Ledger's body Tuesday spent nine minutes making three calls to the Olsen twin before dialing 911 for help, then called Olsen a fourth time after paramedics arrived. At some point during the flurry of calls, Olsen, who was in California, summoned her personal security guards to the apartment to help, police said.
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said investigators have no interest in talking to Olsen. They interviewed everyone at the scene, each of whom was cooperative. That eliminated "any need to interview Miss Olsen," he said.
Olsen's whereabouts were unknown Friday. A private viewing was scheduled held for Ledger on Friday at the Frank E. Campbell funeral home in Manhattan.
Ledger's family placed a death notice in The West Australian, a newspaper based in his hometown of Perth, remembering him as "the most amazing 'old soul' in a young man's body."
"As a close knit and very private family we have observed you so determined yet quietly traveling in your self-styled path in life, nothing would get in your way ... no mountain too tall, no river too wide," said the notice, which the newspaper said had been submitted by Ledger's relatives. ".... Our hearts are broken."
The actor's sister, Kate, said she could "hardly breathe" as she tried to write her tribute. "We were the ultimate soul mates," she said.
"You were so many things to so many people, but to me you were just my little brother."
The cause of Ledger's death will not be known for at least a week, after medical examiners complete toxicology tests.
Authorities suspect a possible overdose, but nothing conclusive has been determined. Several prescription drugs were found in the Manhattan apartment where Ledger's body was found.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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