It's been five months since Heath Ledger's shocking death the Academy Award nominated actor was 28. "Pills were found in the vicinity of the bed," police spokesman Paul Browne told CNN. "This is being looked at as a possible overdose, but that is not confirmed yet."
But the young actor was still very much on the minds of his colleagues at Thursday night's Australians in Film 2008 Breakthrough Awards in Beverly Hills.
The emotional highlight of the evening came when Gregor Jordan – who became good friends with Ledger after directing him in 1999's Two Hands – announced the formation of a Heath Ledger scholarship fund to help struggling Australian actors.
While details of the scholarship are still "a little sketchy," Jordan admitted, the plan is to select one young Australian actor each year and give him or her the chance to "crack it" in Hollywood. (The first scholarship is due to be awarded in 2009.)
"It's going to involve a number of benefactors and there's been a lot of interest already," the director explained. His voice cracking with emotion, he added: "I was talking to Michelle Williams, his partner and the mother of his child, today and Michelle has said she would be very proud and happy to be the first benefactor."
At that pronouncement, the crowd erupted in loud applause.
Although Ledger's father, Kim, could not attend, he did ask for a letter to be read aloud. "We know that Heath would be proud of his attachment to this scholarship," wrote the surviving Ledger. "It does what Heath has done personally during the last 10 years ..., supporting Australian actors, singers, directors or writers who seek to supply their talents to the U.S.A."
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