Heath LedgerPrivate memorial services for Heath Ledger took place in New York and Los Angeles last night.

Around 1000 guests at the G’Day USA Australia Day Ball in Manhattan honoured the late actor and heard a letter from his father, Kim Ledger, which read: “Heath did not become an actor for the fame or fortune. He loved his craft and he loved helping his friends. He loved chess and skateboarding too.”

“My image of Heath in New York is him with his skateboard, a canvas bag and his beanie. That was Heath to me.”

It concluded that: “Heath is and always will be an Australian.”

In Los Angeles, a small group of mourners, including Heath’s ex-girlfriend Naomi Watts, were seen arriving at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the intimate event.

An inside source told Us Weekly: “Even though it was a sad occasion, everyone was smiling, hugging each other and holding hands. It was a really positive group.”

Australian newspapers report that the Brokeback Mountain star will be buried in a private ceremony in Perth early this week and a small-scale memorial will also take place in the actor’s hometown.

Heath was found dead in his SoHo, New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon. He was 28 years old.