Tom Cruise & John Travolta conned by Heath Ledger dad imposter

An imposter claiming to be Heath Ledger’s dad fooled celebrities including Tom Cruise and John Travolta into consoling him in the wake of the actor’s death.

After Heath died on Tuesday, the man pretending to be Kim Ledger called the funeral home dealing with the body and persuaded them to make a book for him and his family at a luxury hotel in New York. The man also spoke to the Doctor Who performed the autopsy on Heath before turning his attention to Hollywood stars.

A source has revealed the man “had a couple of conversations” about the death with Tom Cruise and asked for emotional support from the star while he asked John Travolta to buy him a first class place ticket from Australia to Los Angeles and then onto New York.

John’s spokesperson confirmed the conversation, saying: “John spoke with the guy briefly before he realised he was an imposter. He did not make arrangements to buy him plane ticket.”

The man is also said to have called a third unidentified Hollywood star to get phone numbers for Heath’s former co-stars Mel Gibson and Christian Bale.

New York Police have said they’re investigating the hoax calls and the man will face charges of fraud and theft when caught.

In related news, Jake Gyllenhaal is said to be finding it difficult to come to terms with the death of his Brokeback Mountain co-star.

Jake left the set of his new film Brothers in New Mexico when he heard the news but returned on Thursday to shoot an additional scene. An inside source told People magazine: “He was there, but he wasn’t with us. It was obviously a major trauma.”

“Jake is taking this harder than most people. These guys were very close. [Jake] was sitting in the director’s chair staring off into space.”

Earlier in the course of filming, Jake had made fun of the friendship the pair developed while making Brokeback. A source explained that as Jake prepared to film an intense prison scene, he pulled a picture of Heath out of his pocket to adorn his cell wall: “Like those prisoners put [loved ones] on the wall, but Jake’s was Heath Ledger. That was hilarious. It was a nice moment.”

“When you think back on it now, it’s touching.”