Heath Ledger's Oscar goes to Michelle Williams, not the Ledger family

[sharon_b]

When Heath Ledger's family arrived at LAX airport to attend the Oscars ceremony and accept his statuette on his behalf, they told a TMZ cameraman that they planned to hold on to it — for a long time.

That boast was shocking. The academy had already decreed that, if Heath wins, the statuette would belong to his 3-year-old daughter Matilda and should go to her mother, Michelle Williams, for safe-keeping till she turns 18. Details of that deal were agreed to by both Williams and the Ledger family, the academy said.





But Heath's dad seemed to pooh-pooh all that. Kim Ledger told reporters at LAX that he had no plan to give Matilda the Oscar statuette anytime soon. "We'll keep it for her forever!" he said. Will he ever give it to Matilda? "Oh, yeah, down the line," he replied.

Had he forgotten the deal he made with the academy due to jet lag? Or was the Ledger family planning to chuck all that, keep the Oscar after the ceremony and head back to Perth, Australia, with it?

The matter finally has been resolved — quite differently from what the Ledgers told the media.

Academy spokeswoman Leslie Unger tells Gold Derby: "We expect a representative of the Ledger estate to bring the statuette in tomorrow (or soon thereafter) so that the engraved plate can be affixed. Soon after that, we expect the statuette (with engraved plate) to be delivered to Michelle Williams."

What about Heath's other awards? As Gold Derby reported earlier, no one has filled out the paperwork to claim Heath's SAG Award. His Golden Globe was sent to the office of his publicist, Mara Buxbaum, who also represents Michelle Williams. When we contacted Buxbaum for comment, she declined.


Heath Ledger's Oscar goes to Michelle Williams, not the Ledger family | Gold Derby | Los Angeles Times

[levitt]

His family have really come across as twats through this.

[Wiseguy]

Matilda wouldn't appreciate it at this young age. I don't have a problem with it going to his family at this stage.

[BBDSP]

I think the press is trying to pump this up as a big controversy, anyway.

[DeadDwarf]

It should go to her guardian until she is of age. This is even the way of inheritance when someone dies without a will.

You don't pass around this shit and expect it to be returned to her on her 18th birthday. After so many years people start believing it belongs to them and no longer want to give it back.

She is his next of kin and I imagine he would have wanted his only child to have it- regardless of her age.

[Mariesoleil]

His family have really come across as twats through this.

I agree.

[Sundance]

It should go to her guardian until she is of age. This is even the way of inheritance when someone dies without a will.

You don't pass around this shit and expect it to be returned to her on her 18th birthday. After so many years people start believing it belongs to them and no longer want to give it back.

She is his next of kin and I imagine he would have wanted his only child to have it- regardless of her age.

I completely agree. I doubt "down the line" would ever come. By the time she's 18 I would be surprised if they would be willing to give it to her. It's hers. He adored her & I'm sure would have wanted her to have it without having to wait years for it.

[Penny Lane]

It's been over a year.. just can't let sleeping dogs lie, can they?

[southernbelle]

What about Heath's other awards? As Gold Derby reported earlier, no one has filled out the paperwork to claim Heath's SAG Award. His Golden Globe was sent to the office of his publicist, Mara Buxbaum, who also represents Michelle Williams. When we contacted Buxbaum for comment, she declined.


Heath Ledger's Oscar goes to Michelle Williams, not the Ledger family | Gold Derby | Los Angeles Times

Well, maybe the parents should hold onto it if Michelle won't even bother to fill out the paperwork to collect his other awards for Matilda. Personally, I think it's more likely that his parents would take good care of his belongings or awards than his ex girlfriend.

[Penny Lane]

IMO Michelle's been a lot more low key about all this.. she hasn't been spouting her mouth off to the tabs or commenting on pending legal matters like his family has. Paperwork or not, she's the mother and legal guardian of his child... the child who inherited his estate.

[DeadDwarf]

Well, maybe the parents should hold onto it if Michelle won't even bother to fill out the paperwork to collect his other awards for Matilda. Personally, I think it's more likely that his parents would take good care of his belongings or awards than his ex girlfriend.

Uh, okay.... who says it has to do anything with Heath? Why wouldn't Michelle take care of his belongings for the sake of the daughter they had together? As a mother, I imagine she is putting her child's best interest first and is trying keeping her father's memory alive (despite their failed relationship).

And just because Michelle was his ex doesn't mean she didn't still have love for him and cared about him, he was the father of child after all. When has she acted like a bitter bitch over this? She has been classy and has kept her daughter protected from all this shit; she's shown herself to be a good mother. Heath's family on the other hand...........

[Sasha]

These people piss me off.

[viggofan]

It isn't like the award season was over 6 mths ago for heaven's sake. The awards were given out just recently. Chill out Mr. and Mrs. Ledger.

[lisalucy69]

Heath's family has come off like greedy asses since his death. And they do seem to like the media. I doubt Heath's family would've ever thought to give the award back to Matilda.

[LynnieD]

Everyone is adults here, except for Matilda. So...having said that---ACT LIKE IT.

Meaning: Ledger folk-enjoy the Oscar, I think they deserve to show it off as well....but YET, at a designated time, they need to turn it over to Michelle for Matilda. And that is that.

Everyone wins. Yet, everyone loses.....