Matilda Ledger -- Chasing the Clouds Away
There was one giant ray of sunshine beaming through the rain in NYC this weekend -- courtesy of Heath Ledger's daughter Matilda.
Filed under: Paparazzi Video, Kids, Heath Ledger
Matilda Ledger -- Ready to Meet Oscar
Michelle Williams and Matilda Ledger arrived at LAX, along with Michelle's new BF, Spike Jonze. 
We're guessin' by evening's end, Matilda will have a new toy.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Kids, Heath Ledger
Ledger's Dad -- Thinking About an Oscar Speech
The entire Ledger family touched down in L.A. yesterday -- and after the flight from Australia, his father, Kim, said if Heath wins, he might be the guy doing the talking.
Matilda would reportedly get the Oscar when she turns 18. Kim said they would gladly hold onto it until then.
Filed under: Awards/Awards Shows, Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger Life Insurance Case Settled
The bitter dispute over Heath Ledger's $10 million life insurance policy has settled.
In legal papers filed in L.A. County Superior Court, a deal has been struck between ReliaStar Life Insurance Company and the lawyer representing Matilda Rose, Heath's daughter and the beneficiary of the policy.
TMZ broke the story that the insurance company was stalling because it had questions as to whether Ledger's death might have been a suicide, even though it was ruled accidental. ReliaStar also maintained Ledger may have lied on his insurance application when he said he never used illegal drugs. The company felt both issues could void the policy.
Matilda's lawyer filed a lawsuit claiming ReliaStar was acting in bad faith.
Terms of the settlement are confidential.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Heath Ledger
Heath's Apt -- Still Empty, a Year Later
A year to the day after Heath Ledger died in his SoHo apartment, the pad still is empty and shows no signs of being rented.
After it was offered for $26K/month just a few months after his death, the loft was yanked off the market and no listings are available for 421 Broome. One source tells the NY Post, "It's completely empty. Nobody is allowed up there."
Heath's death was ruled an accidental overdose. As expected, he was just nominated for an Oscar for his performance in "The Dark Knight."
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Wanna Make Your Kid Cry?
If you wanna get your child the gift of mental illness and homicidal nightmares for their birthday, just give them the Hallmark Joker b-day card -- which plays a voice recording of the phrase "Let's put a smile on that face" when opened ... and watch the smile on their face disappear. Lest we mention the bad taste for Heath Ledger's family....
Filed under: You Might Want to Rethink, Heath Ledger
Heath "Drug" Video Lawsuit Settles
A lawsuit over a never-aired video of Heath Ledger has settled.Jane Doe (fake name) sued the photo agency Splash News, and a few other men, over video that was shot of Ledger and others in Doe's hotel room at the Chateau Marmont in 2006. The video was touted as Heath allegedly doing cocaine but we know ...nowhere in the video do you see Heath doing drugs.
Doe maintained she did not take part in any drug use and the video was shot without her consent.
The video was eventually sold to "Entertainment Tonight." The show promoted it but ultimately decided not to air it.
Terms of the settlement are confidential.
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Heath's Kid -- Little Angel
Matilda Ledger is soooooo cute, her feet don't even touch the ground when she walks.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Heath Ledger
Heath's Baby Mama Won't Thank the Academy
Cross Michelle Williams off the list of people who will accept awards on behalf of Heath Ledger if/when he cleans up during awards season.
A rep for Williams tells TMZ, "No discussions have been made for Michelle to accept nor are there any plans to take part."
There's a reported debate about who should have the honor, should Heath pull in some hardware for his role as the Joker in "The Dark Knight." Besides Michelle, several people are rumored to be in the race to accept -- including Christian Bale, "Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan and Heath's father.
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Heath's Pad -- Too Morbid Means No Bids
Seems the SoHo loft where Heath Ledger died last year is simply too ghoulish to sell.
The rental listing for the $26,000-per-month pad has been pulled from the market, reports the New York Post. After Ledger accidentally overdosed there last January, the apartment was listed in the summer, but failed to attract a buyer.
A Corcoran Group source says the apartment is "temporarily off the market."
Filed under: Heath Ledger
Ledger's Life Insurance Co: Suicide = No Cash
The company that wrote Heath Ledger's $10 million life insurance policy is being sued after claiming the actor's death might have been a suicide, even though officials concluded it was accidental. Lawyers for Ledger's daughter say it's a transparent ploy to avoid paying the money.
ReliaStar Life Insurance Company wrote the policy in June 2007 -- six months before Ledger died. The beneficiary of the policy is a trustee who would hold the money for 2-year-old Matilda.
Instead of paying the $10 mil, ReliaStar set out to investigate whether Ledger took his own life, despite the fact that the New York City Medical Examiner ruled the death accidental.
TMZ has obtained a lawsuit, filed by Matilda's trustee, claiming ReliaStar (owned by ING Americas) has acted in bad faith by not promptly paying the $10 million and by wrongfully prying into the life of Heath Ledger after his death.
Sources say lawyers for the insurance company have claimed Ledger's death was "suspicious" -- possibly suicide, which would nullify the policy. The company alleges in its answer to the lawsuit, "ReliaStar is entitled to investigate Plaintiff's claim to determine if the 'Suicide' provision is applicable." That provision states, "If the Insured commits suicide ... we will pay only the amount of premiums paid to us."
ReliaStar's lawyers have informed Matilda's lawyers they intend to take the depositions of Mary-Kate Olsen, as well as the masseuse who was at Ledger's home when he died, Ledger's colleagues on his last film, his agents, doctors, psychologists and others. Lawyers for Matilda believe the insurance company is trying to scare and shame them into submission. They believe ReliaStar is trying to drag the process out, for what could be years, to avoid paying the money.
We're also told ReliaStar believes Ledger may have lied on two questions on his insurance application -- specifically, whether he was taking prescription drugs when he filled out the application and whether he ever used illegal drugs.
In its answer to the lawsuit, ReliaStar claims it can contest the policy if Ledger lied on the application and it was a "material misrepresentation." Sources tell us Ledger had a prescription for Ambien when he filled out the application, but Ambien was not in his system when he died, nor were any illegal drugs.
Lawyers for Matilda's trust claim ReliaStar is flagrantly violating California law, which prohibits insurance companies from re-examining insurance applications after the policyholder dies. In the lawsuit, Matilda's lawyers say they received a letter from ReliaStar, asking them to identify "all physicians who attended to [Ledger] and all hospitals or institutions where [he] was treated since 1996." Matilda's lawyers say the request blatantly violates the law.
An official for ReliaStar told TMZ, "No decision has been made on the claim." But lawyers for Matilda's trust believe ReliaStar should have already paid and, according to the suit, is acting "maliciously, fraudulently and/or oppressively ... depriving plaintiff of the insurance policy benefits."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Heath Ledger
The Cutest $20 Million Dollar Baby
With her umbrella in tow, precious two-year-old Matilda Rose Ledger took a leisurely stroll through NYC on Sunday.
Matilda won't have to worry about rainy days much longer, as she will reportedly inherit all of Heath Ledger's $20 million estate. As for Heath's life insurance policy ...
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Kids, Heath Ledger
Hefty Price Tag on Heath's Hearth
The apartment where Heath Ledger died is available for rent, and apparently someone thinks the tragedy is good for business.
Ledger's three-bedroom loft is on the market for $26,000 a month. The Broome St. loft has its own private balcony, original Corinthian columns, and a wood-burning fireplace.
Heath paid around $22K a month before he died there 7 months ago.
Filed under: Heath Ledger
