Ledger remembered as 'old soul'

Ledger's family posted the death notice in The West Australian newspaper

Heath Ledger's family have remembered the actor as an "old soul" in a death notice in an Australian newspaper.

"You dreamed your dreams and lived them with passion and intelligent commitment," the notice published in The West Australian said.

In a separate tribute, his sister Kate said that the pair were "ultimate soulmates", adding she viewed him as "just my little brother".

The 28-year-old film star was found dead in his New York home on Tuesday.

'So talented'

"We have been privileged to accompany you on a ride through life that has simply been amazing and through it all we have loved each other beyond imagination. Our hearts are broken," the death notice read.

In an additional tribute, Ledger's father Kim wrote:

"Heatho, Beef, my beautiful boy, so loving, so talented, so independent ... so no more chess games mate ... this is it, couldn't beat you anyway. We were one, in soul and commitment, just father and son."

The newspaper said the notice had been posted by Ledger's family, who were flying to the US from Australia to collect his body.

Police have set up barricades outside a funeral home in New York ahead of a private viewing.

Production halted

Meanwhile, the makers of Ledger's most recent film have suspended production.

The star had recently completed filming in London on The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, directed by Terry Gilliam.

Heath Ledger was Oscar-nominated for his role in Brokeback Mountain

The $30m (£15.1m) production had moved to Vancouver, Canada for interior and bluescreen scenes.

The film's makers issued a statement saying: "Terry and the producers will be assessing how best to proceed."

The producers also paid tribute to the 28-year-old, calling him "a great actor, a great friend and a great spirit."

"We are still in a state of deep shock, saddened and numb with grief," the statement continued.

Greg Chambers, business manager for craft union ACFC West, told the Vancouver Sun newspaper that the production is "currently listed as a force majeure".

Force majeure is a clause which allows producers to end contracts in extraordinary circumstances.

Mr Chambers added that some 100 crew members had been laid off as a result.

A post mortem on Ledger, whose body was found in his New York apartment, was inconclusive, with further tests under way.