Ledger wake to be held on his favourite beach

A wake for Heath Ledger will be held at the actor's favourite beach on Saturday.

His parents Kim and Sally Ledger want to follow a sombre ceremony with a celebration on Cottesloe Beach in their native Perth, Australia.

Childhood friend Paul Mullert tells The Australian Times newspaper Ledger was "the quintessential Australian, who loved nothing more (than) slipping on a pair of boardies and his (flip-flops) and heading to Cottesloe Beach."

The star's friends and family members have begun arriving in Perth for the funeral, including ex-fiancee Michelle Williams and their two-year-old daughter Matilda, and model Gemma Ward - his last love interest, reports PageSix.com.

Ledger was found dead at his New York apartment on January 22, aged just 28. Toxicology results released on Wednesday revealed he was killed by an accidental overdose of prescribed medication.