Ledger's family attends 'Knight' premiere

New York -- Heath Ledger's parents and sister attended the New York premiere of the late actor's movie, "The Dark Knight" but reportedly didn't walk the press line.

People.com said Ledger's father, Kim, gave a thumbs-up sign and told reporters it felt "very good" to attend the event as he exited the Manhattan theater Monday night.

Heath Ledger, who died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in January, plays the villainous Joker in "The Dark Knight." His family traveled from Australia to celebrate his memory at the star-studded screening.

Also attending the premiere were Christian Bale, who plays Batman in the film, as well as his co-stars Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Robert Collins, a Ledger family friend, told Australia's Who magazine he went to a special screening of "The Dark Knight" Monday night in Perth, Australia, and said he had an "eerie feeling" watching Heath Ledger play such a wicked
role.

"I am aware that Kim Ledger and the family are over in New York for it. It was something they felt they had to do and it was a personal thing from their point of view," People.com quoted Collins as saying.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.