While a small gathering of close friends and family of the "Brokeback Mountain" star gathered in Los Angeles to honor Ledger's memory, nearly 1,000 people arrived at a New York event to pay their respects, People magazine reported Sunday.

Saturday's two events may have differed greatly in numbers, but both focused on remembering the actor who was found dead in his New York apartment last week at the age of 28.

A message from Kim Ledger took center stage at the New York event as the grieving father explained how he will remember his son.

"Heath did not become an actor for the fame or fortune. He loved his craft and he loved helping his friends. He loved chess and skateboarding, too," Kim Ledger said in a letter. "My image of Heath in New York is him with his skateboard, a canvas bag and his beanie. That was Heath to me."