DeGENERES PAYS TV TRIBUTE TO LEDGER

U.S. comedienne-turned-TV host ELLEN DeGENERES paid a touching tribute to tragic actor HEATH LEDGER at the end of her chat show on Wednesday (23Jan08).

DeGeneres called the Brokeback Mountain star "an amazing, amazing, talented young man," before devoting the finale of her show to a clip of her and Ledger `riding' on a bobsled in front of a green screen.

The TV star was one of many to offer her thoughts about Ledger the day after the Aussie actor was found dead in his New York apartment.

The late star's Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee admits he's heartbroken about his friend's death.

Lee says, "Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life... His death is heartbreaking."

Ledger was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his role as gay cowboy Ennis Del Mar in the drama.

And Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd states, "We have lost one of our nation's finest actors in the prime of his life."