Heath Ledger Dead at 28
Star of Brokeback Mountain Apparently Overdosed
Australian actor was found in New York home surrounded by pills
Australian actor Heath Ledger was found dead today in his downtown Manhattan home. New York City police are saying drugs may have been a factor. The New York Times, CNN, and Reuters reported that drugs were scattered all over.
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said Ledger had an appointment for a massage this afternoon. The housekeeper who went to let him know the masseuse had arrived found him dead at 3:26 p.m. "There were pills within the vicinity of the bed," Browne said.
Ledger Found Dead in Soho Apartment
Paparazzi and gawkers began gathering Tuesday evening outside the building on an upscale block in SoHo, where several police officers guarded the door.
"We are investigating the possibility of an overdose," Browne said.
Ledger, 28, is best known for his role in Brokeback Mountain, and he stars in the upcoming Batman film, The Dark Knight, in which he plays the Joker.
He split last year from fellow actor, Michelle Williams, with whom he has a daughter, Matilda. Ledger met Williams on the set of Brokeback Mountain. His portrayal of a gay cattle rancher in director Ang Lee's film earned him critical acclaim and he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Ledger Grew Up in Perth, Australia
Ledger grew up in Perth, Australia and began doing amateur theater when he was 10 years old. He moved to Sydney when he was 16 to pursue an acting career. He quickly landed TV movie roles and guest spots on Australian television.
After several independent films, Ledger moved to Los Angeles and costarred opposite Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You, a teen comedy reworking of The Taming of the Shrew. That film catapulted him to international stardom, at least among the teen set. After that Ledger cemented his position as a matinee idol when he starred opposite Mel Gibson in The Patriot, and then A Knight's Tale, and The Brothers Grimm. He also played Billy Bob Thornton's son in Monster's Ball.
Last year, Ledger appeared in the independent film I'm Not There, and he was one of many actors, including Cate Blanchett, who played singer Bob Dylan.
Ledger's love life made him a tabloid favourite. He was romantically linked to such A-list starlets as Naomi Watts and Heather Graham.
Ledger was last spotted publicly in London over the weekend on the set of Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Ledger wearing a clown costume. Other pictures of Ledger out of costume show him with long brown hair and a dark goatee.
