Heath Ledger found Dead at age 28

Tuesday, January 22, 2008 NEW YORK — Actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at his downtown Manhattan apartment, according to the New York City Police Department. He was 28. FOLLOWING IS A N-Y-P-D NEWS RELEASE ON TODAY'S SITUATION INVOLVING HEATH LEDGER: ON TUESDAY, 01/22/08, AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 HOURS, IN THE CONFINES OF THE 5 PRECINCT, POLICE RESPONDED TO 421 BROOME STREET AND FOUND A M/W/28 UNCONSCIOUS. THE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DOA AT THE SCENE. M.E.'S OFFICE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH. INVESTIGATION CONTINUES. But The New York Post reported that Ledger died of a possible drug overdose and his apartment was strewn with pills. Law enforcement has confirmed to celebrity gossip site TMZ.com that his death was accidental, prescription pills were found in his bedroom and he was face down on the floor when his housekeeper discovered him. The autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, according to TMZ. Ledger had an appointment for a massage at his Manhattan apartment, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told The Associated Press. The housekeeper went to let Ledger know the masseuse had arrived and found him dead, according to Browne. The apartment is listed as a three-bedroom Soho loft with a rent of $23,000, according to real estate broker Corcoran. The Australian-born actor was nominated for an Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain," where he met his former girlfriend, actress Michelle Williams, in 2005. Ledger and Williams lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, until they split up last year. Ledger's roles include the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in "Monster's Ball" and starring turns in "A Knight's Tale" and "The Patriot." He was to appear as the Joker this year in "The Dark Night," a sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins."