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Actor Heath Ledger according to ABC radio news was found dead in his Manhatttan, New York, apartment by his housekeeper this afternoon. Prescription drug pills were found nearby. He was 28, divorced and had a daughter who was born in 2005. Story is developing.
He starred in movies such as The Patriot, A Knight's Tale, Brokeback Mountain and the upcoming Batman movie coming out this summer "The Dark Knight" playing the role of the Joker.
Actor Heath Ledger Found Dead In NYC
POSTED: 4:43 pm EST January 22, 2008
UPDATED: 9:21 pm EST January 22, 2008
NEW YORK -- Oscar-nominated actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan residence in what might be a drug-related death, police said.
Ledger was found by his housekeeper, who was trying to let him know that a masseuse had arrived for an appointment, police said. The housekeeper found him dead, face down and naked at 3:26 p.m.
Images: Heath Ledger Over The Years
Neighborhood Mourns Ledger
Police sources said investigators found two bottles of sleeping and anti-anxiety pills at the apartment -- one prescription, one over the counter.
Fire officials told NewsChannel 4 that a 911 caller reported that a man was not breathing and his body was "cold"
The maid reported earlier she had heard Ledger snoring, police told WNBC.com.
Police sources said no suicide note had been recovered.
The apartment, which Ledger had rented for the last three or four months, was neat, a law enforcement told WNBC.
The New York City Medical Examiner's Office said it will be conducting the autopsy and the results won't be known until Wednesday. NYPD spokesman Browne said there was no obvious indication of suicide.
"I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss," Mel Gibson said in a statement. "My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
A large crowd of paparazzi and onlookers gathered outside the building on an upscale SoHo block, where several police officers guarded the door.
The Australian-born actor starred in "Brokeback Mountain" and "The Brothers Grimm." He was nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Brokeback."
He met the mother of his child, actress Michelle Williams, in 2005 when working on "Brokeback." Ledger and Williams had lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, until they split up last year.
Ledger used to shop at a neighborhood home store and children's store owned by a company called Calypso. Michelle Vella, a buyer there, said she had frequently seen Ledger with his daughter -- carrying the toddler on his shoulders, or having ice cream with her.
"It's so sad. They were really close," said Vella. "He's a very down to earth guy and an amazing father."
She said Ledger once bought a bookcase at the home store, and purchased stuffed animals and dresses for his daughter at the children's store.
Ledger's roles include the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in "Monster's Ball." He also had starring roles 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" that recently finished filming.
Ledger was born in 1979, grew up in Perth and began doing amateur theater at age 10. At 16, he moved to Sydney to pursue an acting career, quickly landing TV movie roles and guest spots on Australian television.
After several independent films, Ledger moved to Los Angeles and co-starred in "10 Things I Hate About You," a teen comedy reworking of "The Taming of the Shrew." His movie career caught on soon after that, culminating with his Academy Award nomination for "Brokeback Mountain."
WNBC.com will provide more details as soon as they become available.
He starred in movies such as The Patriot, A Knight's Tale, Brokeback Mountain and the upcoming Batman movie coming out this summer "The Dark Knight" playing the role of the Joker.
Actor Heath Ledger Found Dead In NYC
POSTED: 4:43 pm EST January 22, 2008
UPDATED: 9:21 pm EST January 22, 2008
NEW YORK -- Oscar-nominated actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan residence in what might be a drug-related death, police said.
Ledger was found by his housekeeper, who was trying to let him know that a masseuse had arrived for an appointment, police said. The housekeeper found him dead, face down and naked at 3:26 p.m.
Images: Heath Ledger Over The Years
Neighborhood Mourns Ledger
Police sources said investigators found two bottles of sleeping and anti-anxiety pills at the apartment -- one prescription, one over the counter.
Fire officials told NewsChannel 4 that a 911 caller reported that a man was not breathing and his body was "cold"
The maid reported earlier she had heard Ledger snoring, police told WNBC.com.
Police sources said no suicide note had been recovered.
The apartment, which Ledger had rented for the last three or four months, was neat, a law enforcement told WNBC.
The New York City Medical Examiner's Office said it will be conducting the autopsy and the results won't be known until Wednesday. NYPD spokesman Browne said there was no obvious indication of suicide.
"I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss," Mel Gibson said in a statement. "My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
A large crowd of paparazzi and onlookers gathered outside the building on an upscale SoHo block, where several police officers guarded the door.
The Australian-born actor starred in "Brokeback Mountain" and "The Brothers Grimm." He was nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Brokeback."
He met the mother of his child, actress Michelle Williams, in 2005 when working on "Brokeback." Ledger and Williams had lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, until they split up last year.
Ledger used to shop at a neighborhood home store and children's store owned by a company called Calypso. Michelle Vella, a buyer there, said she had frequently seen Ledger with his daughter -- carrying the toddler on his shoulders, or having ice cream with her.
"It's so sad. They were really close," said Vella. "He's a very down to earth guy and an amazing father."
She said Ledger once bought a bookcase at the home store, and purchased stuffed animals and dresses for his daughter at the children's store.
Ledger's roles include the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in "Monster's Ball." He also had starring roles 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" that recently finished filming.
Ledger was born in 1979, grew up in Perth and began doing amateur theater at age 10. At 16, he moved to Sydney to pursue an acting career, quickly landing TV movie roles and guest spots on Australian television.
After several independent films, Ledger moved to Los Angeles and co-starred in "10 Things I Hate About You," a teen comedy reworking of "The Taming of the Shrew." His movie career caught on soon after that, culminating with his Academy Award nomination for "Brokeback Mountain."
WNBC.com will provide more details as soon as they become available.
