http://www.accesshollywood.com/article/812...ad-In-New-York/Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan residence, and police said drugs may have been a factor.
He was 28.
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the Manhattan apartment believed to be his home. The housekeeper who went to let him know the masseuse had arrived found him dead at 3:26 p.m.
Police confirmed to Access Hollywood that Ledger was “found unconscious” inside the apartment. He was pronounced dead at 3:35PM.
The Australian-born actor was nominated for an Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain," where he met Michelle Williams in 2005. Ledger and Williams had lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, until they split up last year.
Ledger was to appear as the Joker this year in "The Dark Night," a sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins." He's had starring roles in "A Knight's Tale" and "The Patriot," and played the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in "Monster's Ball."
Ledger 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 and a starring role in the short-lived Fox TV series "Roar," Ledger moved to Los Angeles and costarred in "10 Things I Hate About You," a teen comedy reworking of "The Taming of the Shrew."
Offers for other teen flicks came his way, but Ledger turned them down, preferring to remain idle than sign on for projects he didn't like.
"It wasn't a hard decision for me," Ledger told the Associated Press in 2001. "It was hard for everyone else around me to understand. Agents were like, `You're crazy,' my parents were like, ‘Come on, you have to eat."'
His latest role was in "I'm Not There," in which he played one of the many incarnations of Bob Dylan — as did Cate Blanchett, whose performance in that film earned an Oscar nomination Tuesday for best supporting actress.
They are now saying that he was found in Mary Kate Olsen's SoHo apartment.
More from Access Hollywood:
Following news of Heath Ledger’s untimely death, his fellow Hollywood colleagues are responding.
Mel Gibson, who worked with Heath on the 2000 drama “The Patriot,” released the following statement to Access Hollywood:
“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. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”
During the G’Day USA event on Tuesday night in New York, John Travolta also offered his condolences.
“I adored him. He's, if not my favorite actor, he's… I don't know how to compare his talent to others, but he's touched me deeply as a talent and, it’s a great loss,” Travolta told Access. “Losing him at any age would be a loss but it was pretty rough news. I was really shocked by it.”
Ledger’s fellow Aussie, Terri Irwin, said although she didn’t know the actor, she was saddened to hear the news of his death.
“I don't know any of the details, but I do know that none of us are immune to tragedy and we'll just pray for his family,” Irwin told Access.
Funeral arrangements for Ledger complete
By VERENA DOBNIK, Associated Press Writer 59 minutes ago
Funeral arrangements for Heath Ledger have been completed and his relatives were expected to arrive in New York on Friday, a funeral home spokesman said.
George Amado, the general manager of the Frank E. Campbell funeral home, refused to disclose further details, saying any additional information would have to come from Ledger's manager.
"The family doesn't want us to give out any information," he said Thursday.
The 28-year-old actor's body was taken to the funeral home on Manhattan's Upper East Side on Wednesday, a day after he was found dead in his SoHo loft with bottles of prescription drugs nearby.
An autopsy Wednesday was inconclusive and further test results weren't expected for several days, medical examiner's office spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said. Police have said the Australian-born actor's death may have been caused by a drug overdose and appeared to be accidental.
Ledger's housekeeper and a massage therapist found the "Brokeback Mountain" star dead Tuesday, lying naked and face-down on his bed. Police said no illegal drugs were found in the apartment.
There were six different types of prescription drugs in the apartment, including pills to treat insomnia and anxiety, and an antihistamine, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. The officials said three of the drugs were prescribed in Europe. Ledger had recently been filming in London.
On Thursday, the makeshift memorial outside Ledger's apartment building had grown to more than 100 bouquets including tulips, daisies, carnations and tropical flowers, along with candles, signs, notes and other memorials. A computer printout of an Australian flag bore the message: "We will always be proud of you, Heath. Rest in peace, mate. You will be missed."
Some of Ledger's friends and relatives said they were baffled by the actor's death because he had appeared to be happy and healthy in the last months of his life.
Haydn Ledger, one of his uncles, said his nephew wouldn't have done anything rash. "It just wouldn't come into the equation at all," he said Thursday in an interview on CBS' "The Early Show."
He and Mike Ledger, another of the actor's uncles, deflected a question about whether their nephew had been depressed, saying that should be left to his parents to address.
Ledger told The New York Times in November that working on the films "The Dark Knight" — his last finished performance — and "I'm Not There" had been stressful, and that he had taken the insomnia medication Ambien to help with sleeplessness.
Police said a housekeeper went into his bedroom to change a light bulb Wednesday and saw him sleeping and heard him snoring around 1 p.m.
"I didn't think anything was wrong," the housekeeper, Teresa Solomon, told the New York Post. She said she was "still shaking" and unable to sleep a day after the actor's death.
At 2:45 p.m., the massage therapist showed up for Ledger's appointment, knocked on his door and got no answer. She later noticed Ledger was unconscious and called actress Mary-Kate Olsen, whose number was programmed into Ledger's cell phone, to seek advice, police said.
Olsen said she would send over her private security. In the ensuing moments, the massage therapist realized that Ledger might be dead, called Olsen again, and then called 911. Paramedics — and Olsen's security people — arrived minutes later.
Before moving to Manhattan, Ledger lived with then-girlfriend Michelle Williams — who played his wife in "Brokeback" — in Brooklyn, and the couple had a daughter, the now 2-year-old Matilda. The couple split last year.
Williams and Matilda returned to their Brooklyn home Wednesday evening from Trollhattan, Sweden. The 27-year-old actress had been there shooting scenes for the upcoming film "Mammoth," said Martin Stromberg, a spokesman for film production company Memfis Film.
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Associated Press writers Tom Hays and Clare Trapasso contributed to this report.
Ledger Family's Emotional Remembrance of Heath
HEATH LEDGER's grieving family members shared heartfelt and candid memories of their departed loved one with an Aussie newspaper, People reports.
According to the mag, the death notices section of Friday's West Australian finds Heath's mother SALLY writing:
"Our darling boy, special in so many ways to all of us. You knew you were so loved. You lived life with courage and daring and we are so grateful for the wonderful times we shared. We will be there for MATILDA."
The actor's older sister KATE -- addressing her brother by the nickname "Roast," according to People -- writes:
"I can hardly breathe when I try to write this. We were the ultimate in soul mates. I feel both my heart and life have been torn apart. I loved our special talks, our daily chats from where ever you were in the world.
"I especially loved all the precious time we spent together. We were so fortunate to have you as long as we did. You were so many things to so many people, but to me you were just my little brother.
"There will never, ever be another 'Heath' and I think that in itself is the greatest tragedy.
"I will continue to talk with you everyday and love you just as if you were here. You will never leave my thoughts 'Roast,' ever."
Heath's father KIM adds:
"My beautiful boy, so loving, so talented, so independent, so caring, so young ... no more chess games, mate ... this is it, couldn't beat you anyway!
"My body aches for the sound of your voice, our chats, our laughs and our life and times together.
"Your truly varied artistic skills, insatiable desire to improve, and eclectic abilities set you apart from any other person on the planet ... it had only just started for you ... and for us to further enjoy. We were one, in soul and commitment. Just ... Father and Son. I will love you forever, Dad."
And last, the family as a whole reflects upon their loss:
"How do we describe our sudden and tragic loss? ... You were the most amazing individual, 'old soul' in a young man's body.
"You so loved us, as we dearly loved you. As a close knit and very private family unit we have observed you, so determined, yet quietly traveling in your self-styled path in life, nothing would get in your way ... no mountain too tall, no river too wide.
"You dreamed your dreams and lived them with passion and intelligent commitment. We have been privileged to accompany you on a ride through life that has simply been amazing, and through it all, we have loved each other beyond imagination.
"Your true legacy lives on in beautiful little Matilda, who will always remain in the greatest of care. Our hearts are broken."