Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger dies

Wednesday, 23 January 2008

Australian born actor Heath Ledger who starred in Brokeback Mountain has been found dead in his New York apartment from a suspected drug overdose.

Tributes have started pouring in after Australian actor Heath Ledger, 28, was found dead in his New York apartment, but Ledger's family has reportedly denied he died from a drug overdose.

View video: Heath Ledger found dead

Ledger was discovered by the housekeeper and a masseuse who arrived for a Tuesday afternoon appointment.

Lieutenant John Grimpal, from the New York Police Department, said police were treating the apartment as a crime scene, but had initially ruled out foul play.

'The medical examiner, once he or she conducts an autopsy, will determine exactly the cause of death.'

'Anytime someone dies, especially when they're so young, the detectives from the precinct conduct a thorough investigation just to rule out that criminality is not involved,' Grimpal said.

'Early on in the investigation it appears criminality is not involved.'

The housekeeper and masseuse reportedly knocked on the door, but 'when no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Ledger naked and unconscious on a bed. They shook him, but he did not respond,' the New York Times said.

The newspaper quoted officials as saying pills were found near the body, but gave no further details.

But representatives of the family said police had advised them his death was entirely accidental, the entertainment website TMZ.com reported.

The website said representatives had made contact to say the Australian actor's family was particularly distraught over media speculation that he may have taken his own life.

TMZ also reported that Ledger was sick with pneumonia when he died. But New York police said they could not confirm Ledger was suffering from pneumonia.

Ledger's former partner, American actor Michelle Williams, with whom Ledger had a daughter, Matilda, was 'devastated' by his death and had boarded a plane to New York.

Ledger was born in Perth, Western Australia and made his name in the film Brokeback Mountain,directed by Ang Lee and based on Annie Proulx's story about two cowboy's homosexual relationship.

He had separated from his former fiancee Michelle Williams in September. The pair has a two-year-old daughter.

Fellow Australian actress Nicole Kidman called Ledger's death a tragedy in a statement to Us Magazine.

'My heart goes out to his family.' Ledger dated Kidman's close friend, actress Naomi Watts, between 2002 and 2004.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also paid tribute. 'It is tragic that we have lost one of our nation's finest actors in the prime of his life.

'Heath Ledger's diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the great performances by an Australian actor.'

Mr Rudd said the nation's thoughts were with Ledger's family and close friends, especially his two-year-old daughter Matilda.

Ledger was the son of Sally Ledger Bell, a French teacher, and Kim Ledger, a race car driver and mining engineer. His played The Joker in the upcoming Batman film The Dark Knight, and also starred in Ned Kelly, Monster’s Ball and A Knight’s Tale.

He was nominated for an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain, in which he played cowboy Ennis Del Mar.

Warner Bros president Alan Horn said: 'The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news'.

'Heath was a brilliant actor and an exceptional person.'