Oscar-nominated actor Heath Ledger was found dead in a New York apartment late Tuesday afternoon (January 22). The star of such critically acclaimed films as "Brokeback Mountain," "Monster's Ball" and the upcoming Batman sequel, "The Dark Knight," Ledger was 28.

An NYPD spokesman told MTV News that the body was found at approximately 3:30 p.m. As yet, there is no official cause of death, although CNN reported that the NYPD suspects a possible drug overdose. "Pills were found in the vicinity of the bed," police spokesman Paul Browne told CNN. "This is being looked at as a possible overdose, but that is not confirmed yet." The pills appeared to be over-the-counter sleeping medication, police spokeswoman Barbara Chen said. Ledger was unresponsive when he was found by a housekeeper who had gone to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse, according to Browne. The New York Times reported that an autopsy will be conducted on Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for the office of the city's chief medical examiner.

Ledger is survived by a 2-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose, with ex-fiancee Michelle Williams.

Named for a character in Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights," it was perhaps fitting that Ledger, the Australian son of a teacher and a race-car driver, rocketed to fame in the neo-Shakespearean "10 Things I Hate About You" opposite Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. From there he quickly rose up the Hollywood ladder in such films as "The Patriot," "A Knight's Tale" and "The Brothers Grimm."

Ledger himself sang the praises of Nick Drake, an English singer/songwriter who died in 1974 at the young age of 26; Drake is perhaps best known for his song "Pink Moon," which was used in a Volkswagen commercial. According to a representative for the Nick Drake Estate, Ledger recently shot and edited a music video for a reissue of the artist's song "Black Eyed Dog" (So titled because of a Winston Churchill quote describing depression as a "black dog"). The video, which has never been seen by the public, is a stark black-and-white composition, consisting mainly of the director turning the camera on himself. At the end of the video, Ledger drowns himself in a bathtub. The song "Black Eyed Dog" was the last recording Drake made before overdosing on pills.

Bookmark this news