Aussie actor Heath Ledger found dead in NY apartment

By Jeffrey Jolson

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 1/22/08 — Heath Ledger, Oscar nominated for his acting in “Brokeback Mountain” and appearing as Batman’s nemesis the Joker in “The Dark Knight” in July, was found dead in his Manhattan apartment, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

The spokesperson said the body was surrounded by what they termed to be sleeping pills, but did not elaborate further.

Ledger, only 28, had an appointment for a massage, and when the masseuse and Ledger’s housekeeper entered his room, he was unconscious or dead and 911 was called. There was no word yet on if he was dead at then or had been so for a time.

His latest role was in “I’m Not There,” in which he played one of the incarnations of Bob Dylan — as did Cate Blanchett, who earned an Oscar nomination earlier today for best supporting actress in that film.

He recently separated from his girlfriend Michelle Williams, who co-starred with him “Brokeback Mountain,” and with whom he had a two-year-old daughter Matilda. The two were reportedly well-adjusted to the break-up, even arranging similar looking residences so Matilda would be more comfortable in the shared custody arrangement.

The housekeeper who went to let him know the masseuse had arrived found him dead at 3:26 p.m.

Ledger was to appear as the Joker this year in Warner Bros. big summer tentpole film “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 got his Australian break with the movie “Two Hands” by Gregor Jordan and his U.S. break with starring role in the short-lived Fox TV series “Roar,” Ledger moved to Los Angeles and costarred in “10 Things I Hate About You.”

Ledger had a difficult relationship with some sections of the media.

In 2004 he allegedly spat at and assaulted a photographer in Sydney. The retaliation was during the premier to Brokeback Mountain when photographers squirted him with water on the red carpet.

He was the son of Sally Ledger Bell, a French teacher, and Kim Ledger, a race car driver and mining engineer.