Heath Ledger dies at 28

Heath Ledger was found dead in a New York City apartment today, from a possible drug overdose. The Australian actor was 28 years old. After appearing in television roles during the 1990s, Ledger developed a Hollywood career. He starred in both critical and financial successes, including The Patriot, Monster's Ball and Brokeback Mountain , and completed the role of The Joker in the forthcoming The Dark Knight.

"Heath Ledger was found dead at 3:26 pm this afternoon," a police spokesperson said, saying he was found in an apartment in the posh district of Soho. "We don't know the cause of the death."

The entertainment website TMZ said Heath was discovered "face down on the floor" adding that "law enforcement sources ... believe it was not a crime."

The New York Times said Ledger was discovered by the housekeeper and a masseuse who arrived in the afternoon for an appointment.

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

Both the New York Times and TMZ quoted officials as saying pills were found near the body, but gave no further details.

According to the initial report, he was found "in an apartment in Manhattan owned by the actress Mary-Kate Olsen, according to the New York City police." The Times and other media corrected this Olsen error later.

Ledger is survived by his former fiancee Michelle Williams, and their two-year-old daughter, Matilda.

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