Heath Ledger found dead in New York

By Edith Honan

Jan 22, Reuters

NEW YORK - Actor Heath Ledger, the gifted leading man acclaimed for his role as a gay cowboy in the film "Brokeback Mountain," was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Tuesday, possibly of a drug overdose, police said.

The Australian-born Ledger, 28, was found face down and naked at the foot of the bed by a housekeeper at his apartment in the SoHo neighborhood, police spokesman Paul Browne said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene but no cause had been determined.

"We are investigating the possibility of an overdose. ... There were pills within the vicinity of the bed," Browne said, adding that the prescription medicine included sleeping pills.

The housekeeper found Ledger at 3:26 p.m., and tried to wake him for his appointment with a masseuse, who was also in the home, Browne said.

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photo: Heath Ledger arrives at the premiere of the film "Candy" in New York November 6, 2006. Ledger was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Tuesday, possibly of a drug overdose, New York City police said (REUTERS/Eric Thayer)