It was just announced that Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment by his cleaning lady. They're speculating it might be due to drugs - there were some prescription pills found by his body. He was only 28. He was a nominee for best actor in Brokeback Mountain a couple of years ago & he was the oldest son in The Patriot. It's always sad to hear news like this.

Heath Ledger found dead in NYC apartment
28-year-old actor was nominated for Oscar for ‘Brokeback Mountain’
BREAKING NEWS
MSNBC News Services
updated 3:53 p.m. CT, Tues., Jan. 22, 2008

NEW YORK - A New York Police Department spokesman says the actor Heath Ledger has been found dead at a downtown Manhattan residence.

According to TMZ.com, Ledger, 28, was found dead in his bed in one of his residences in Soho by his housekeeper at 3:35 p.m. ET Tuesday.

The actor has a two-year-old daughter with former fiancee Michelle Williams. Ledger was set to play the Joker in the upcoming Batman film "The Dark Knight." He received an Academy Award nomination for his work in "Brokeback Mountain."
© 2008 MSNBC Interactive

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22788914/



THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED AS NEW REPORTS COME IN

CNN now says he was found by a masseuse
MSNBC says he was surrounded by pills
The New York Times
"At 3:31 p.m., a masseuse arrived at Apartment 5A in the building for an appointment with Mr. Ledger, the police said. The masseuse was let in to the home by a housekeeper, who then knocked on the door of Mr. Ledger’s bedroom. When no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger unconscious. They shook him, but he did not respond. They immediately called the authorities. The police said they did not suspect foul play. Officials said pills fear found near the body."

FOX News is talking to the guy from TMZ, harvey, right now 5:05 pm

TMZ:

We're told when paramedics responded, the actor was in full cardiac arrest. They attempted to perform CPR on him, but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fox News:

Oh how very sad. I really liked his acting and he seemed like an upstanding young man.

How sad for his young daughter.

I just heard this on the way home from work this evening. SHAME!

My youngest DD loves The Patriot. How sad.

WOW~ So much to live for and didn't even know it.

Sad for his llittle one.

Just unreal. I had the news on at 5 and there wasn't even anything on the internet yet. Completely sad and shocking.

Oh no! I hadn't heard that how very, very sad.

It goes to show, money can't buy happiness! He doesn't strike me as the "I've got so much money and I've got nothing better to do than stick it up my nose or in a vein" type of person. I wonder if it was intentional? I thought him & Michelle Williams made such a cute couple, how sad for their baby.

my deepest sympathy for his friends and loved ones.