Heath Ledger Dead

Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York City apartment yesterday. The Brokeback Mountain star was found naked on his bed by his masseuse, who'd arrived for an appointment at about 3:30 in the afternoon. When nobody answered, she was let in by a housekeeper. Police yesterday said they found pills near the body and suspect a drug-related death. They don't suspect foul play.

TMZ reported that they were contacted by Ledger's family, who emphatically denied rumors that he committed suicide. Ledger was reportedly suffering from pneumonia, which may explain the presence of several bottles of pills reported by police to have been seen around his apartment. Veteran Hollywood reporters have said that Ledger was never known to have a substance abuse issue. Ledger had said that he took the sleeping drug Ambien to help him overcome sleeping difficulties.

There were reports that the apartment where Ledger had lived for the past four months was actually owned by Mary-Kate Olsen.

Ledger starred in a series of movies in his native Australia before being cast in his first major American movie, 10 Things I Hate About You. He went on to roles in Monster's Ball, Lords of Dogtown and The Brothers Grimm before landing his breakout role in Brokeback Mountain. The film earned him an Oscar nomination and a relationship with his co-star Michelle Williams. The two, who moved to Brooklyn, New York together, had a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose, but broke up early last year.

Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, issued a statement about the actor's death. "It was with great sadness that I have learned of the passing of Heath Ledger. It is tragic that we have lost one of our nation's finest actors in the prime of his life. Heath Ledger's diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the greatest performances by an Australian actor."

Ledger's next big role is as "The Joker" in the next Batman movie The Dark Knight. Heath Ledger was 28.