Actor Heath Ledger, 28, was found dead on Tuesday in his downtown Manhattan apartment, possibly from an accidental drug overdose. According to reports, when paramedics responded, the actor “was in full cardiac arrest. They attempted to perform CPR on him, but were unsuccessful.”
His naked body was found lying face down at the foot of his bed near some prescription pills, including sleeping pills.
New York Police Department spokeswoman Stephanie Jaramillo refused to comment on the cause of death, saying only “the investigation is still ongoing.” However, NYPD spokesperson Paul Browne made a statement saying there is no evidence at this time that Ledger took any of the pills and that he does not know when the toxicology report will come back.
Ledger’s housekeeper and a masseuse discovered by his body, when the housekeeper went to notify him that his masseuse had arrived for his massage appointment on Tuesday afternoon at his apartment in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood.
A rep for Heath Ledger’s family says the Brokeback Mountain actor’s death was accidental, with an autopsy scheduled for tomorrow.
Ledger was an incredible talent earning an Oscar nomination for his performance in 2005’s “Brokeback Mountain.” Recently he played one of several incarnations of Bob Dylan in I’m Not There, and he was set to star as the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie The Dark Knight.
Ledger leaves behind two-year-old daughter Matilda Rose, whom he fathered with actress Michelle Williams.