NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the Manhattan apartment believed to be his home. The housekeeper who went to let Ledger know the masseuse was there found him dead at 3:26 p.m.
The Australian-born actor was an Oscar nominee for his role in Brokeback Mountain and has numerous other screen credits.
Heath Ledger will next be seen in the highly anticipated Batman sequel The Dark Knight and was currently shooting the Terry Gilliam film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in New York City.
UPDATE
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 and said they found pills near his body.
The actor was found face down at the foot of his bed with prescription sleeping pills nearby. There was no obvious indication that the actor had committed suicide. About the tragic loss, Ledger's former The Patriot co-star Mel Gibson stated, "I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss."
A crowd of about three hundred gathered to watch Ledger's body be removed from the apartment. He was wheeled out on a gurney and placed in a medical examiner's office van. Medical examiner's office spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said that an autopsy was planned for Wednesday.
The Dark Knight was released July 18th, 2008 and stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Monique Gabriela Curnen. The film is directed by Christopher Nolan.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was released December 25th, 2009 and stars Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Jude Law, Lily Cole, Peter Stormare, Tom Waits. The film is directed by Terry Gilliam.
Comments (208)
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DarkKnightJunkie2767
Being mean and hateful for me is a must. 
I've never really been in love but only in lust
I delight in being rude  
My ways are crude
By the way surely by now Ledger is dust.
2 years agoby @darkknightjunkie2767Flag
DarkKnightJunkie2767
Were you wondering where I've been?
My obscene words to some are as sin!
In my ways I am set,
I hold not one regret. 
Well guess what here I am again.
2 years agoby @darkknightjunkie2767Flag
The Dark Knight
wow is this breaking news come on stop commenting
4 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag
JR
well then you wont bother replying back to any of my comments and leave. c*cksucker!
4 years agoby @supbitchFlag
GK
YOU KNOW WHAT?I DO NOT GIVE A SH*T WHAT YOU SAY JR.
4 years agoby @indianajonesFlag
GK
I AM NOT PYPEBOMB JR!
4 years agoby @indianajonesFlag
The Doctor
R.I.P. Heath, a brilliant actor.
4 years agoby @ghettokidFlag
The Doctor
R.I.P. Heath, a brilliant actor.
4 years agoby @ghettokidFlag
Psycho
RIP.
4 years agoby @physco-123Flag
JR
you have no respect for heath at all you son of a bitch. jut leave.
4 years agoby @supbitchFlag
GK
This is Health Ledger!I am not pype.
4 years agoby @indianajonesFlag
JR
you have no right to comment this thread pype.
4 years agoby @supbitchFlag
GK
TO YOU HEATH LEDGER.A GREAT TALENT.REST IN PEACE.
AND AGAIN R.I.P TO YOU.
4 years agoby @indianajonesFlag
JR
R.I.P
4 years agoby @supbitchFlag
XxMr.TripsxX
wow seen this movie twice already its such a waste
4 years agoby @xxmr-tripsxxFlag
wimpykid
READ I found out that after a few credits roll by, you see that the film IS dedicated to Heath and the guy who died last year while fiming a stunt or something. Remember?
4 years agoby @wimpykidFlag
wimpykid
There better be a "this film is deticated to Heath Ledger" at the end credits of the dark knight or I swear I will not have that movie as one of my favs
4 years agoby @wimpykidFlag
wimpykid
Dang this sucks! He was a great actor! If before the credits appear and it doesn't say this film is dedicated to Heath, I'll give it 4 stars!
4 years agoby @wimpykidFlag
THE JOKER
this really is tragic. im going to have to go read the article you read so i can see all the details. but i agree. the whole really is tragic and very sad
4 years agoby @mcleve02Flag
Splatter2010
Medical examiners are now saying that there really wasn't enough
of any one thing in his body that would have caused his death. Heath's passing seems to become more tragic as time goes on. This whole thing really sucks... I'm still bummed out big time. Come back to us Heath!
4 years agoby @mindscapeFlag
THE JOKER
yeah. i still to this day jsut cant believe he is gone. its a terrible nightmare. i wish there was a way of bringing him back. RIP Heath
4 years agoby @mcleve02Flag
LarveeK
It's always so sad and heart breaking when someone so young looses their life tragically. Heath was a wonderful father and great actor and we will miss him alot. That's a great talent lost too early. HEATH R.I.P. YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED ALWAYS~
4 years agoby @larveekFlag
Outlaw122779
I can't believe it either what a shock this is he was very talented
4 years agoby @outlaw122779Flag
SpaceCowboy
I still can't believe it. I still don't want to believe
4 years agoby @SpaceCowboyFlag
THE JOKER
believe me thelord i wish it was...its awful that he is gone.
4 years agoby @mcleve02Flag
A-J
A great talent lost he will be greatly missed R.I.P
4 years agoby @ajlewisFlag
Joe Postman
Oh thats all bad RIP man
4 years agoby @postmanFlag
thelord3003
Is there any chance that this is nothing but a bad dream to all of us??? This has been a nightmare for me. I keep thinking is all a hoax. Not real. Just a sick well planned Joke. But somehow....I have to accept that is REAL. I never met Heath and I pray to God to tell him that I say..."Dark Knight is for you brother"!!! :(
4 years agoby @thelord3003Flag
lilly
heath-
you were an amazing actor, and in my opinon, underapreciated.You seemed like a truely good guy who cared about his daughter (a rareity these days)...you were much too young to go!
may god bless your family,your beautiful daughter and may god bless you! rest in peace, you will be missed
4 years agoby @lillyFlag
Phil Mata
Heath Ledger R.I.P. 1979-2008
You were a great American actor and as far as I've heard an exceptional man. You will be greatly missed by everyone. May you be at rest wherever you are...
I also send my condolences to Ledger's family, friends, and daughter.
4 years agoby @phil-mataFlag