Heath Ledger found dead in NYC

NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan residence in what authorities say is a possible drug-related death, the NYPD said. He was 28.
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told The Associated Press that Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the Manhattan apartment that is 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, Browne said.

A big crowd of paparazzi and gawkers began gathering outside the building, where several police officers guarded the door. The building is located on an upscale block in SoHo.

The Australian-born actor was nominated for an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain, where he met his wife, actress Michelle Williams, in 2005. Ledger and Williams had lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, until they split up last year.

Ledger's roles include the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in Monster's Ball and had starring roles in A Knight's Tale and The Patriot. He was to appear as the Joker this year in The Dark Night, a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins that recently finished filming.

Ledger was born in 1979, grew up in Perth and began doing amateur theater at age 10. At 16, he moved to Sydney to pursue an acting career, quickly landing TV movie roles and guest spots on Australian television.

After several independent films, Ledger moved to Los Angeles and co-starred in 10 Things I Hate About You, a teen comedy reworking of The Taming of the Shrew. His movie career caught on soon after that, culminating with his Academy Award nomination for Brokeback Mountain.

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