NEW YORK — Actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at his downtown Manhattan residence, according to the New York City Police Department. He was 28.
NYPD spokeswoman Stephanie Jaramillo told FOXNews.com that Ledger was discovered by his housekeeper at his apartment at 421 Broome Street in the Soho section of New York City and was pronounced dead at 3:35 p.m. EST.
Jaramillo declined to comment on the cause of death, saying only that "the investigation is still ongoing."
But The New York Post reported that Ledger died of a possible drug overdose and his apartment was strewn with pills. Law enforcement has confirmed to celebrity gossip site TMZ.com that prescription pills were found in his bedroom.
Ledger had an appointment for a massage at his Manhattan apartment, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told The Associated Press. The housekeeper went to let Ledger know the masseuse had arrived and found him dead, according to Browne.
The apartment is listed as a three-bedroom Soho loft with a rent of $23,000, according to real estate broker Corcoran.
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o Actor Heath Ledger Dead at 28
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."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
