Actor Heath Ledger, 28, dies

Heath Ledger, Oscar-nominated co-star of “Brokeback Mountain,” was found dead on Tuesday in a Manhattan apartment.

According to the Associated Press, Ledger’s body was discovered on Tuesday afternoon by a housekeeper who unsuccessfully attempted to wake the actor for an appoint-
ment with a massage therapist. A bottle of sleeping pills also was found at the scene.

In a previous interview with the New York Times, Ledger said, “Last week, I probably slept an average of two hours a night. I couldn’t stop thinking. My body was exhausted and my mind was still going.”

The Australian native had recently finished filming his role as the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” the next movie in the “Batman series,” at the time of his death.

No conclusive evidence was found by the autopsy regarding the cause of death. More thorough tests are expected to be completed in 10 days or more.

Although no official stance has been taken on whether or not his death was a suicide, Ledger’s family has reportedly described the situation as “accidental” and ‘”tragic.” President George W. Bush has cancelled a scheduled talk on prescription drug abuse in light of recent events.

Heath Ledger is survived by, among others, his parents and two year-old daughter Matilda.