Heath Ledger Passes Away - Drug Overdose?

CNN reported that an autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday as family and colleagues mourned the death of Academy Award-nominated actor Heath Ledger.

The article goes on to say that Ledger was found dead Tuesday of a possible drug overdose in a Lower Manhattan apartment, the New York Police Department said. Ledger was 28. He was found naked and unresponsive, facedown on the floor at the foot of his bed by a housekeeper trying to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse, said police spokesman Paul Browne.

"Pills were found in the vicinity of the bed," he told CNN. "This is being looked at as a possible overdose, but that is not confirmed yet."

Police later told reporters some prescription medications were found in the room, including sleeping pills. But he stressed police have made no determination of the cause of Ledger's death -- that would be done by the medical examiner.

He said the pills were not "scattered about."

No note was found and there was no indication of foul play, Browne said. Ledger was found at about 3 p.m., and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel about 3:30 p.m.
A crowd of onlookers, photographers and reporters gathered outside the apartment building after news of Ledger's death was reported. Police officers were guarding the doors.

Browne said he did not know how long Ledger had been renting the apartment, which he said took up the entire fourth floor. An autopsy would be conducted on Wednesday, said Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the New York City medical examiner's office.

Ledger's family on Wednesday called his death "very tragic, untimely and accidental."

This charismatic Australian heart-throb, often billed as the next Mel Gibson, and in recent years made huge strides forward to become one of the most acclaimed, intense, and promising young stars of his generation. He starred in 2005's Brokeback Mountain, teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Monster's Ball (2001) and Ned Kelly (2003)

Ledger had completed work as The Joker in Christopher Nolan's Batman sequel The Dark Knight, which is due for worldwide release this July. He pulls it off splendidly too in this photo.