Heath Ledger dead

Actor Heath Ledger was found dead yesterday in his New York City apartment. He was 28. It was thought to be accidental and not a suicide.

The Australia native was reportedly discovered by his housekeeper naked in his bed with sleeping pills near his body. Police said that drugs may have been a factor in his death. He was thought to be suffering from pneumonia and had been prescribed medication. Bottles of anti-anxiety drugs Diazempam and Alprazolam were found.

"We, Heath's family, confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda" father Kim Ledger said in a statement.

Ledger's most recent screen role was as Bob Dylan in the recent biopic 'I'm Not There'.

Ledger was also the cofounder of record label Music Masses Co with singer Ben Harper, and directed Harper's video for the song 'Morning Yearning'.

Ledger's role as a gay cowboy in 2005's 'Brokeback Mountain' brought him notoriety and an Oscar nomination. He also starred in movies such as 'The Patriot' with Mel Gibson, but was brought onto the scene thanks to the movie, 'Two Hands'.

He married actress Michelle Williams, who played his wife in the film, but the couple separated last year. They had one child. He has also been romantically linked to actresses Naomi Watts and Heather Graham. Australian actress Naomi Watts, who dated Ledger between 2002 and 2004, was reported to have collapsed in tears when she learned of his death at the Sundance Film Festival. He had recently been romantically linked to Australian model Gemma Ward.

Ledger had just finished filming his role in the forthcoming 'Batman' installment 'Dark Knight' in which he plays the villainous Joker.

The medical examiner's office told the Associated Press that they plan to conduct an autopsy tomorrow to help determine the cause of death.