Shocking Loss of Heath Ledger

Australian actor Heath Ledger was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead by paramedics in his Manhattan apartment. CNN is reporting that he was naked and face down in bed with sleeping pills both prescription and over the counter nearby. Though People Online has a conflicting report. They say he was on the floor curled up. Heath Ledger was found by the housekeeper and masseuse who called for help upon finding him at the foot of his bed and after being unable to wake him. Heath had spoken openly about his sleeping problems in the past. As of right now, authorities are indicating that his death was caused by an accidental overdose. A definitive cause of death will not be given for approximately another 10 days. The Associated Press has printed that the initial autopsy was inconclusive.

Ledger's father, mother and sister held a short press conference speaking of his love of life and denying that he committed suicide. His father Kim Ledger spoke for the family and gave thanks to his son's fans and asked for privacy to grieve.

A memorial started at the foot of his apartment building almost immediately after word got out of his death. Mourning fans have left candles, flowers, cards and handwritten notes.

Heath Ledger's star rose with the films The Patriot and A Knights Tale. In 2005 he played a gay cowboy in the controversial film Brokeback Mountain. He was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe for his performance. Notoriety, awards and a higher asking fee weren't the only things he got out of doing this picture. He met co-star Michelle Williams on the set with whom he later had a daughter. Matilda Rose was born in October of 2005. Though Williams and Ledger split up in September of 2007, Heath was frequently spotted out with his little girl.

Ledger recently wrapped the filming of the Batman movie The Dark Knight in which he portrayed The Joker. It was during this time he spoke of having trouble sleeping.

Heath Ledger was in the middle of shooting The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus, the film's future is unknown as of now.

Heath Andrew Ledger was 28 years old.

This tragic loss comes on the tails of another actor's recent death. Brad Renfro was found dead on January 15^th. Questions of his well-known addictions have been raised but his death is still unexplained. Renfro found fame at the age of 10 when he shot the film The Client. People Online recently reported sadly that he left behind a young son living in Japan with his mother. Renfro was 25 years old at the time of his death.

UPDATE: Though different media outlets were first reporting that Heath Ledger had pills scattered around him at the time of his death; the NYPD has since addressed this issue stating that Ledger did indeed have several different medications( including anxiety meds and sleeping pills). A couple of them were at his bedside and others were stored in different rooms of his apartment. These medications were in containers and not randomly spilled around his body.