Heath Ledger, Oscar nominated star of Brokeback Mountain, has been found dead in a Manhattan apartment. Police are investigating the cause of death but it is believed to be an overdose of prescription drugs. The 28-year-old Australian actor's body was found by a housekeeper at 3.26pm local time (8.36pm GMT) on Tuesday at his rented apartment. A spokesman for the New York Police Department said, "He was found unconscious at the apartment and pronounced dead. We are investigating the possibility of an overdose. There were pills within the vicinity of the bed," adding that no suicide note had been found.

An autopsy carried out on Wednesday was found to be inconclusive, and it will take about 10 days to establish the cause of death, according to a spokeswoman for the New York medical examiner.  

Heath's father Kim Ledger said the death on his "dearly loved son" was "tragic" and "accidental". Speaking in Heath's home town of Perth, Australia, with the actor's mother and sister, he said his son had been a, "down to earth, generous, kind hearted, life-loving, unselfish individual".

Former lover Michelle Williams said she was "devastated" about his death, as she boarded a plane to New York. The couple, who split in August, have a two-year-old daughter, Matilda.

The actor had just finished filming his part as the Joker in upcoming Batman sequel, The Dark Knight. Other Hollywood stars were quick to pay their tributes. Mel Gibson, who played Heath's father in the 2001 film The Patriot said, "I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss." Nicole Kidman added, "What a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his family." John Travolta, in Heath's native Australia when the news of his passing was announced said, "His abilities are rare... it's a tremendous loss."

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