Heath Ledger Found Dead

Movie star Heath Ledger has been found dead in his Manhattan, New York, apartment.

The actor was declared dead by medics at his Broome Street apartment in SoHo home at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the New York Police Department.

A police spokesperson reveals Ledger was discovered by his housekeeper, after he failed to answer the door for a masseuse he had booked to give him a massage.

Pills were found strewn around his apartment.

The Australian Brokeback Mountain star, 28, was just about to start promoting the Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight, in which he plays movie villain The Joker.

Born in Perth in 1979, Ledger made a name for himself in a series of brooding roles on the big screen; he was nominated for a 2006 Oscar for his portrayal of a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain.