Heath Ledger Found Dead

OMG! Last week it was Brad Renfro, now Heath Ledger. He was only 28. I always liked Heath Ledger as an actor, not only in Broke Back Mountain, but as far back as during my closeted days when he was in a short lived Fox TV series called "Roar." What makes it even worse is that police are saying it may have been a suicide. It is hard to imagine what would make someone with his looks - yes I always found him very sexy - and talent and professional success take such a desperate step. What could have been so unbearable? It is likely that no one will ever know for certain. What a sad and tragic loss. I particulary identified with his torment as Ennis in Brokeback Mountain in the scenes where he is trying to deal with who he is and at the same time having a wife and children. It brought tears to my eyes. Here is what MSNBC is reporting so far:

MSNBC News Services (updated 21 minutes ago) NEW YORK - Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday in a Manhattan apartment in a possible drug-related death, police said. He was 28. According to the New York Times, Ledger was found naked and unconscious with pills strewn all around him in an apartment owned by actress Mary-Kate Olsen. Police sources told the Times that the death appeared to be a suicide.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the apartment. The housekeeper, who went to let Ledger know the masseuse was there, found him unconscious at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET, according to the New York Times. After receiving no response from the actor after shaking him, they called authorities.

“We are investigating the possibility of an overdose,” Browne said. “There were pills within the vicinity of the bed.” The Australian-born actor was nominated for an Oscar for “Brokeback Mountain,” where he met actress Michelle Williams, in 2005. Ledger and Williams had lived in Brooklyn with their 2-year-old daughter, Matilda, until they split up last year.

The New York Times adds the following:

The police said they did not suspect foul play. Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the office of the city’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Charles S. Hirsch, said that employees of the office were at the apartment and that an autopsy would be conducted on Wednesday.

Police officials have said that the apartment was owned by the actress Mary-Kate Olsen,Officials said they believed Ms. Olsen, 21, was in California and that Mr. Ledger had been living in her apartment. Ms. Olsen attended the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, for the premiere of “The Wackness,” a film in which she stars with the actor Ben Kingsley. It was not clear where she went after the film screening.