I seriously can't believe this.
It appears that the New York Police Department found Heath Ledger dead in his SoHo apartment, by a masseuse who went there for an appointment with the actor. The masseuse and a housekeeper both found Ledger face-down, unconscious, and phoned for an ambulance -- but it was too late.
Update: Police suspect accidental death caused by prescription sleeping pills, but have not ruled out suicide -- although family say that was very unlikely. The autopsy is scheduled for 23 January. Read more here and here. 23 Jan Update: The medical examination has been ruled as "inconclusive" about the exact cause of death, so the continuing investigation may take 10 days.
Heath Ledger rose to fame after starring in 10 Things I Hate About You, gained millions of fans with A Knight's Tale, before achieving huge success with Brokeback Mountain (where he was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe.) He recently completed filming The Dark Knight, due for release this summer, and was about to start work on Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus.
Personally, I enjoy Heath Ledger's performances, and was particularly hyped about seeing him as The Joker this summer. To lose a talented performer is always sad, but I got the impression (through interviews) that he was a thoughtful, intelligent and pleasant person -- in the prime of his life, which just makes it all the sadder.
His passing is a loss to everyone who knew him personally, and the millions of people he entertained in his movies.
My thoughts are with his friends and family, particularly his ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams and their two-year-old daughter Matilda.
