Hollywood star Heath Ledger was found dead in New York in a possible drug-related death, police said. He was 28.
Police spokesman Paul Browne said Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the Manhattan flat he was found in, believed to be his home.
The housekeeper, who went to let the actor know the masseuse was there, found him dead.
The Australian-born actor was an Oscar nominee for his role in Brokeback Mountain and has numerous other screen credits.
He started dating actress Michelle Williams in 2005 while filming Brokeback Mountain.
Ledger and Williams lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, but they split up last year.
Ledger played the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in Monster's Ball and had starring roles in A Knight's Tale and The Patriot.
He was to appear as the Joker this year in The Dark Knight, the sequel to 2005's Batman Begins.
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22nd January 2008
