last updated: Wednesday 23 January 2008, 07:02am

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Hollywood star Heath Ledger found dead

Heath Ledger

Hollywood actor Heath Ledger has been found dead at his New York Apartment.

The Australian-born actor, 28, who starred in Brokeback Mountain, was found dead by a housekeeper at his apartment in the trendy SoHo neighbourhood, police spokesman Paul Browne said.

'We are investigating the possibility of an overdose,' Mr Browne added.

The housekeeper found Ledger at 3:26 pm (2026 GMT) and tried to wake him for his appointment to have a massage, Browne said. As far as he knew, only Ledger and the housekeeper were in the apartment, Browne said.

'There were pills within the vicinity of the bed,' he added.

Ledger was nominated as best lead actor for his role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain, but the award went to Philip Seymour Hoffman for his role as Truman Capote.

The star was reported last year to have broken up with his longtime companion, actress Michelle Williams, who played his wife in Brokeback and was the real-life mother of the actor's young daughter, Matilda.

He is currently starring in I'm Not There, one of several actors playing a role representing Bob Dylan, and was due to appear as The Joker in the next Batman film.

Ledger's other film credits included A Knight's Tale, The Patriot and Monster's Ball.

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