The 28 year old Oscar nominee was found dead at a downtown Manhattan apartment at 3:45 p.m., according the NYPD.  Police say an investigation is ongoing.  Ledger, who had an appointment for a massage, was discovered by the housekeeper at the foot of his bed, naked and unresponsive, according to the NYPD.  A bottle of sleeping pills prescribed to him was also found. A police rep wouldn't say whether the cause of death was suicide, but he added that he wouldn't call the site of Ledger's death a crime scene. 

 

Heath Ledger played the role of Joker in the new Batman film, "The Dark Knight", set to be released this year.