Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose and not from suicide, according to reports.
Bottles of the generic forms of Xanax and Valium, both anti-anxiety drugs prescribed in his name, were found at his $26,000-a-month, three-bedroom loft apartment, the New York Post reported. (Map: Ledger's Soho address)
Police also found sleeping pills Donormyl, Zopiclone, and Ambien, the Post reported, quoting a police source who said: "it does not appear to be a suicide".
The 28-year-old actor was found nude, lying face down and unresponsive by his maid, Theresa Solomon, and masseuse Diane Lee at 3.20pm local time (7.20am AEDT) .
Ms Solomon said she had heard the actor snoring at midday.
The maid and therapist called 911 at 3.26pm. Emergency workers were unable to revive the star and he was pronounced dead at 3.35pm.
"We are investigating the possibility of an overdose," NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said.
"There were pills within the vicinity of the bed."
One of the drugs at the scene, Ambien, is marketed as Stilnox in Australia and hit headlines last year when a national drug hotline fielded calls from users reporting strange side-effects. (Related article: Ledger's sleeping pill 'controversial')
In an interview with the New York Times last November, Ledger said he'd been taking Ambien which, according to the newspaper, "failed to work".
"He took a second one and fell into a stupor, only to wake up an hour later, his mind still racing," the journalist reported.
Some reports said Ledger was sick with pneumonia before he died.
Family grief
Ledger's family have expressed their grief at the "accidental" death of their son as they await an autopsy.
Ledger's father Kim, mother Sally and sister Kate described the late actor as "down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted [and] life-loving".
(Watch the video)
"We, Heath's family, confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda" Kim Ledger said, reading from a prepared statement.
"Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his life, but few have had the pleasure of truly knowing him."
Tributes poured in for the West Australian, including a remarkable endorsement from one of his oldest co-stars.
Legendary Australian actor Charles "Bud" Tingwell worked with Ledger on Ned Kelly and told A Current Affair Ledger was a "marvellous example" for young actors.
"You're never quite sure when you're an elderly actor who people are going to accept you but he was just marvellous," Tingwell said.
"Somebody told me that Michael Caine said one of his recent roles — I think it was as The Joker in Batman — was one of the greatest performances he's ever seen on screen.
"That's not bad, is it?"
Ledger's body was removed from the building on a stretcher in a black body bag, in front of 200 onlookers and more than 70 photographers and television cameramen.
The New York Times initially reported that the apartment belonged to actress Mary-Kate Olsen. But Olsen's representatives have since denied this.
According to celebrity website TMZ, Ledger's ex-fiancée Michelle Williams — with whom he had a daughter — is "devastated" by the news.
Australian actress Naomi Watts, who dated Ledger between 2002 and 2004, was reported to have collapsed in tears when she learned of his death at the Sundance Film Festival.
Film industry mourns
Producer Emile Sherman, who worked with Ledger on the Australian film Candy, said the actor had a "sensitive, artistic soul".
"I received calls and e-mail and texts from a large number of people and that’s how I found out. The word got around very quickly," Mr Sherman said.
"I was in disbelief. I haven't spoken to Heath for a while, but we were planning on catching up via e-mail soon.
"For someone of his age to die is a huge tragedy, it's a huge tragedy for the Australian Film Industry and the International Film Industry."
Mr Sherman denied that Ledger was difficult to work with, saying he was often misunderstood.
Actress and fellow Australian Nicole Kidman called Ledger's death "a terrible tragedy". "My heart goes out to his family," Kidman said.
Wendy Day, publicist for Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe, was unaware of Ledger's death when contacted by ninemsn.
"It's news to me. I guess I should find out about it," Ms Day said.
"It's very sad news. Oh my God, that's very sad."
Ledger's former school principal, Robert Zordan, described Ledger as a "humble and loyal friend" to his schoolmates.
"One of the great things about him as a person, was that with all the stardom and with all the lights that were focused on him, it was with a degree of humility and loyalty that he remained very, very closely in touch with many of his peers from his particular year group," Mr Zordan said on ABC radio.
"I know for example that when his friends from school days were in New York he would be a very, very generous and loyal host, often putting them up in his own home.
'Stressing out'
In
an interview with the New York Times two months ago, Ledger admitted to "stressing out a little too much" on the set of
The Dark Knight.
The actor told the paper he was sleeping an average of two hours a night and took the drug Ambien to help him fall asleep.
He said in another recent interview that he felt "good about dying".
While promoting his latest film I'm Not There, Ledger became extremely serious when asked about his two-year-old daughter, Matilda.
"You also look at death differently," Ledger told WJW FOX in Cleveland.
"It's like a Catch-22.
"I feel good about dying now because I feel I'm alive in her.
"But at the same hand, you don't want to die because you want to be around for the rest of her life."
Ledger split last year with his fiancée Michelle Williams, Matilda's mother.
He dropped out of school at 16 and moved from Perth to Sydney and then to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.
Ledger received an Academy Award nomination for his role in Brokeback Mountain. He stars as the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie, The Dark Knight.
He had recently been romantically linked to Australian model Gemma Ward.
Related links:
Related videos:
Front page
RSS Feed