In a tragic turn of events, Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger was found dead in a New York apartment Tuesday afternoon. According to the New York City police, the 28-year-old Ledger was discovered unconscious when a masseuse arrived for an appointment with the Australian actor.

When Ledger’s housekeeper found him, the actor was naked and unresponsive with pills strewn about his body. Emergency services were immediately summoned and at this time police say they do not suspect foul play. According to The New York Times, the apartment was one he was subletting from actress Mary-Kate Olsen. (Other outlets are disputing this.)

Born in Perth, Australia on April 4th, 1979, Ledger began acting when he was ten and moved to Sydney at age sixteen where he quickly found a measure of success. At the time of his death, Ledger had one child, Matilda Rose, with actress Michelle Williams whom he met on the set of Brokeback Mountain. While the couple never married, they lived together in Brooklyn until August of 2007 when Us Magazine reported that two had split up. Neither ever spoke to the press to confirm the relationship was over.

Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger 

According to US Magazine, at least one friend wasn't surprised by what may turn out to be Ledger's having committed suicide: "This is terrible and I'm in shock. But to tell you the truth... we saw it coming. Heath has gone though a rough road of trying to get sober." US did not name their source.

Ledger’s role in Brokeback Mountain as the taciturn Ennis Del Mar not only earned the actor an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination and a New York Film Critics Circle award for his performance, but endeared him to legions of gay men who found his performance as a man unable to come to terms with his sexuality one of the most moving ever put on the big screen.

About the role Ledger told Dark Horizons, “The challenge wasn’t the gay aspect of the movie. In fact, in this year, 2005, I can’t understand why anyone, agent, manager, publicist, would even question any actor taking any gay role.”

Ledger also said “I understand everyone else or people found it risky. I hate to call it "daring" or "brave"; firefighters are daring and brave. I'm acting. I didn't get hurt and I'm not mentally wounded from this experience.