More details have surfaced since first reporting the tragic death of Australian-born Hollywood superstar actor Heath Ledger. As reported previously, Ledger was found dead in his fourth-floor apartment at 421 Broome Street in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City.
According to police, housekeeper Teresa Solomon had arrived at approximately 12:30 p.m. EST to do household chores, entered the bedroom at about 1 p.m. to change a light bulb in the adjacent bathroom, and found Ledger face down on the bed, with a sheet pulled to his shoulders, and snoring. Masseuse Diana Wolozin arrived at approximately 2:45 p.m. to give Ledger a massage, and when he did not emerge by 3 p.m., called his cell phone and received no answer. Wolozin entered the bedroom, began to set up the massage table, and tried to awaken the unresponsive Ledger. Wolozin called actress Mary-Kate Olsen, a close friend of Ledger's whose number was programmed in Ledger's cell phone. Mary-Kate Olsen replied she would have members of her security firm go to the apartment. After again attempting to awaken Ledger, Wolozin called Olsen again, and at 3:26 p.m. called 9-1-1 Medical workers moved Ledger to the floor, used a defibrillator and CPR, and pronounced Ledger dead at 3:36 p.m.
Police said they found prescription medication in the bathroom and that there were "no obvious signs" of suicide, nor did they suspect foul play.
As also reported yesterday, an initial autopsy on January 23 proved inconclusive at determining Ledger's cause of death. The New York City medical examiner's office stated it will take about 10 days to complete the investigation, which will include a toxicology report.
Yesterday Ledger's parents and sister appeared outside his mother's home and read a short statement to the media:
We, Heath's family, confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda, who was found in a peaceful sleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30pm (New York Time). We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their kind wishes at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life, but few had the pleasure to truly know him. He was a down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and unselfish individual who was an extreme inspiration to many. Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately
In reaction to his death, actress Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek, Halloween H20, Brokeback Mountain) who was Ledger's former fiancee and mother of his daughter, was reported as saying that she was "devastated" at the loss and had boarded a plane from Trollhättan, Sweden where she was filming a movie, back to her Brooklyn apartment she once shared with Ledger in New York City with their daughter, Matilda. Michelle Williams is reported to be "in her own world" right now.
Ledger's ex-girlfriend, Naomi Watts, has cancelled all her media appearances. The Australian actress was at Sundance to promote a new film.
Production on Heath's most recent film, the Terri Gilliam-directed The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, has been shut down.
Warner Bros., who are releasing the next Batman movie with Ledger as the Joker, says,
"The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. Heath was a brilliant actor and an exceptional person. Our hearts go out to his family and friends."
Model Helena Christensen (known famously for her apperance in the 1990's music video for Chris Issak's hit song "Wicked Game") has revealed to Women's Wear Daily:
"I was on my way over to pay him a visit when I found out," she says. "I had just left him a message and heard his voice on the machine. He was such a special and genuine person, so extraordinarily talented because he was so raw and honest with his feelings. He was so full of life, so electric."
According to police, housekeeper Teresa Solomon had arrived at approximately 12:30 p.m. EST to do household chores, entered the bedroom at about 1 p.m. to change a light bulb in the adjacent bathroom, and found Ledger face down on the bed, with a sheet pulled to his shoulders, and snoring. Masseuse Diana Wolozin arrived at approximately 2:45 p.m. to give Ledger a massage, and when he did not emerge by 3 p.m., called his cell phone and received no answer. Wolozin entered the bedroom, began to set up the massage table, and tried to awaken the unresponsive Ledger. Wolozin called actress Mary-Kate Olsen, a close friend of Ledger's whose number was programmed in Ledger's cell phone. Mary-Kate Olsen replied she would have members of her security firm go to the apartment. After again attempting to awaken Ledger, Wolozin called Olsen again, and at 3:26 p.m. called 9-1-1 Medical workers moved Ledger to the floor, used a defibrillator and CPR, and pronounced Ledger dead at 3:36 p.m.
Police said they found prescription medication in the bathroom and that there were "no obvious signs" of suicide, nor did they suspect foul play.
As also reported yesterday, an initial autopsy on January 23 proved inconclusive at determining Ledger's cause of death. The New York City medical examiner's office stated it will take about 10 days to complete the investigation, which will include a toxicology report.
Yesterday Ledger's parents and sister appeared outside his mother's home and read a short statement to the media:
We, Heath's family, confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda, who was found in a peaceful sleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30pm (New York Time). We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their kind wishes at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life, but few had the pleasure to truly know him. He was a down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and unselfish individual who was an extreme inspiration to many. Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately
In reaction to his death, actress Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek, Halloween H20, Brokeback Mountain) who was Ledger's former fiancee and mother of his daughter, was reported as saying that she was "devastated" at the loss and had boarded a plane from Trollhättan, Sweden where she was filming a movie, back to her Brooklyn apartment she once shared with Ledger in New York City with their daughter, Matilda. Michelle Williams is reported to be "in her own world" right now.
Ledger's ex-girlfriend, Naomi Watts, has cancelled all her media appearances. The Australian actress was at Sundance to promote a new film.
Production on Heath's most recent film, the Terri Gilliam-directed The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, has been shut down.
Warner Bros., who are releasing the next Batman movie with Ledger as the Joker, says,
"The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. Heath was a brilliant actor and an exceptional person. Our hearts go out to his family and friends."
Model Helena Christensen (known famously for her apperance in the 1990's music video for Chris Issak's hit song "Wicked Game") has revealed to Women's Wear Daily:
"I was on my way over to pay him a visit when I found out," she says. "I had just left him a message and heard his voice on the machine. He was such a special and genuine person, so extraordinarily talented because he was so raw and honest with his feelings. He was so full of life, so electric."
Heath Ledger was 28 years old.
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