Guest Author - Elizabeth Borer

It was a complete shock to the Hollywood community and to many around the world when actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his NYC apartment at just 28 years old. Ledger was critically acclaimed as an actor and was nominated for a best actor Academy Award for his work in the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain, but was also a dedicated father to his 2 year old daughter, Matilda, with his ex-fiance Michelle Williams, who also played his wife in the film.

At the time of his death, Ledger was filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and had completed the role of The Joker in The Dark Knight, a follow-up to the 2005 film Batman Begins. The Dark Knight is set to be released in the summer of 2008, and is sure to draw many into the theaters and a large amount of media attention due to it being the final film Heath Ledger finished before his death. The actor made comments during interviews about playing The Joker that the character was very dark and disturbed -- such a twisted person to play that Ledger had difficulty sleeping and was taking prescription medication to help with the problem. It is unknown which of the 6 prescription drugs Heath Ledger was taking mixed to cause his death -- at this point it is considered accidental and an autopsy and toxicology report is being done to determine the actual cause of death.

Heath Ledger was found in a NYC apartment by a housekeeper and a massage therapist , and though they tried to revive him, he had already passed away. A large crowd of close to 300 people gathered outside the building as Ledger was wheeled out by the emergency crew. Michelle Williams was working in Sweden on a film and had the couple's daughter along with her, but at this time is on her way back to the states and has not made a statement to the media. Heath's parents and sister did make a public statement from Perth, Australia, expressing their love for their son and the inspirational life he led, also asking to have time to grieve.