| | '''Heath Ledger''' was an Oscar-nominated<ref>http://imdb.com/name/nm0005132/awards</ref> [[Australia]]n actor who became a [[liberal]] icon after his portrayal of a [[homosexual]] cowboy in the 2005 movie ''[[Brokeback Mountain]]''. | | '''Heath Ledger''' was an Oscar-nominated<ref>http://imdb.com/name/nm0005132/awards</ref> [[Australia]]n actor who became a [[liberal]] icon after his portrayal of a [[homosexual]] cowboy in the 2005 movie ''[[Brokeback Mountain]]''. |
| − | Ledger was found unconscious in his bed by a masseuse<ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/06/heath.ledger/index.html</ref> at his rented Soho ([[Manhattan]]) loft apartment on January 22, 2008. The masseuse called Ledger's girlfriend, but did not call 911 until he had stopped breathing, approximately 45 minutes later. The New York City medical examiner said Ledger died "as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects" of six different prescription drugs: [[oxycodone]], [[hydrocodone]], [[diazepam]], [[temazepam]], [[alprazolam]] and [[doxylamine]]. Police had said at the time of the discovery of his death that no illicit drugs or alcohol were found in the apartment.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/people/bpeopleb-ledgers-cause-of-death-to-be-made-public-overnight/2008/02/06/1202233881451.html</ref> Medical examiner spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said: "What you're looking at here is the cumulative effects of these medications together." | + | Ledger was found unconscious in his bed by a masseuse<ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/06/heath.ledger/index.html</ref> at his rented SoHo ([[Manhattan]]) loft apartment on January 22, 2008. The masseuse called Ledger's girlfriend, but did not call 911 until he had stopped breathing, approximately 45 minutes later. The New York City medical examiner said Ledger died "as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects" of six different prescription drugs: [[oxycodone]], [[hydrocodone]], [[diazepam]], [[temazepam]], [[alprazolam]] and [[doxylamine]]. Police had said at the time of the discovery of his death that no illicit drugs or alcohol were found in the apartment.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/people/bpeopleb-ledgers-cause-of-death-to-be-made-public-overnight/2008/02/06/1202233881451.html</ref> Medical examiner spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said: "What you're looking at here is the cumulative effects of these medications together." |
| | Following roles in Australian movies and TV series, Ledger was cast in his first American film ''10 Things I Hate About You'' in 1999. Following this he appeared in [[Mel Gibson]]'s Revolutionary War drama ''The Patriot'' in 2000 and was given the lead role in the 2001 movie ''A Knight's Tale''. At the time of his death, he had just completed filming the 2008 Batman movie ''The Dark Knight'', in which he plays the villain. | | Following roles in Australian movies and TV series, Ledger was cast in his first American film ''10 Things I Hate About You'' in 1999. Following this he appeared in [[Mel Gibson]]'s Revolutionary War drama ''The Patriot'' in 2000 and was given the lead role in the 2001 movie ''A Knight's Tale''. At the time of his death, he had just completed filming the 2008 Batman movie ''The Dark Knight'', in which he plays the villain. |