Heavy. Heath Ledger, who found fame playing the school ruffian manipulated into “taming” Julia Stiles in the Shakespeare knock-off Ten Things I Hate About You and shot to infamy getting a reach around from Jake Gyllenhaal in that movie (for which he was nominated for an Oscar), has been found dead in his New York apartment.

Ledger, 28, was found unconscious with pills near his body, a New York police department spokesman said.

The Australian-born actor was discovered by his housekeeper after she went to let him know the masseuse had arrived, said Paul Browne.

A police spokesman at the scene said Ledger had been found naked at the foot of the bed.

Ledger had only recently finished shooting arguably the biggest role of his career as the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie, The Dark Knight. I guess that’s definitely going to add a creepy quality to his performance now.

Very sad news indeed. He was a fine actor. And a “mmm fine” cowboy.