Mystery shrouds Ledger death's after inconclusive autopsy

NEW YORK : The sudden death of Hollywood heartthrob and rising Australian star Heath Ledger remained a mystery Wednesday as experts began a second round of toxicology tests after an initial autopsy was inconclusive.

The 28-year-old who shot to worldwide renown with his sensitive portrayal of a repressed homosexual cowboy in the Oscar-winning "Brokeback Mountain," was found naked and unresponsive in his Manhattan apartment on Tuesday.

Police said that prescription medications and a rolled-up 20 dollar bill were found in the residence, while the Australian actor's family insisted that his death had been "accidental."

"The autopsy is inconclusive," New York City medical examiner's office spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said. "We have to do additional testing which will include toxicology and tissue testing.

It will take about 10 days." Prescription pills bearing the name of the Australian actor were found in the apartment, police said.

The entertainment news site TMZ said they included anti-anxiety drugs Xanax and Valium as well as the sleep aid Ambien.

New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told a news conference that a rolled up 20 dollar bill was found near the body and it was currently undergoing tests, though there was no visible drug residue on it and no illegal drugs were found in the apartment.

Ledger had separated in September from his fiancee Michelle Williams, who played the wife of his cowboy character Ennis Del Mar in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain," and who was the real-life mother of his daughter, Matilda Rose, 2.

"We are deeply saddened and shocked by this accident," Ledger's publicist Mara Buxbaum said in a statement.

"This is an extremely difficult time for his loved ones. We're asking the media to please respect the family's privacy and avoid speculation until the facts are known."

The actor's father Kim Ledger read a statement outside the family home in Perth, Australia, indicating the family's belief that Ledger's death was "very tragic, untimely and accidental," and not a suicide.

"He was found peacefully asleep in his New York apartment," his father said. "He was a down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving, unselfish individual who was extremely inspirational to many."

Ledger was found dead at 3:26 pm (2036 GMT) Tuesday in an apartment in the posh district of SoHo, a police spokesman said. Neighbours said Ledger had been renting the loft apartment for the past several months.

New York City deputy police commissioner Paul Browne said a masseuse and a housekeeper discovered the actor's body after the masseuse arrived for an appointment.

They were "waiting for him to come out of the bedroom. When he didn't come out, they checked on him and found the body at the foot of the bed," Browne told reporters.

"There were prescription medications that included sleeping pills that were taken from the apartment. The reports that they were scattered around the body were untrue," said Browne.

At 19, Ledger left Sydney for Hollywood, where his talent was spotted by Mel Gibson when auditioning 500 actors for the role of his son in "The Patriot" -- a break that led to his leading role in "A Knight's Tale."

Numerous Hollywood stars, including fellow Aussies Gibson and Nicole Kidman, expressed shock at the death.

Gibson, who plucked Ledger from relative obscurity, said the death of the versatile actor was a "tragic loss."

"I had such great hope for him," the Oscar-winning actor and director said. Kidman called Ledger's death a "tragedy" and said her heart went out to his family.

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said it was "tragic that we have lost one of our nation's finest actors in the prime of his life ... Heath Ledger's diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the great performances by an Australian actor."

Ledger was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his "Brokeback Mountain" role. He had been working this month on "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," directed by Terry Gilliam, which is due out next year. He also portrays The Joker in the upcoming Batman movie "Dark Knight." - AFP/ir