Heath Ledger found dead

Australian actor Heath Ledger has been found dead in New York, according to US police.

Ledger, 28, was found dead at a residence in Broome St, SoHo, by his housekeeper and a masseuse at 3.31pm local time.

The New York Post reports that Ledger died of a drug overdose.

His apartment was strewn with pills, the paper reported. It was unclear if it was an intentional or accidental death.