Australian actor Heath Ledger has been found dead at a downtown Manhattan residence, a New York Police Department spokesman says.
The celebrity website TMZ said Ledger, 28, was found dead in his bed in one of his residences in Soho by his housekeeper at 3.35pm New York time (0735 AEDT) today.
Law enforcement sources said they believe it was not a crime, TMZ said.
The 28-year-old actor has a two year old daughter with former fiancee Michelle Williams.
He was set to play the Joker in the upcoming Batman film The Dark Knight.
