Oscar-nominated actor Heath Ledger was found dead on Tuesday at his Manhattan residence in what authorities say could be a drug-related death. He was 28.

A New York Police Department spokesman said the Australian-born actor had an appointment for a massage at the Manhattan apartment, which is believed to be his home. The housekeeper who went to let him know the masseuse had arrived found him dead at 3:26 p.m.

Ledger was nominated for an Oscar for 'Brokeback Mountain', where he met his wife, actress Michelle Williams, in 2005. Ledger and Williams had lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, until they split up in 2007.

Ledger has starred in A Knight's Tale, The Patriot, and Monster's Ball and was to appear as the Joker in The Dark Knight, a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins.