Australian actor Heath Ledger, an Oscar nominee for Best Actor for his portrayal as a gay cowboy in the critically acclaimed Brokeback Mountain, was found dead in his Soho residence in New York City on Tuesday.

Ledger was discovered by his housekeeper naked and unconscious at 3:35 pm when a masseuse arrived for a scheduled appointment.

By the time emergency services arrived, the actor was in full cardiac arrest. Their attempted CPR was unsuccessful and was pronounced dead afterwards.

According to a police investigation, accidental drug overdose might be the cause of Ledger’s death since prescription and non-prescription sleeping pills were found near the actor’s bed.

Celebrity news website TMZ.com has also reported Ledger was sick with pneumonia when he died although the police could not confirm the matter and advised the media to wait for the result of the autopsy to determine exactly the cause of death.

Michelle Williams, Ledger’s former fiancee and mother of their two-year-old daughter Matilda, is reportedly devastated to hear of his death. She is believed to be on her way to New York.

Ledger is set to star in the upcoming summer movie “The Dark Knight” opposite Christian Bale where he played the role of Joker.

Check out our spotlight on Heath Ledger last June 15, 2007.