Autopsy On Actor Ledger 'Inconclusive'

The results of a post-mortem on actor Heath Ledger have proved inconclusive, it has been revealed.

The New York city medical examiner said that more tests were needed to determine the cause of death.

The Oscar-nominated actor was found dead in his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon.

The 28-year-old, who was nominated for an Academy award for his role in 'Brokeback Mountain', was found unconscious in his apartment in Manhattan by his housekeeper.

It has been suggested that Ledger died from a drugs overdose. It is understood that he was found naked in his bed and that prescription medication, including sleeping pills, were found in his apartment.

Ledger's family have described his death as "tragic, untimely and accidental". The entertainment news web-site TMZ has reported that sources in the New York Police Department have indicated that there is no evidence so far to suggest that the actor committed suicide and it has been speculated that he may have died from an accidental overdose.

According to reports, Ledger had been having difficulties sleeping and was taking pills.

Sky News reported that in an interview with the 'New York Times', Ledger admitted that he had been taking sleeping pills because he had been unable to sleep while filming the new Batman movie, 'The Dark Knight', in which he plays the Joker.

It has been reported on TMZ that the actor had been suffering from pneumonia at the time of his death.

Born in Australia, Ledger's movie career had been beginning to take off spectacularly in recent years. Following roles in movies such as 'Ten Things I Hate About You', 'A Knight's Tale', 'The Patriot' and 'Monster's Ball', he received an Oscar nomination for his role as a gay cowboy in Ang Lee's 2005 film 'Brokeback Mountain'.

He had also completed work recently on the hotly-anticipated Batman sequel, 'The Dark Knight', which is due to be released in July and had just begun work on Terry Gilliam's latest film 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus'.

Ledger separated from girlfriend Michelle Williams, who co-starred with him as his wife in 'Brokeback Mountain', last year. The couple have a two-year-old daughter Matilda.

(KMcA)