NEW YORK ( CNN ) -- Actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday of a possible drug overdose in a Lower Manhattan apartment , the New York Police Department said . Heath Ledger was unresponsive when a housekeeper found him in a Manhattan apartment Tuesday . The Academy Award-nominated actor was 28 . Ledger was found naked and unresponsive , facedown on the floor at the foot of his bed by a housekeeper trying to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse , said police spokesman Paul Browne . `` Pills were found in the vicinity of the bed , '' he told CNN . `` This is being looked at as a possible overdose , but that is not confirmed yet . '' Browne later told reporters some prescription medications were found in the room , including sleeping pills . But he stressed police have made no determination of the cause of Ledger 's death -- that would be done by the medical examiner . He said the pills were not `` scattered about . '' No note was found and there was no indication of foul play , Browne said . Ledger was found at about 3 p.m. , and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel about 3:30 p.m. Watch a report about Ledger 's death » . A crowd of onlookers , photographers and reporters gathered outside the apartment building after news of Ledger 's death was reported . Police officers were guarding the doors . Browne said he did not know how long Ledger had been renting the apartment , which he said took up the entire fourth floor . An autopsy would be conducted on Wednesday , said Ellen Borakove , spokeswoman for the New York City medical examiner 's office . Watch Ledger 's body being removed » . Ledger 's family called his death `` very tragic , untimely and accidental . '' `` Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life , but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him , '' his father said . `` He was a down-to-earth , generous , kindhearted , life-loving , unselfish individual extremely inspirational to many . '' Hollywood reacts . Condolences began pouring in from Ledger 's friends and co-stars . `` I had such great hope for him , '' said Mel Gibson , who played Ledger 's father in `` The Patriot , '' in a statement . `` He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss . My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family . '' Actress Nicole Kidman , a fellow Australian and close friend of Ledger 's , said in a statement , `` What a tragedy . My heart goes out to his family . '' Watch the reaction at the Sundance Film Festival » . At the time of his death , Ledger had just finished playing the villain The Joker in `` The Dark Knight , '' the latest installment in the Batman series . The film is to open in July . Ledger was born in Perth , Australia , and named Heathcliff Andrew after the main characters of Emily Bronte 's `` Wuthering Heights . '' He began acting at a local theater as a child . Find out more about the actor » . Ledger 's first American film was the teen comedy `` 10 Things I Hate About You '' in 1999 , and he immediately attracted attention from Hollywood . He passed up several scripts before taking a role in the Revolutionary War drama `` The Patriot '' in 2000 and `` A Knight 's Tale '' in 2001 . He also played a supporting role in `` Monster 's Ball , '' among other films . See a photo gallery of Ledger 's life and career » . `` In a way I was spoon-fed a career , '' he told the Glasgow Herald in 2005 . `` It was fully manufactured by a studio that believed it could put me on their posters and turn me into a product . ... I had n't figured out properly how to act , and all of a sudden I was being thrown into these lead roles . '' Controversial role . But Ledger was perhaps best known for his 2005 portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in `` Brokeback Mountain , '' about two cowboys who had a secret romantic relationship . The role earned him an Oscar nomination . `` I felt that choices were being made for me , so I feel this has been my time now to find the good stories and test myself , '' Ledger told the Glasgow Herald in the 2005 interview . `` It has been an interesting year , where I finally have a sense of accomplishment . '' Asked how he felt about filming love scenes with another man , Ledger said he and his co-star Jake Gyllenhaal simply focused on their roles . `` We ca n't say that we were n't nervous about it , '' Ledger told Oprah Winfrey in 2006 . `` But once the first take was over , it 's like , 'OK . So what ? It 's kissing another human being . How are we going to finish this scene ? Let 's get on with it and let 's get out of here . ' `` In a written statement , the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said it mourns Ledger 's death , adding that his portrayal of Del Mar `` changed hearts and minds in immeasurable ways . '' Ledger has a daughter , Matilda Rose , born in 2005 to his then-girlfriend , Michelle Williams , who played his on-screen wife , Alma , in `` Brokeback Mountain . '' The couple have since separated . `` He was just so respected in the industry , '' said Kim Serafin , senior editor of In Touch Weekly . `` It 's just horribly tragic . He was just a fine actor and a good person , so this is horribly sad and very unexpected . '' E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Deb Feyerick , Susan Chun , Miguel Susana and Eden Pontz contributed to this story .
NEW : Ledger 's family calls his death `` very tragic , untimely and accidental '' An autopsy will be conducted Wednesday . The cause of the accident is still under investigation but it appears that a car struck him as he was crossing the street in front of an apartment building on West 23rd Street around 1:30 a.m. The Academy Award-nominated actor was the father of a young daughter .