Ledger was ‘in a great place,’ not on drugs, loved ones say

Results of an autopsy were
inconclusive.

By TOM HAYS and

KAREN MATTHEWS

ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITERS

NEW YORK (AP) — Funeral arrangements for Heath Ledger have been completed and his relatives were expected to arrive in New York today, a funeral home spokesman said.

George Amado, the general manager of the Frank E. Campbell funeral home, refused to disclose further details, saying any additional information would have to come from Ledger’s manager.

“The family doesn’t want us to give out any information,” he said Thursday.

To many who saw Heath Ledger in the last months of his life, the actor appeared to be happy, healthy and excited — “in a great place,” in the words of one friend.

Which only made his sudden end feel more tragic.

Haydn Ledger, one of the 28-year-old actor’s uncles, said his nephew wouldn’t have done anything rash. “It just wouldn’t come into the equation at all,” he said Thursday in an interview on CBS’ “The Early Show.”

He and Mike Ledger, another of the actor’s uncles, deflected a question about whether their nephew had been depressed, saying that should be left to his parents to address.

Ledger told The New York Times in November that working on the films “The Dark Knight” and “I’m Not There” had been stressful, and that he was struggling with sleeplessness and had taken the sleep aid Ambien.

Medical examiner’s office spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said that an autopsy Wednesday was inconclusive and that authorities would know more in about 10 days, when more tests are expected to be complete.

Ledger’s housekeeper and a massage therapist found the actor dead Tuesday, lying naked and face-down on his bed, police said.

There were six different types of prescription drugs in the room, including pills to treat insomnia and anxiety, and an antihistamine, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

A rolled-up $20 bill was found on the floor near the bed, but New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said lab tests found nothing to indicate the bill had been used to snort drugs. Police also said no illegal drugs were found in the apartment.

Lee Daniels, who produced the critically acclaimed 2001 movie “Monster’s Ball,” in which Ledger starred, strongly disputed any notion that Ledger had a drug problem.

“The definition of substance abuse is really up to one’s perspective,” Daniels said. “I didn’t see him as a drug addict. I saw him as someone who enjoyed life. I know drug addicts — he was not a drug addict.”

The law enforcement officials said three of the drugs were prescribed in Europe. Ledger had recently been filming in London.

Daniels also said the Australian-born actor was in great spirits when they saw each other a few months ago.

“He was in a good mood, he was in a great place ... he was excited about living in New York,” Daniels said.

Police said Ledger probably died between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Tuesday. At 1 p.m., the housekeeper went into his bedroom to change a light bulb, saw him sleeping and heard him snoring.

“I didn’t think anything was wrong,” the housekeeper, Teresa Solomon, told the New York Post. She said she was “still shaking” and unable to sleep a day after the actor’s death.

At 2:45 p.m., the massage therapist showed up for Ledger’s appointment, knocked on his door and got no answer. She later noticed Ledger was unconscious and called actress Mary-Kate Olsen, whose number was programmed into Ledger’s cell phone, to seek advice, police said.

Olsen said she would send over her private security. In the ensuing moments, the massage therapist realized that Ledger might be dead, called Olsen again, and then called 911. Paramedics — and Olsen’s security people — arrived minutes later.

News of the death stunned family, fans and colleagues.

“Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life,” said Ang Lee, who directed Ledger to an Oscar nomination in the 2005 film “Brokeback Mountain.” “He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined — a thirst for life, for love and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking.”

Before moving to Manhattan, Ledger lived with then-girlfriend Michelle Williams in a four-story, sage-green Brooklyn brownstone with a black wrought-iron fence. Ledger was a frequent guest at the Brawta Caribbean Cafe two blocks from the house, owner Jennifer Ewers said.

“He was a perfect gentleman. He comes in here with his hoodie on, reads a book, and gives you a peace sign,” she said. “He was always with his daughter, playing hide-and-seek among the plants, or on his skateboard, peeking his head in.”