Heath Ledger Was Found in Rented Apartment with Rolled up 20$ Bill near Him — Inside the Day He Died at 28

• Heath Ledger was discovered lying lifeless in his rented apartment in New York City on January 22, 2008.
• The conclusive cause of his demise was identified as an accidental overdose of prescription medications.
• A rolled-up $20 bill was found near him, but its connection to his death remains uncertain.

Heath Ledger, an Australian actor, gained prominence through his roles in notable films like "10 Things I Hate About You," "The Patriot," "A Knight's Tale," "Monster's Ball," "Brokeback Mountain," and "The Dark Knight." Widely recognized as one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation, Ledger garnered acclaim and awards for his outstanding performances.

He was also a devoted father, a passionate environmentalist, and a budding director. However, his life was cut short on January 22, 2008, at the age of 28, and his body was discovered lying on the floor next to a rolled-up $20 bill. Let's take a look inside the life and career of Ledger, his final hours and days, and his legacy and impact on the film industry and the world.

In 2005, Ledger achieved widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar, a closeted gay cowboy engaging in a forbidden romance with Jake Gyllenhaal's character in Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain." The film resonated as both a critical and commercial success, garnering Ledger nominations for Best Actor at prestigious awards, including the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award.

Ledger also met his future partner, Michelle Williams, on the film's set. The couple fell in love and moved to Brooklyn, New York, where they welcomed their daughter, Matilda Rose, on October 28, 2005. Ledger continued to work on diverse and challenging projects, such as "Casanova," "Lords of Dogtown," "Candy," "I'm Not There," and "The Dark Knight."

He also directed and produced several music videos and expressed his desire to become a film director. He was praised for his dedication, professionalism, and creativity by his colleagues and peers. He was also involved in various causes, such as supporting the Australian film industry, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, and campaigning for environmental issues.

However, Ledger also faced personal and professional challenges, such as coping with the pressures of fame, dealing with media scrutiny, struggling with insomnia and anxiety, and breaking up with Williams in 2007. There is speculation that certain roles, particularly his portrayal of the Joker in "The Dark Knight," may have had an impact on Ledger's mental and physical well-being.

He also experimented with various prescription drugs to help him sleep and relax. As his friend and dialect coach, Gerry Grennell would later reveal, Ledger's insomnia persisted even after taking sleeping pills. Grennell witnessed this while staying with Ledger while filming "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus."

His nights were so restless that Grennell would hear him roaming the apartment while he was supposed to be resting. He recounted, "I would hear him wandering around the apartment, and I'd get up and say, 'Come on, man, get back to bed. You have to work tomorrow," to which Ledger would reply, "I can't sleep, man."

Grennell recalls that the actor was dealing with a pneumonia-like illness that he was trying to shake off and that he was in a low mood. Describing the actor's demeanor during his final weeks, the dialect coach says he was "exhausted, emotionally and physically."

Ledger's costar Djimon Hounsou from "The Four Feathers" said that not long before the actor's death, he had run into him. He recalled noticing a significant change in the actor, which worried him. He said, "I hadn't seen him for a couple of years, and, 'Wow, Heath has this change.' But the way he has changed kind of got me a little concerned."

On the other hand, his sister Kate remembers him as being happy. However, she was aware that her brother was grappling with an illness, and she cautioned him to handle his medications with care a few weeks prior to his passing. She recalled, "I just said, 'You've got to be very careful mixing things,' and he was like, 'Katie, hello, come on, of course.'"

In their last phone conversation just before his passing, she recalls a cheerful exchange as she made dinner. She said, "We were laughing. Then he said, 'I've got to go, and I'll call you at 8:30 in the morning.' That was our last conversation.'"

Ledger's longtime agent and friend, Steve Alexander, also spoke to the actor the evening before his passing as the actor was out shopping for dinner. He recalls their conversation being lighthearted. He narrated, "We had a great chat. He sounded super happy, all good, nothing out of the ordinary."

Matt Amato, a close friend and director, shares a similar sentiment, having spoken to Ledger on the day he passed away. Despite being aware of Ledger's illness and demanding workload, Amato noted that Ledger still found the energy for humor.

According to Amato, Ledger's last words to him were, "I'm going out to buy some cigs." In response, Amato joked, "Figs," and that concluded their final exchange. They had a penchant for making terrible puns, and this playful banter was a running joke between them.

In late 2007, Ledger completed his portrayal of the Joker in "The Dark Knight" and relocated to a rented apartment in SoHo, Manhattan. Concurrently, he engaged in the filming of Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," where he took on one of the character's incarnations. During this period, he expressed enthusiasm about his forthcoming projects and anticipated quality time with his daughter.

However, on January 22, 2008, Ledger was found unconscious in his bedroom by his housekeeper and his masseuse, who had arrived for a scheduled appointment. He was curled up on the floor at the foot of his bed in his rented apartment, where he used to pay $25000 monthly. They tried to revive him and called 911, but it was too late. Ledger was pronounced dead at 3:45 p.m. He was 28 years old.

The police found several bottles of prescription drugs in his apartment, including painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medications. They also found prescription drugs and a rolled-up $20 bill near his body, but tests later revealed that it had no drug residue on it. The police ruled out foul play and suicide and concluded that Ledger's death was an accident.

Ledger's death shocked and saddened the world, especially his family, friends, fans, and colleagues. He was widely mourned and honored by the film industry and the public, who remembered him as a talented, charismatic, and kind-hearted person. His funeral was held in Perth on February 9, 2008, and was attended by his family and close friends.

Ledger's final films, "The Dark Knight" and "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," were released posthumously and dedicated to his memory. He received universal acclaim and numerous awards for his performance as the Joker, including the Academy Award, the BAFTA Award, the Golden Globe Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor.

His family accepted the awards on his behalf and paid tribute to his legacy and his daughter. Ledger's daughter Matilda is now 18 years old. Ledger's life and career have been the subject of several documentaries, books, and articles, such as "I Am Heath Ledger," "Too Young to Die," and "The Last Days of Heath Ledger."

He has also been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a scholarship in his name by Australians in Film, and a theater named after him in Perth. He is widely regarded as one of the best actors of his generation and one of the most influential and iconic figures in film history.