Accidental Pill Overdose Killed Heath Ledger

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Accidental Pill Overdose Killed Heath Ledger

February 6, 2008

The Dark Knight star Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of painkillers, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication and other prescription drugs, the New York City medical examiner said Wednesday.

The cause of death was "acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine," spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said in a statement.

The drugs are the generic names for the painkiller OxyContin, the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax, and the sleep aids Restoril and Unisom. Hydrocodone is a widely used prescription painkiller.

Borakove wouldn't say what concentrations of each drug were found in Ledger's blood, or whether one drug played a greater part than another in causing his death.

"What you're looking at here is the cumulative effects of these medications together," she said.

The ruling comes two weeks after the 28-year-old Australian-born actor was found dead in the bed of his rented SoHo apartment. Police found bottles of six types of prescription drugs, including sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication, in his bedroom and bathroom.

Ledger was discovered by his masseuse on Jan. 22 after she arrived for an appointment that afternoon. She entered his bedroom to set up for the massage and found him unresponsive, and proceeded to call Mary-Kate Olsen three times over the next 9 minutes before dialing 911. Ledger had been dead for some time, and police say no foul play occurred.

In a statement released through Ledger's publicist, Ledger's father, Kim, said Wednesday: "While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage."

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Posted by: ted on February 13, 2008 at 15:30:53

rest in peace mate

Posted by: J on February 25, 2008 at 20:15:27

very tragic, very unfortunate.

I was surprised to see Mary-Kate Olsen on here. How is she connected to Ledger? Why would the masseuse call Mary-Kate before calling 911??? Even if he passed already, it is still a weird thing to do.

Posted by: shanna blagg on February 28, 2008 at 05:04:11

i think its a tragedy cause he was so young and i loved heath ledger he was an awsome actor i loved him in 10 things i hate about you but this gose to show everybody that all the stress of being famous leads to death sometimes its sad but true well miss u heith love ya and ur memory will live on through ur children

Posted by: i8urpillz on April 1, 2008 at 13:43:49

Hello?!?!?!?!,

If you cried when he died....Wait till you see "Dark Knight"...He'll put a SMILE on your face!!!!

Posted by: ronny agung surono on June 7, 2008 at 06:14:03

well....i've seen this film for about 25 times. the weird things is... i felt so sad and i felt a strange feeling about those characters. especially ennis del mar. i dont even know that heith is already passed away. the point is, i loved what heith plays for ennis. well may god bless his soul, and give him a good place inside our heart.
I LOVED U ENNIS HEITH LEDGER' DEL MAR
ur biggest fan.. RONNY

Posted by: crap on June 7, 2008 at 10:10:54

im glad he`s dead

Posted by: winged avenger on June 7, 2008 at 11:19:53

Very disrespectfull

Posted by: Devesh on June 7, 2008 at 12:07:55

"crap" is going to hell.

Posted by: afriend on July 11, 2008 at 22:23:05

I think heath ledger was an amzing actor. He was a very wonderful person also. He is loved by many.. We are very sad that his life had to end so soon right when it was just beginning. Heath you are missed! -Bless you

Posted by: afriend on July 11, 2008 at 22:23:42

I think heath ledger was an amzing actor. He was a very wonderful person also. He is loved by many.. We are very sad that his life had to end so soon right when it was just beginning. Heath you are missed! -Bless you

Posted by: Jedi_Knight_Bus on July 12, 2008 at 01:01:47

I saw him once in a Starbuck's in Burbank, CA. So tragic. Too young. Did anyone see him in I'm Not There, I think that may be a good example of how he felt being a celebrity. I believe that it was an accident.

RIP Heath Ledger

Posted by: lycanthrope on July 12, 2008 at 02:08:29

On the night of July 17th at 12:01, we ca all look at the sky and see the brightest star and know its you, its your time to shine heath.

Posted by: Melissa Concepcion on July 21, 2008 at 17:25:46

I saw The Dark Night last night and he was amazing in that film.

Posted by: vin(melbourne) on July 23, 2008 at 12:59:31

RIP.truly a good performance in The Dark Knight... we will surely miss u the following sequels if ever... and in future movies..

U always shine mate..

Posted by: lo on July 30, 2008 at 15:37:08

All i know is Heath was HOTT and so was his accent. I'm gonna miss his sexy ass on the screen.

Posted by: Diane Rendall on August 11, 2008 at 10:35:25

One of the greats in the making.
Sad loss to the movie community and fans.

Posted by: Heath Ledger Fan on December 13, 2008 at 20:54:52

He was such a great actor and person and its so sad that he left behind his young daughter too face the world without her dad. And god bless you Michelle for being so strong!

Posted by: Desi on December 27, 2008 at 09:19:07

I love Heith Ledger! When i first saw the Dark Knight i fell in love with him!!!!

Rest in peace

Posted by: gary richards on January 4, 2009 at 21:49:17

He was a good actor. Its crazy how this movie was. I mean look at all the other actors and he for sure out played them. I congratulate him because he gave his life for something he most definitely loved. RIP

Posted by: Terry Walker on January 5, 2009 at 00:33:16

Did Heath have neuroleptic malignant syndrome
catatonia? Why would any doctor put a person
on three different benzodiazepines at one time
plus to pain killers. The worst is it is
probably the interaction of the antihistamine
that killed him? Massage therapy and one of
the benzodiazepine was probably all he needed!

Posted by: Pennylane on January 15, 2009 at 07:31:54

i think like that: if he accepted the role in the movie the dark knight it means that he wanted to do it until the end right? if he wanted to commit suicide he could reject it or take a break from shooting movies. second of all, a young man and smart , as i read he was, could't make this kind of errors by taking overdose, i think. and the most important factor of his life, was his baby girl. how can you make such stupid gestures when knowing you have a baby?? i think someone placed the pills willingly in his room making all look like a overdose or suicide, by forcing him. all is so confusing, i think there are many theories, but with all the ny police and fbi all will be resolved. i think everybody should think only of his loss.... not comment anything else... respect people for those who are not around us anymore...

Posted by: Apochi Vaughn Taghogho on June 19, 2009 at 08:03:12

Hey firstly i must sincerely say I am so sorry that this lovely actor has passed, well what do we say? Heath you never said good bye so sad, no goodbye not even to Mary-Kate Olsen. well my friend Mary is his friend and he had called her to meet him up that day, the masseuse knows about that. May your Great memory last long enough. peace from your Nigerian friend Vaughn!

Posted by: riderishot on June 19, 2009 at 10:21:27

pennylane,
in your post sound abit true. it dont make no sense a man with a child suddenly decide to kill himself. personally I think it was a cover up of what really happen. this sound to much like marilyn monroe death they said she died on a over dose but in fact she knew to much on the kenndys and joe dimaggio mix up in government coruption so they had to make it look like personal suicide. like what the media trying to make heath ledger look like.

Posted by: Almost died from same kind of accident on June 22, 2009 at 13:32:31

How is it that he took Ambien at first (side effect that you can walk,talk, eat, drive,all sorts of things while not awake,,,it was Sominex?? See Glen Becks show about it. Smell a pay off???

Posted by: Jen on July 8, 2009 at 05:24:37

I loved Heath Ledger, loved him as the Joker, but the details surrounding his death just scream cover-up. And who sleeps w/ rolled $20 bills in and next to the bed if they are not snorting something? I do not really care if he had a drug problem, there should have been more questions on why Olsen was called 3 times before 911 was called.

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