Heath Ledger’s cause of death and reason he left daughter out of will

Heath Ledger died in January 2008. (Image: Getty)

The devastating news of Heath Ledger’s untimely death sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry 16 years ago today.

Aged just 28, the gifted actor was discovered lifeless in bed by his masseuse, leaving behind his cherished daughter Matilda, now 19, whom he shared with former partner Michelle Williams.

The Australian actor had been perfecting his iconic portrayal of The Joker for Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight and had recently taken up residence in a Manhattan rental after parting ways with Michelle.

On the ill-fated day of January 22, 2008, his housekeeper entered at 12:30pm to discover him in bed face down, enveloped by his sheets up to his shoulders. According to reports, she initially left him to rest after changing a light bulb and hearing what she believed to be snoring.

By 3pm, massage therapist Diana Wolozin arrived only to find no response from Heath’s room or his phone. After setting up for the appointment inside his room, her attempt to wake him turned to horror as she realised he was cold to the touch and beyond help.

Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment aged 28. (Image: Getty)

Diana dialled 911 where she was reportedly instructed by an operator on how to perform CPR until first responders arrived shortly after. Medics attempted resuscitation and employed a cardiac defibrillator before the Brokeback Mountain actor was declared deceased at 3:36pm.

A post-mortem examination by the New York medical examiner found that his death was due to acute intoxication after ingesting a mix of prescription drugs. His death was declared accidental.

Anti-anxiety medications, painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone and sleeping aids were detected in his system, reports the Mirror.

In the run-up to his death, there had been concerns among Ledger's loved ones regarding his escalating dependence on prescription drugs.

His sister Kate had reportedly cautioned him to eliminate some of his prescribed drugs just one day before his death.

Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger split shortly before his death. (Image: Getty)

Their father, Kim, told news.com.au: "It just put his whole system to sleep I guess. It was a one-off thing. That's what killed us, because he was warned by his sister the night before, 'You shouldn't mix what you're taking for pneumonia with your Ambien'.

"He was a young guy that travelled all the time for work. Even as a two-year-old, he hardly ever slept. He was trying to work and travel and do everything in a short space of time."

His will left nothing to Michelle Williams and their two-year-old daughter because it was filed in Australia in 2003 and never updated.

Instead, the actor left everything to his parents and three sisters.

The documents did not reveal the size of his estate but said that Heath had less than $145,000 in New York assets at the time, including a $25,000 Toyota Prius and $20,000 in furniture.

Heath Ledger's daughter Matilda was left out of his will. (Image: Getty)

A few months after his death, the family decided to donate his entire estate to Matilda.

Heath’s father told PEOPLE in September 2008: “Our family has gifted everything to Matilda. That was the plan from the moment my boy passed away.

“There was never any question about the fact that Heath's estate would go to Matilda. Never a question. We are very close to Michelle and Matilda."

Michelle is now married to theatre director Thomas Kail and they have two children together. They welcomed their son Hart in 2020 and a baby born in 2022, whose name and gender have remained anonymous.