Heath Ledger's Joker figure selling out fast

Heath Ledger may be gone, but commerce lives forever. The New York Post says toy stores across town are selling out of a plastic version of the Joker from The Dark Knight so quickly, they can’t keep shelves stocked.

The $9.99 action figure has been ending up on eBay at a substantial markup, including at least one seat of the Joker and Batman going for $55. “There are none left in the warehouse, either,” a Toys R Us employee told the paper. “You will be waiting a while if you want one.”

Of course, it’s entirely possible they’re just selling out like toys from all summer blockbusters sell out, but either way, we can’t help but think it’s a pretty macabre tribute to Ledger.

Rocky, the bear from 'Semi Pro,' kills trainer

Rocky, the 7-foot, 700-pound grizzly bear that wrestled with Will Ferrell in Semi Pro, killed his trainer Tuesday, ABC News and the AP report. Stephan Miller, 39, was bitten on the neck while working with Rocky alongside two other trainers in Los Angeles and died before help arrived.

"He, unfortunately, bit one of the trainers," Maurice Moore of the San Bernadino Fire Department said. "A single bite to the neck, no aggression acts to follow. ... San Bernadino Big Bear City was the first on scene. They did CPR but to no avail."

The trainers used pepper spray to gain control of the bear, whom Miller's cousin and fellow trainer Randy Miller called "the best working bear in the business." In a creep factor of 8.5, Randy Miller told the San Bernadino Sun in February, "If one of these animals gets a hold of your throat, you're finished."

Cameron Diaz is getting 'medical attention'

We declare a snark-free zone while updating you on Cameron Diaz, whose father Emilio died of pneumonia last week. Her What Happens In Vegas co-star Ashton Kutcher addressed the press in London, saying he would be promoting their new movie alone for awhile, the U.K.'s Sun reports.

"Sadly she will not be joining us for the premiere as she has just lost her father and is under medical attention with stress at the moment. But she will be better soon," Kutcher said. "I will be telling her of your get well soon wishes and condolences following her father's passing on."

And for a dose of "aw that's nice," ex-boyfriends Justin Timberlake and John Mayer attended a memorial service for Emilio on Sunday in California. The family has suggested donations to Surfrider.org or Reefcheck.org in the 58-year-old's name.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Martha Stewart says goodbye to Paw Paw

In keeping with an apparent theme of sad news in today's Juice*, we say goodbye to Martha Stewart's dog, Kublai Khan Paw Paw Chow Chow Chow. The 60-pound chow was almost 13 when he died of renal failure on Saturday.

"Paw Paw was a spectacular chow and an even more spectacular dog," Stewart wrote in a blog post. "He was always my loyal companion, displaying the most agreeable temperament."

Not only did the blog post mourn his passing, it showed several photos of poor Paw Paw with all the friends in his life, including Stewart's other dogs, Francesca and Sharkey, who paid their final respects to the chow before he was "laid to rest amidst the crocus and greening grass" on her upstate New York property.

Why do we feel like more people care about this than Cameron Diaz's poor dad?

[Photo: AP]

Cameron Diaz's father dies from pneumonia

Production of Cameron Diaz's current film, My Sister's Keeper, has shut down after the sad news that the actress' father, Emilio Diaz, died of pneumonia on Tuesday.

TMZ says the Seal Beach, Calif., resident was 58. He was a second generation Cuban-American who worked for an oil company.

Diaz will likely be cancelling more than movie shoots. She is not expected to attend a private party by British GQ and Dunhill hosted by Elton John this week, or the London premiere of What Happens in Vegas. Emilio is survived by Cameron, his wife Billie, and his other daughter, Chimene.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Heath Ledger love child rumors are so untrue

Don't go trust Australian reports that Heath Ledger had a love child with a 25-year-old woman when he was 17 just yet. Ok! magazine (the same one being deceptive about its Britney Spears diet coverage) says that's not the case. The husband of the unnamed woman has said it's all so much B.S., and the couple will submit their daughter to a DNA test to prove it.

"The whole thing with Ledger being the father is not true. No way. No can be. We knew it would flare up and that is the point of my talking and the simple thing is we will do a DNA test," he said. "I'm the step-dad, but there's nothing to hide and if I asked the mother I'm sure that she wouldn't mind having a DNA test."

Of course, neither this man nor the woman in question -- who refused to answer questions, except to say "There's no background, there's no grounds, there's no nothing" -- are named, so as far as we know the whole thing was made up by Sydney's Daily Telegraph to sell newspapers. Who knew media outlets would spread rumors without verifying them?

[Photo: Getty Images]

Sean Levert's family wants FBI to probe death

The family of Sean Levert, who died after a medical emergency in the Cuyahoga County jail in Cleveland, want the FBI to get to the bottom of what happened. His cousin, Michael Gibson, said the 39-year-old singer had never before had an outburst like the one authorities are describing, the AP says.

Levert, who was serving a one-year, 10-month sentence for failing to pay $89,025 in child support, was allegedly pounding on the door of his cell Sunday night, prompting guards to strap him to a chair. His breathing became shallow and he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died less than an hour later.

FBI spokesman Scott Wilson says agents will meet with the family, but toxicology reports are still pending. Seems to us pounding on a cell door would be the thing to do if we felt like we were dying.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Heath Ledger may have secret Aussie love child

Apparently a sufficient amount of time has passed since Heath Ledger's death that all the atrocious stuff associated with celebrities kicking starts to come out. To wit: Australia's Daily Telegraph says Ledger may have fathered a secret love child.

A 17-year-old schoolboy Heath allegedly had an affair with an older woman who was living with another man at the time. After Heath and the woman broke it off, she discovered she was pregnant with a daughter, the paper claims.

"There is a very real possibility that Heath was the father," Heath's uncle Hadyn Ledger said. If true, that means estate claims would have to be split with Matilda Rose, Heath's two-year-old daughter with Michelle Williams. Of course, we wouldn't be surprised to hear this is some grand money-stealing scheme launched by the dreadful, outcast Ledger uncles, but we'll just have to wait and see.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Drug overdose killed Anna Nicole Smith's son

A year and a half after the fact, a jury in the Bahamas has ruled Monday that Daniel Smith, the 20-year-old son of Anna Nicole Smith, died from an accidental drug overdose, the AP reports.

The seven-member jury recommended no criminal charges against anyone for anything after saying the cause was "nondependent use of drugs," meaning he wasn't addicted and didn't know the drugs in his body would kill him. He died on Sept. 10, 2006, after coming to the Bahamas to meet his new baby sister, who was subsequently named Dannielynn Hope after him. Poor mama died early in 2007 from the very same thing.

But that doesn't mean Anna's mom Virgie Arthur isn't going to still try and cash in. She still thinks (like most of us) that her daughter's boyfriend, Howard K. Stern, was somehow responsible.

"We don't think it makes any sense," Arthur's attorney Neil McCabe said. "The boy was not a drug user, the judge said so. Why would he all of a sudden take a massive dose of methadone?"

Maybe he realized what a mess his family was and needed relief. What, too soon?

[Photo: Getty Images]

Sean Levert dies after medical emergency in jail

R&B's version of the Kennedy family took another hit this weekend, as Sean Levert died after a medical emergency in a Cleveland-area jail. He was sentenced just last week to one year and 10 months for not paying $85,000 in child support.

The 39-year-old singer was taken out of the Cuyahoga County jail around 11 p.m. Sunday night and rushed to a hospital and died within the hour, the AP reports. Autopsy and toxicology reports are pending, but Levert had high blood pressure and had been hallucinating in jail, coroner's office spokesman Powell Caesar. That would usually be an indication something is wrong.

"There was nothing that would show any of this," Warden Kevin McDonough said. "He had an illness while he was here and it turned into an emergency at that time."

If you'll remember, Sean's brother Gerald died in 2006 at age 40 after an accidental mix of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Both men -- who comprised the trio LeVert with friend Marc Gordon -- are the children of Eddie Levert, who was lead singer of the O'Jays.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Heath Ledger was probably worth some money

We'd like to let Heath Ledger rest in peace, but as you know, his family has been fighting over his money. Remember how dad Kim said his assets were worth $145,000? Sure doesn't seem like a lot, and there's a reason why.

TMZ points out that the $145k figure was from when the will was drafted -- in 2003! Since then he did a couple small movies including Lords of Dogtown, The Brothers Grimm, Brokeback Mountain and some flick called The Dark Knight.

Not only did he have plenty more cash than that, but like all rich people he was smart enough to park it places besides tax-happy U.S. banks. And while the site says an uncle posits he was worth as much as $60 million, which is unlikely, there's surely no doubt Michelle Williams and baby Matilda will get a pretty penny -- if the Ledgers sort it out fairly, that is.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Corinne Bailey Rae's husband Jason is dead

The husband of Grammy-nominated Brit singer Corinne Bailey Rae was found dead in an apartment in the English city of Leeds on Saturday, the AP reports.

Toxicology reports are still due to determine what killed 31-year-old Jason Rae, police said. A 32-year-old man was arrested for allegedly selling Jason drugs, but the suspect has been released on bail.

Jason was manager for Corinne, who is known for her 2006 hit, Put Your Records On. He played saxophone for the Haggis Horns, who have backed up Amy Winehouse in the past. He married Corinne in 2001 after meeting her in a jazz club, but he apparently had plenty of drug issues.

"He partied a lot and had struggled with drugs for years," a source told the U.K.'s Daily Mail.

Suicide at Mel Gibson's house is identified

The body of a construction worker found dead at a Agoura Hills property owned by Mel Gibson has been identified as Michael John Van Dyke, a 48-year-old former foreman on several movie sets, TMZ reports.

Gibson's reps tell the site he feels "terrible" about the incident, in which Van Dyke was found hanged early Wednesday in a house addition being built on property located less than a mile from Mel's Holy Family Catholic Church. There is no connection to Gibson.

Van Dyke has worked as a construction foreman on movies like The Matrix Reloaded, Dr. Dolittle 2, Star Trek: Nemesis and Karate Kid II. TMZ says people who worked with Van Dyke say he had financial problems following a messy divorce a few years ago.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Busey's sorry, Busta's slapped, Minghella's gone and Halle Berry's baby has a name

• Gary Busey has apologized for oozing all over Jennifer Garner on the Oscars red carpet last month, saying, “I meant no disrespect to Ms. Jennifer Garner when I met her at the Oscars and apologize if I made her uncomfortable,” the AP reports. Good thing, too, because Ben Affleck was this close to maybe thinking about saying something.

• Busta Rhymes was sentenced to three years’ probation Tuesday for beating up his former driver and a fan, plus 10 days of community service, a $1,250 fine and court costs, and enroll in a DUI program, the AP says. Good thing, too, because the criminal justice system was this close to maybe thinking about working for once.

• And on a sad note, Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella (above) died Tuesday of a hemorrhage following surgery in London. He was 54. That’s a bad thing, because we were maybe thinking Hollywood would make more good movies like The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain.

• Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry have decided to name their daughter Nahla Ariela Aubry, an Arabic-based name that means “drink of water,” Reuters says. That should slake your gossip thirst.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Heath Ledger's will causing some family friction

While we reported yesterday that Heath Ledger’s daughter Matilda Rose and her mother, Michelle Williams, were not included in the actor’s will, there’s good and bad news to add to the story.

The good news: Heath’s parents and three sisters intend to help out, as they’ve said in the past.

“Matilda is our absolute priority, and Michelle is an integral part of our family,” Heath’s father Kim said. “They will be taken care of and that’s how Heath would want it to be.”

But the bad news comes via the U.K.’s Telegraph, which says the family is already having some fights over the money.

It seems Kim’s two brothers, Mike and Hadyn Ledger, have been yapping about the estate, with Hadyn spouting, “I have concerns about the distribution of funds.” Never mind those two uncles haven’t kept in touch with the rest of the fam for some time.

“It is sad at this extremely difficult time in our lives, while we are grieving the loss of our beloved son that estranged family members publicly discuss matters they have not been privy to in the past or now,” Kim said. “We hope for Matilda’s sake they will remain dignified.”

We hope for decency’s sake the entire family won’t use a 2-year-old as a pawn in a quest for cash.

[Photo: Vincent Fantauzzo's painting, 'Heath.' Getty Images]

Heidi Montag's stepbrother killed in accident

Heidi Montag’s stepbrother, Eric O’Hara, was killed last week at the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel in Steamboat Springs, Colo., the Rocky Mountain News reports. The 24-year-old Iraq and Afghanistan veteran was removing snow from a roof when he slipped and fell.

“Losing my brother, at an early age, is such a tragedy,” Montag said in a statement. “I just loved him more than anything. He was just so patriotic. He really wanted to go to Iraq and help and do all that he could for his country. He felt like it was his duty. I’ll really miss him.”

Heidi’s father, Bill Montag, is married to O’Hara’s mother, Terri. “Having made it through 15 months in Iraq, and then to have this happen, it’s really tough,” O’Hara’s uncle Dave Patston told the News.

In lighter news, Heidi has a duet with Britney Spears (rumored to be engineered by Spencer Pratt) that got airplay on Ryan Seacrest's radio show. Listen to that thing here.

DEA investigates Heath Ledger's doctors

While Mary-Kate Olsen dodged investigation by the authorities after Heath Ledger’s death, TMZ says the doctors who prescribed the drugs found in his system aren’t so lucky.

The site says the DEA is looking into at least two docs involved in the situation. The agency apparently subpoenaed documents from the NYPD and the New York Medical Examiner’s office to find out where all those prescriptions came from — and whether they were even prescribed by doctors in the first place.

For the record, Heath “died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine,” according to the ME.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Roy Scheider dies in Little Rock at 75

Actor Roy Scheider, best known for his role as the police chief in the 1975 blockbuster Jaws, died Sunday at a hospital in Little Rock, Ark., after being treated the past two years for multiple myeloma. He was 75.

Known for uttering one of the best-known movie lines of the last 35 years (“You’re gonna need a bigger boat”), Scheider reprised his role in the semi-decent sequel Jaws 2, and had the good sense to escape the franchise before the stinkfests that were Jaws 3-D and Jaws: The Revenge.

Though he achieved enduring fame with his role in Jaws, his acting chops extended well beyond battling 25-foot sharks. He was twice nominated for Academy Awards — for his 1971 role as a tough street cop in The French Connection, and as director Bob Fosse in All That Jazz (1979).

His death leaves only Richard Dreyfuss alive among Jaws’ shark hunting trio: Robert Shaw died in 1978.

[Photo: Scheider in 2004. Getty Images]

Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose

The New York Chief Medical Examiner has determined that Heath Ledger died of an accidental drug overdose, multiple media sources are reporting.

"Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine," an announcement released Wednesday by spokeswoman Ellen Borakove read.

"We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications."

For those of you not familiar with those drugs, the AP breaks it down: Oxycodone is a painkiller marketed as OxyContin and used in other painkillers such as Percodan and Percocet; hydrocodone is used in a number of painkillers, including Vicodin. Diazepam and alprazolam are the generic names for the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax, and the other two drugs are sleep aids commonly sold under the brands Restoril and Unisom.

"This is a dangerous mixture of drugs," forensic patholigist Dr. Michael Hunter told People magazine. "We are seeing more and more people dying of poly-drug intoxication from prescription drugs and it usually a combination of the narcotic-type drugs seen here."

Hunter, who is not involved in the Ledger case, said it was unlikely that one doctor would prescribe all of those drugs to one person at one time. He also explains to People what the finding means.

"When they use the term abuse it tells us that he used drugs to obtain an intoxicant effect and not for a therapeutic reason," he said. "They must have determined through their investigation that the drugs were not for therapeutic use."

Ledger's father Kim issued a statement about the results shortly after the findings were announced.

"Today's results put an end to speculation, but our son's beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts," it read. "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."

Whether or not the dosage was low, that's enough drugs to put a bull elephant down for a nap. Now we're scared to see The Dark Knight, for fear of the nightmares it will give us.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Heath Ledger may be buried next to his grandparents in Perth

While details of Heath Ledger’s final resting place have yet to be announced, The Australian newspaper has said he will be interred in his hometown of Perth. The paper says Ledger will be buried next to two of his grandparents in a family plot. The AP can’t confirm the report because the actor’s publicist, Mara Buxbaum, has not responded to e-mails. Toxicology reports are due back later this week.

[Photo: AP]

Michelle Williams speaks about Heath Ledger

Michelle Williams, who hasn’t spoken much about Heath Ledger’s death since the actor was found dead in his Manhattan apartment, has released a statement pleading for privacy, the AP reports.

“Please respect our need to grieve privately. My heart is broken,” the statement released Friday reads. “I am the mother of the most tender-hearted, high-spirited, beautiful little girl who is the spitting image of her father. All that I can cling to is his presence inside her that reveals itself every day.

"His family and I watch Matilda as she whispers to trees, hugs animals, and takes steps two at a time, and we know that he is with us still. She will be brought up with the best memories of him.”

We’re just glad Entertainment Tonight and The Insider discovered shame and didn’t air that irrelevant video of him doing drugs almost two years ago.

[Photo: Getty Images]

'ET,' 'Insider' back off Heath Ledger drug tape

While we cross our fingers and wait to hear that Heath Ledger’s toxicology tests prove his death was only a tragic accident, Entertainment Tonight and The Insider have been trying to cash in on a grainy video taken more than two years ago showing the actor bumping rails at the Chateau Marmont and admitting to (gasp) smoking weed.

The shows reportedly spent $200,000 to obtain the tape, but the New York Daily News says the show has backed off from airing the video after pressure from Hollywood hotshots — because they can’t be trusted to rely on good taste, after all.

On the tape, shot Jan. 26, 2006, Ledger tells his pals, “I’m going to get serious s--- from my girlfriend (Michelle Williams). We just had a baby three months ago.” He also offers: “I used to smoke five joints a day for 20 years.” Wow, since he was six? That would put him on par with most of Southern California’s teenagers, we’d think.

But again, we fail to see how a video from 2006 says much of anything, since Ledger long ago admitted fighting drug addiction. Not every media outlet can be as scrupulous as The Juice*, we suppose.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Police don't want to talk to Mary-Kate Olsen

The NYPD are officially not going to question Mary-Kate Olsen in the death of Heath Ledger, despite gossipy news outlets from all over trying to make the whole affair sound sinister, the AP reports.

“There’s absolutely no indication investigators were going to speak to Mary-Kate Olsen,” police Commissioner Ray Kelly said at a press conference. “They determined that they had all the info needed from witnesses who were on scene: That’s the cleaning woman, the masseuse.”

The New York Post continues to try to make a mountain out of a molehill by speculating there is some crazy reason why masseuse Diane Lee Wolozin called Olsen once without getting through, then talking to her for 99 seconds during a second call, and finally calling her a third time before dialing 911.

Gee, there could be several legitimate reasons — Olsen has Sprint as her wireless carrier? She was out of anytime minutes? She was at another boyfriends house and didn’t want to talk to Heath at the moment? — so we’ll put this sad saga to bed for now, until the toxicology reports come back.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Mary-Kate Olsen, Heath Ledger's family speak

After blaring headlines from the New York Post and others declaring police were prepared to grill Mary-Kate Olsen over a series of phone calls made to her the day Heath Ledger died, police denied the claim, the AP says.

The tabloid had reported the NYPD wanted to know exactly why masseuse Diane Lee Wolozin, who found the actor unconscious in his bedroom Tuesday, called Olsen three times before dialing 911 for help, then again after making the emergency call. That’s just so much bunk, as cops said Olsen was not wanted for questioning.

The 24-year-old actress broke her silence on the event today, the same day a private viewing of Ledger was scheduled at the Frank E. Campbell funeral home in Manhattan. The media was not invited.

“Heath was a friend. His death is a tragic loss,” she said in a statement. “My thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time.” Rumors abound in several glossies that Olsen and Ledger had been dating for the last three months, but not exclusively.

“There is a private memorial service today and I also understand that there will be a public memorial service in Los Angeles later this week,” Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told the media Friday. Concerning whether Ledger’s body would be sent back to Australia for burial, he said, “This is a matter for the family to decide. Whatever decision they take Australia stands ready to help them.”

Before leaving for New York, Ledger’s family placed a death notice in The West Australian.

“As a close knit and very private family we have observed you so determined yet quietly travelling in your self-styled path in life, nothing would get in your way ... no mountain too tall, no river too wide,” read the notice, which was published today.

“You dreamed your dreams and lived them with passion and intelligent commitment. We have been privileged to accompany you on a ride through life that has simply been amazing and through it all we have loved each other beyond imagination. Our hearts are broken.”

[Photo: AP]

The Juice* says goodbye to Heath Ledger

I'm not going to lie to you, dear readers -- Heath Ledger's death has me pretty bummed out. I could spend all day trying to round up details of the talented 28-year-old actor's funeral (which we'll update at some point), but we at The Juice* would rather bring you the good times, courtesy his movies ...

Long before roles as Casanova, Ennis Del Mar and the Joker came along, I first remember seeing him in 2000's The Patriot, acting and looking for all the world like Mel Gibson's son. In fact, I had a distinct feeling that he was one day going to be a big star.

Mrs. Juice*, of course, recalls him earlier as Patrick in 1999's 10 Things I Hate About You, a performance my little former high-school soccer player describes as awful, but says Heath was hot enough to make up for it. And really, how can you go wrong trying to win over Julia Stiles with a Frankie Valli song?

But 2001's A Knight's Tale, a delightfully anachronistic yarn that has enjoyed heavy rotation on TNT (and therefore, repeated viewings on the Juice* family television), somehow captures his essence as an actor: fun-loving, out of the ordinary and pretty enjoyable.

And to tell you the truth, David Bowie's Golden Years never sounded better than it does today.

Mary-Kate Olsen was called for Heath Ledger; actor used to do drugs with Naomi Campbell; London set of his latest film shut down

There’s a reason why reports about Heath Ledger’s death initially said he was in Mary-Kate Olsen’s apartment — she was the first one contacted when his body was found.

The AP reports massage therapist Diana Wolozin picked up Ledger’s cell phone upon finding him unconscious and called Olsen because her number was programmed into his handset. Wolozin apparently knew Ledger and Olsen were friends (the New York tabloids say they were dating -- we thought he was seeing supermodel Helena Christensen), so she asked the twin for advice.

Olsen lives in Manhattan, but was in California at the time, so she send she would send over her private security guards to help. When Wolozin realized Ledger might be dead, she called Olsen back and then called 911.

Police are putting his time of death between 1 p.m. — when housekeeper Teresa Solomon arrived and let herself in with a key — and 2:45 p.m., when Wolozin arrived. Solomon told police she went to Ledger’s bedroom to change a light bulb but saw him sleeping and heard him snoring, so she left the room.

Further investigation has found that six different prescription drugs were found in the room, including pills to treat insomnia and anxiety and an antihistamine, the AP says. Three of the drugs were prescribed in Europe, where Ledger had been filming. Tests on a rolled-up $20 bill have come back negative for illegal drugs, proving it was, lo and behold, just a rolled-up $20 bill, despite a ContactMusic.com report that says Ledger used to do all sorts of drugs with Naomi Campbell.

Rebecca White, who was Campbell’s assistant for three years starting in 2001, tells the U.K.’s Sun that she regularly saw Ledger popping pills and snorting coke. “Heath asked Naomi if she had any cocaine — I used to carry it around for her — and I remember giving him the packet and he went off, back and forth throughout the night.”

At another event, “Naomi gave Heath a handful of these little blue pills and I remember him putting them all in his mouth at once and swigging a bottle of Cristal champagne.” White did say that Heath seemed to clean up his act after his daughter Matilda was born in 2005, though.

Funeral arrangements were made Thursday but details were not released. “The family doesn’t want us to give out any information,” said George Amado, the general manager of the Frank E. Campbell funeral home in Manhattan.

Meanwhile, the set of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Heath’s latest project, has been shut down, Us reports.

“I just got the call (Tuesday) saying everyone was being let go,” a source said. “We were supposed to start this weekend, but obviously they fired everyone (Wednesday). They don’t know yet what they are doing with the footage that was already shot.”

The shoot began in London in December, and Ledger was last photographed on set on Jan. 19.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Heath Ledger's autopsy results inconclusive; Rolled-up $20 bill found near Ledger's body; President delays prescription drug event

Results of Heath Ledger’s autopsy early Wednesday were inconclusive, the AP reports, and further tests are required to determine the cause of death. Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner, said it will take another 10 days to get the results.

The New York Post’s Page Six is reporting that no one outside the medical examiner’s office had seen the body, and no family or friends have yet visited the office. Early Wednesday, his ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams and their 2-year-old daughter Matilda left Trollhattan, Sweden, where the 27-year-old actress had been shooting scenes for the movie Mammoth, said Martin Stromberg, a spokesman for Memfis Film. “She received the news at her hotel late last night,” Stromberg said, adding he had not spoken to the actress after she learned of Ledger’s death.

TMZ has been reporting that Heath was sick with pneumonia when he died. The site also identified the housekeeper and masseuse who found him as Theresa Solomon, 56, and Diane Lee, 40, respectively. They apparently found him naked and face down at the foot of his bed. Speculation is rising that in any case, the death was accidental, and that is the "operating theory" NYPD is working with, the site says.

Ledger had previously told the New York Times he had been taking sleeping pills because his roles as the Joker in The Dark Knight and Bob Dylan in I’m Not There had kept him up at night. Bottles of prescription and over-the-counter sleeping aids and anti-anxiety medicines Xanax and Valium were found at the scene Tuesday, TMZ says. The AP also adds that a rolled-up $20 bill was found near his body, according to police, although it was unclear whether it may have been used to ingest drugs.

While we're in the speculation stage, the Sydney Morning Herald says the actor was on Ambien, which he has admitted taking. Product information for Ambien says that it should not be taken if you have a respiratory illness or shortness of breath.

In the wake of the surprising death, President Bush postponed a Wednesday event at the White House, where he was to announce an ad campaign about stopping prescription drug abuse, Page Six says.

“We thought it would be better to postpone the event,” press secretary Dana Perino said, “rather than run the risk of anyone thinking that we were being opportunistic in highlighting the issue.”

[Photos: Getty Images]

Heath Ledger found dead in a New York apartment; possible O.D. on sleeping pills

Updated 1:14 a.m.: Heath Ledger, who won an Oscar nomination for best actor for his role in Brokeback Mountain, was found dead in a Manhattan apartment on Tuesday. Signs point to suicide or an accidental overdose, police said.

The New York Times' City Room blog says a masseuse arrived at Apartment 5A on 421 Broome Street in SoHo with an appointment with Ledger. A housekeeper let the masseuse in and found Ledger naked and unconscious on a bed in the bedroom around 3:30 p.m., the AP says. They moved him to the floor and tried to revive him.

When he didn't wake up, they called police, who found both prescription and non-prescription sleeping pills on the nightstand, the New York Times reported. Ledger was pronounced dead at 3:35 p.m. He was 28.

"We are investigating the possibility of an overdose," NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said. Ledger was pronounced dead at 3:35 p.m. A spokeswoman for the city's chief medical examiner said an autopsy would be conducted today. TMZ says the actor had been sick with pneumonia.

Ledger told the New York Times in a November interview that he had trouble sleeping while portraying the Joker in the Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight, which is supposed to be released on July 18.

"Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," Ledger told the newspaper. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going." He said he took two Ambien pills, which only worked for an hour.

Initial reports said the apartment belonged to Mary-Kate Olsen, but her representative, Annette Wolf, denied the claim to the New York Times.  “It is not her apartment,” Wolf said. “She does not own the apartment. She has never owned the apartment. She and her sister have an apartment in New York City but they are not in this building.”

The apartment was sold in 1999 to Red Tulip, L.L.C., City Room says. Calls to a number for Junia Hissa Neiva, a Brazilian painter who is listed as an owner of the company, were received by a full answering machine.

It was not apparent why or how long Ledger had been in the apartment. A spokeswoman for the city's chief medical examiner said an autopsy would be conducted Wednesday, City Room says.

The Times quoted Julie McIntosh, a hair stylist in the area, as saying she though Leder had lived in the area for a few months, and saw him a couple times a week. “I think it’s really sad,” she said. “He’s a really nice guy. He seemed happy.” 

The Ledger family released the following statement on Australian TV:

"We, Heath's family, confirm, the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda. He was found peacefully asleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30 p.m. U.S. time.

"We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well wishes and kind thoughts at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him.

"He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many. Please now respect our families need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."

Ledger rose to prominence in 2000's The Patriot with Mel Gibson and a turn in 2001's Monster's Ball before playing opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain. The movie, based on a short story by Annie Proulx, featured Ledger and Gyllenhaal as cowboys unable to resist falling in love.

Ledger said in a 2006 interview with Rolling Stone that he had no qualms about kissing a man on screen, nor fears that he'd fail to conjure up the feelings of a man coming to grips with his homosexuality. "Look, I've experienced love," Ledger said. "I know how to love a woman. But part of the magic of acting is, you harness the infinite power of belief."

He also landed starring roles in 2001's A Knight's Tale and 2005's Casanova. His latest was as one of several incarnations of Bob Dylan in the musician's biopic I'm not There.

He plays the Joker in Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight (right), which was supposed to be released on July 18. He was currently filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus with Terry Gilliam, according to IMDB.com.

Hollywood stars began to express the tragedy of Ledger's death late Tuesday. "I had such great hope for him," Gibson said 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."

Fellow Aussie and close friend Nicole Kidman echoed the sentiment, releasing a statement that read, "What a tragedy. My heart goes out to his family."

Born April 4, 1979 to a French teacher and an engineer, Ledger grew up in Perth, Australia, and began doing amateur theater at age 10, the AP reports. At 16, he moved to Sydney to pursue an acting career, quickly landing TV movie roles and guest spots on Australian television.

In September he and fiancee (and Brokeback co-star) Michelle Williams called off their engagement. They have a 2-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose. TMZ reported Williams was "devastated" by the news and flew back to New York when she heard the news.

“They were very nice, with their daughter," Elise Harris, a neighbor to Williams and Ledger when they lived together in Brooklyn, told the Times. "I think shock is the reaction. I didn’t even know he was on drugs, but that’s the kind of thing you don’t know unless you are in that circle. He was a nice guy, attractive, very friendly.”

Before settling down with Williams, Ledger had relationships with Heather Graham and Naomi Watts. In recent weeks, he had been dating Australian model Gemma Ward. They were seen together in Perth during the holiday season.

Click here to sign a guest book and read thoughts and memories left by other readers. Click here for a slide show of photos from Ledger's career.

[Photos: Getty Images, AP]

Brad Renfro, kid from 'The Client', dead at 25

Brad Renfro, the kid actor who starred as the endangered 12-year-old in The Client, was found dead Tuesday in his L.A. home, the AP reports. He was 25.

There was no word on the cause of death, but seeing as how he'd been struggling with drugs and alcohol since coming to La-La-Land, it's a pretty good bet there was a foreign substance involved. He served 10 days in in jail May 2006 afer pleading no contest to driving while intoxicated and guilty to attempted possession of heroin.

He also starred in Sleepers, Deuces Wild, Apt Pupil and The Jacket, which should have given some indication of his downward spiral.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Report says Donda West had a heart attack

If you’re afraid of getting that plastic surgery after what happened to Kanye West’s mom Donda, TMZ reports you really shouldn’t be.

The site quotes the final coroner’s report into her death as saying she died of “coronary artery disease and multiple post-operative factors due to or as a consequence of liposuction and mammoplasty.” In short, she had a heart attack.

But there’s no conclusive proof that anesthesia or the surgery had anything to do with her death, the report says. So do your part for the economy and get that lift or tuck or injection or whatever — but make sure your estate’s in order, just in case.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Euthanizing whale still better than blowing it up

While the death of a young sperm whale off the Pinellas County coast on New Year's Day was a bummer of a way to start 2008, The Juice* reminds you that there are worse ways of dealing with dying marine mammals.

While this whale was buried at Fort De Soto Park, Juice*heads no doubt remember hearing about an incident just south of Florence, Ore., way back in November 1970. A dead, 8-ton sperm whale had washed ashore and was rotting, so the task of disposing of the carcass fell to the Oregon Highway Division. Their solution? Blow it up with a half-ton of dynamite, of course.

The result shows a proper burial is indeed the way to go:

Thanks for reminding us, Ken.

Dan Fogelberg dies

In case you missed it, pop crooner Dan Fogelberg died of prostate cancer over the weekend at the age of 56. Head over to brother blog Stuck in the '80s for the deets.

Ike Turner dead at 76

Music legend Ike Turner, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer notorious for his turbulent, abusive marriage to ex Tina Turner, died Wednesday at his home in San Diego at the age of 76. TMZ first reported the death, but there was no cause cited. Turner was one of the first artists credited with making a rock song, Rocket 88, in 1951, and later found fame singing hits like Proud Mary and River Deep, Mountain High with wife Tina. But his drug-addled abuse of the singer -- chronicled in the Oscar-nominated film What's Love Got to Do With It? -- dogged him throughout his career. In a 2001 interview with the Associated Press, Turner denied the allegations of abuse and said his musical legacy has been tarnished. "You can go ask Snoop Dogg or Eminem, you can ask the Rolling Stones or (Eric) Clapton, or you can ask anybody -- anybody, they all know my contribution to music, but it hasn't been in print about what I've done or what I've contributed until now," he said. Earlier this year, Turner won a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album for his work Risin' With The Blues.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Quiet Riot's Kevin DuBrow found dead in Vegas

Put down your cans of Aqua Net and shed a tear, children of the ’80s, because Quiet Riot lead singer Kevin DuBrow is gone. The voice behind Cum on Feel the Noize was found dead from unknown causes at his Las Vegas home Sunday evening, a spokeswoman for the Clark County Coroner’s Office told wire services.

“I can’t even find the words to say,” Quiet Riot bandmate Frankie Banali wrote on his Web site. “Please respect my privacy as I mourn the passing and honor the memory of my dearest friend, Kevin DuBrow.” So pull out that copy of Metal Health and girls, rock your boys in memory of Kevin (who was 52, if you can believe that).

[Photo: Getty Images]

Donda West's doc walks off 'Larry King Live'

Dr. Jan Adams, the plastic surgeon who operated on Kanye West’s mother Donda the day before she died, walked off Larry King Live on Tuesday night. Adams had agreed to be interviewed by King to clear up some nasty rumors, but then changed his mind.

“I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for the West family and they have asked me not to go on,” he said. “And I’ve said from the very beginning, I don’t have a side in this. They are my side and so I’m going to respect their wishes.”

King asked Adams if he was ever going to speak out on the circumstances surrounding Donda’s death, but the doctor dodged the question: “When they’re comfortable, then I’ll be comfortable. If they’re never comfortable, then I’ll never be comfortable.”

The cancellation came only hours after the 58-year-old’s funeral in an Oklahoma City suburb.

'Mr. Whipple' Dick Wilson dead at 91

A sad day in TV land: Dick Wilson, the actor who implored bored consumers to “Please, don’t squeeze the Charmin,” died Monday at 91.

Mr. Whipple died of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Fund Hospital in Woodland Hills, the AP reports. His daughter Melanie Wilson, who played Jennifer the flight attendant on that old sitcom Perfect Strangers (who knew?), confirmed the report.

Wilson the elder also played small roles on Bewitched, Hogan’s Heroes and The Bob Newhart Show, but his more than 500 appearances as the hypocritical Charmin-squeezer remain his claim to fame, long after the 21-year ad campaign ended in 1985.

[Photo: AP]

Kanye's mom's doc's shady past

Rarely does a single story captivate the attention of both the hip-hop and plastic surgery communities, but the death of Kanye West’s mother, professor Donda West, is sounding more and more like an episode of Nip/Tuck, complete with shady doctors publicly dissing each other. TMZ.com is reporting that Dr. Jan Adams (right), who performed the liposuction and breast reduction on the now-deceased mother of the Grammy winner, has a history of DUI convictions, has two medical malpractice judgments against him and was once recommended for suspension from the California Medical Board because of alcohol abuse. When Beverly Hills sawbones Dr. Andre Aboolian said publicly that he refused to conduct the surgery because of a medical condition, Adams called the kettle, or rather, Aboolian, “sleazy and manipulating the truth to elevate his own importance.” And just how did Dr. West meet Adams? According to Access Hollywood, Adams was one of two docs recommended to Dr. West by none other than Oprah Winfrey. Adams has appeared on Winfrey’s show and on the Discovery Channel. TMZ reported that Dr. West’s autopsy got underway Tuesday in Los Angeles, but complete results won’t be available for six to eight weeks.

(Photos: AP)

Kanye West's mom dies

On the song Hey Mama off his album Late Registration, Kanye West raps: "Hey mama, I wanna scream so loud for you / 'Cause I'm so proud of you ... I appreciate what you allowed for me / I just want you to be proud of me." West is in mourning today after his mother, Dr. Donda West, died unexpectedly on Sunday, according to MTV News. Dr. West, an author and the former chairwoman of the English department at Chicago State University, died following an unspecified "cosmetic procedure" in Los Angeles, said a spokesman. She was an enormous influence on Kanye's career, acting at times as a co-manager and authoring a book titled Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar. Kanye's people had no immediate comment.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Elvis tops highest-grossing zombies list

The King may be dead, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make any money. Elvis Presley reclaimed the top spot in Forbes.com’s annual list of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities by raking in about $49-million in the last 12 months. John Lennon is second with $44-million, followed by Charles M. Schulz ($35-million), George Harrison ($22-million), Albert Einstein ($18-million), Andy Warhol ($15-million), Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) ($13-million), Tupac Shakur ($9-million), Marilyn Monroe ($7-million), Steve McQueen ($6-million), James Brown ($5-million), Bob Marley ($4-million) and James Dean ($3.5-million). Elvis, meanwhile, made more from ticket sales to Graceland than The Juice* will likely make in the next 25 years ...

Madame Tussauds unveils Biggie wax figure

Every so often Madame Tussauds introduces a new wax figure to the collection, featuring folks like the Beckhams, Christina Aguilera and even Lindsay Lohan in an old-fashioned jailbird outfit.

But what we can't figure out is why it took them 10 years to finally make a likeness of the Notorious B.I.G. The Biggie figure was unveiled Thursday in Times Square, with Christopher Wallace's mom Voletta Wallace there to mark the occasion.

As part of his dapper getup, Biggie's figure sports a gold and wood cane, which we assume he would have had to use if he survived the drive-by shooting that killed him in 1997.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Anna Nicole tape worse than we thought

There's just too much filth going on with Anna Nicole Smith and Howard K. Stern. Remember that tape of Anna Nicole apparently high as a kite and painted like a clown? You haven't seen the half of it. No, really. We don't even want to write about this, so let Geraldo spell it out. The worst? The 9-year-old pleading with Stern to put down the camera and help her out.

Cops weren't part of Biggie's death, guy says

Waymond Anderson, the former R&B artist who said an LAPD officer was involved in Notorious B.I.G.’s murder, has finally admitted he made the whole thing up, the AP reports.

Anderson, who’s serving a life sentence for murder in a separate case, said in an Aug. 20 deposition that he lied when he testified that police officer Rafael Perez told him that another cop, David Mack, was involved in the 1997 killing of Biggie, a.k.a. Christoper Wallace.

Anderson said he was offered a portion of any settlement that resulted from the testimony by Biggie’s family and lawyer. “

I don’t know David Mack, I don’t know Rafael Perez,” Anderson said in the deposition. “It was a lie, and I’m ashamed of it.”

Both Perez and Mack have since left the force, probably because they were tired of dealing with liars and killers every day. No, wait ... Mack is serving a federal prison sentence for bank robbery. Sigh.

[Photo: Getty Images]