Inside Heath Ledger’s cause of death and his outdated will that didn’t include daughter Matilda
The Australian actor died at age 28 from acute intoxication after ingesting prescription drugs on January 22, 2008. His 2003 will predated daughter Matilda’s birth, but his family later gifted his entire estate to her
Heath Ledger died in January 2008(Image: Getty)
The heartbreaking news of Heath Ledger’s tragic passing shook the entertainment world 16 years ago today.
At only 28 years old, the talented actor was found dead in bed by his masseuse, leaving behind his beloved daughter Matilda, now 19, whom he had with ex-partner Michelle Williams.
The Australian star had been honing his legendary performance as The Joker for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight and had recently moved into a Manhattan apartment following his split from Michelle.
On that fateful day of January 22, 2008, his housekeeper arrived at 12:30 pm to find him lying face down in bed, covered by sheets up to his shoulders. Reports indicate she initially let him sleep after replacing a light bulb and hearing what she thought was snoring.
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At 3 pm, massage therapist Diana Wolozin arrived but received no answer from either Heath’s room or his mobile. After preparing for the session in his room, her efforts to rouse him turned to panic when she discovered he was cold and unresponsive, reports the Express.
Diana called 911, where an operator reportedly guided her through CPR until emergency personnel arrived moments later. Paramedics tried to revive him and used a cardiac defibrillator before the Brokeback Mountain star was pronounced dead at 3:36pm.
A post-mortem examination conducted by the New York medical examiner determined that his death resulted from acute intoxication following the ingestion of a combination of prescription medications. The death was ruled accidental. Anti-anxiety medications, the painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone, and sleeping aids were all found in his system.
Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment aged 28.(Image: Getty)
In the weeks leading up to his death, those close to Ledger had grown increasingly worried about his mounting reliance on prescription drugs.
His sister Kate had reportedly urged him to cut out some of his prescribed medications just the night before he passed away.
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 who traveled 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 made no provisions for Michelle Williams or their two-year-old daughter, as it had been drawn up in Australia in 2003 and was never revised.
Heath Ledger’s daughter Matilda was left out of his will(Image: Getty)
Instead, the actor bequeathed everything to his parents and three sisters.
The documents did not disclose the total value of his estate, but indicated that Heath’s New York assets amounted to less than $145,000 at the time, which included a $25,000 Toyota Prius and $20,000 worth of furniture. Several months after his passing, the family decided to leave his entire estate to Matilda.
In September 2008, Heath’s father told PEOPLE: “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 theater director Thomas Kail, and the couple shares two children. They welcomed their son Hart in 2020 and had another baby in 2022, whose name and gender have not been publicly disclosed.
