Peers express grief over death of Heath Ledger

A range of Hollywood stars have expressed their regret at the death of Brokeback Mountain actor Heath Ledger.

Jack Nicholson, whose illustrious back catalogue of films includes One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, The Shining and A Few Good Men, also said that he had issued a warning to Ledger.

Speaking to photographers, who had told him of the death, Nicholson said "that's awful…I warned him".

However, in a strange twist of events, he said later that day he said that "he did not know Mr Ledger".

Nicholson had previously played the Joker in 1989's Batman film - role Ledger himself reprises in the yet to be released Batman film The Dark Knight.

Other Hollywood names who have commented on the death include fellow Australians Nicole Kidman and Mel Gibson, who he stared with in The Patriot.

Ledger, 28, was found dead on Tuesday by his masseuse. Initial police reports into the cause death have been inconclusive.

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