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SYDNEY (AFP) - Hollywood stars Mel Gibson, John Travolta and Nicole Kidman on Wednesday joined tributes from around the world to Australian actor Heath Ledger, found dead in a New York apartment Tuesday.

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Shock greeted the death of Ledger who had rocketed to fame with his Oscar-nominated role as a gay cowboy in Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain". He was 28.

Gibson, who plucked Ledger from relative obscurity to play his son in 2001's US war of independence epic "The Patriot", said the death of the versatile actor was a "tragic loss."

"I had such great hope for him," the Oscar-winning actor and director said.

"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."

Australian screen star Kidman called Ledger's death a "tragedy" and said her heart went out to his family, while Travolta described him as "one of my favorite actors."

"His abilities are rare... it's a tremendous loss," Travolta said.

Ledger had recently completed filming on Warner Bros' upcoming summer blockbuster "The Dark Knight," in which he played Batman's arch-foe the Joker.

Warner Bros chief Alan Horn and Warner Bros Picture Group president Jeff Robinov said they were "stunned and devastated."

"The entertainment community has lost an enormous talent. Heath was a brilliant actor and an exceptional person. Our hearts go out to his family and friends," they said in a statement.

Police sources told US media prescription pills were found in the apartment and said signs pointed to either an accidental overdose or suicide.

In Australia, Ledger's parents and younger sister described his death as an "accidental passing," and asked to be left to grieve in private.

"We, Heath's family, can confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda," said Ledger's father Kim as he stood outside the family home in Perth.

He described his son as a "down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving, unselfish individual who was extremely inspirational to many."

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said it was "tragic that we have lost one of our nation's finest actors in the prime of his life."

"Heath Ledger's diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the great performances by an Australian actor," he said in a statement.

Members of the Australian film industry, which nurtured Ledger from his early days in television soaps until his recent performances in gritty dramas, were coming to terms with the news that the talented actor had been found dead.

Neil Armfield, who directed Ledger in the 2006 Australian film "Candy" about a romance between two drug addicts, described Ledger as a powerful actor.

"He was always a complex and complicated man to work with but... just a master... just so passionately concerned to get it right," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Film critic Margaret Pomeranz said the death of the actor, who previously dated Hollywood stars Heather Graham and fellow Australian Naomi Watts but had recently separated from actor partner Michelle Williams, was shocking.

"I am so upset, I just can't tell you," she told ABC radio.

"I mean he is such a talented boy and really, I think a beautiful soul.

"I think to choose the roles he's chosen showed just such intelligence."

Producer Emile Sherman, who got to know Ledger during the filming of "Candy", said the young man's death was a "huge loss on a personal level for someone of his age to die -- for his family and his daughter Matilda."

But it was also a sad day for the film industry here and overseas.

"We are missing out on the rest of his career which no doubt would have been magnificent," he told AFP.

Chairman of the Australian Film Critics' Association Peter Krausz described Ledger as a self-effacing actor who was "never there to talk about winning aw