HOLLYWOOD legend Jack Nicholson says he cautioned Heath Ledger before his fellow Joker actor's death.
The movie legend was dining at the Wolseley restaurant in London when a photographer told him about Heath%u2019s passing.
Nicholson in London to promote new movie The Bucket List, replied %u201CI warned him%u201D then later said %u201CI told him so%u201D.
Asked about Ledger's death, Nicholson said: "Wasn't that horrible''. The actor, who was wearing sunglasses at the premiere, said: "I took Ambien once. I fell asleep and then got a call and almost drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house.''
Reports have suggested that Ledger may have found playing the Joker role in the new Batman movie too much, and that the part left him unable to sleep.
Called Ambien in the US, the tablet is marketed as Stilnox in Australia and hit headlines last year when a national drug hotline fielded calls from users reporting strange side-effects.
About 500 people described odd behaviours from walking, crashing cars, having sex and falling from balconies after popping a pill.
Nicholson said:"I took Ambien once. I fell asleep and then got a call and almost drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house.''
Nicholson and fellow star Morgan Freeman later gave their condolences.
"It's a great loss to the industry, he was an enormous movie talent, it sounds like a tragic accident," Freeman said.
