Heath Ledger wins Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger Wins Best Supporting Actor For Dark Knight

The late Heath Ledger won the long-anticipated Best Supporting Actor for “The Dark Knight” for his dementedly twisted reinvention of the Joker.

He is the second performer to ever be honored with a posthumous Oscar. (The previous posthumous Oscar recipient was Peter Finch, who won best actor for 1976’s “Network.”)

Ledger’s father, Kim; sister Kate and mother, Sally Bell, accepted his statuette on behalf of his 3-year-old daughter, Matilda.. The entire house was choked up with sobs and tears being that it was a pretty emotional moment. The recognition came exactly 13 months after his death from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs on Oscar nominations day, Jan. 22, 2008.

Heath Ledger With Daughter Matilda

“I have to say this is ever so humbling, just being amongst such wonderful people in such a wonderful industry,” said his father, Kim Ledger. “We’d like to thank the academy for recognizing our son’s amazing work, Warner Bros., and Christopher Nolan in particular for allowing Heath the creative license to develop and explore this crazy Joker character.”

“Heath was such a compassionate and generous soul who added excitement and inspiration to our lives,” said his mother Sally Bell. “We choose to be happy tonight for what he has achieved.”

Kate Ledger, Heath’s sister, closed the family’s comments, invoking Ledger and actress Michelle Williams’ 3-year-old daughter. “Heath, we wish you were here - we proudly accept this award on behalf of your beautiful Matilda.”

Nurse Joker

Since Ledger’s death at 28, he managed to gain a mythical aura akin to James Dean, another rising star who also died at the young age of 24 in 1955, who was also the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and remains the only person to have two posthumous acting nominations in the same category.

The Joker was Ledger’s final completed role. The casting choice initially drew scorn and bile from geek-comic fans across the globe who thought Ledger would not be able to cut the mustard as the Joker, since everyone was still worshiping Jack Nicholson’s campy rendition of the character in 1989’s “Batman.” I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… Nicholson did NOT do a stellar performance as the Joker. Heath did!

Heath Ledger The Joker - "Here's My Card."

In the months before Ledger’s unfortunate death, buzz on the street about his wickedly psychotic performance swelled as marketing and merchandising for the movie centered on the Joker and Heath’s chaotic, and messy, clown makeup.

Ledger’s death fanned a frenzy of anticipation for “The Dark Knight,” among comic geeks, and normal people alike, which had a record $158.4 million opening weekend last summer.

Here is a list of all the other people who were recognized at the 81st Academy Awards.

Best movie of the year Slumdog Millionaire

Leading actor Sean Penn

Supporting actress Penelope Cruz

Best actress Kate Winslet

Original screenplay Milk

Adapted Screenplay Slumdog Millionaire

Visual effects Benjamin Button

Sound mixing Slumdog Millionaire

Sound editing Slumdog Millionaire

Live action short film Spielzeugland (toyland)

Original song Slumdog millionaire Jai Ho

Original score Slumdog millionaire

Makeup Benjamin Button

Foreign Language Departures

Film Editing slumdog Millionaire

Documentary short subject Smile pinki

Documentary feature Man on wire

Directing slumdog Millionaire

Costume design The duchess

Cinematography Slumdog Millionaire

Art direction Benjamin button

Animated feature of the year Wall-E

Heath and Matilda

Tags: Dark Knight, Heath Ledger, Oscars

This entry was posted on Monday, February 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm and is filed under Movies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.