Oscars Past: Ten Most Memorable Moments9 of 10
The 81st Annual Academy Awards, 2009: Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight earned him a posthumous nomination -- and win -- in the Best Supporting Actor category, making him only the second actor to do so. His father, mother and sister accepted the award for him.
Kevin Kline introduced Ledger's award by saying: "In a year of striking film images perhaps the most unforgettable is that of a man. His face smeared in clown makeup, gleefully sticking his head out of a speeding car, relishing the night wind and reveling at the chaos he has unleashed on the streets of Gotham city. Menacing, mercurial, droll, and diabolical. Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight kept us all on edge anxious to see what act of appalling mischief he might commit next. With this bravura performance as well as with a wide range of other roles to which he put his unique signature, Heath Ledger has left us an original and enduring legacy."
Kevin Kline introduced Ledger's award by saying: "In a year of striking film images perhaps the most unforgettable is that of a man. His face smeared in clown makeup, gleefully sticking his head out of a speeding car, relishing the night wind and reveling at the chaos he has unleashed on the streets of Gotham city. Menacing, mercurial, droll, and diabolical. Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight kept us all on edge anxious to see what act of appalling mischief he might commit next. With this bravura performance as well as with a wide range of other roles to which he put his unique signature, Heath Ledger has left us an original and enduring legacy."
PeopleSally Bell, Kate Ledger, Kim Ledger
Image courtesy mptvimages.com