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Heath Ledger's father Kim Ledger, center, sister Kate, center right, and mother Sally Bell accept the Oscar for best supporting actor on behalf of Heath Ledger who won for his work in "The Dark Knight" during the 81st Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.

Many of us are still fuming over TDK's exclusion from this year's best picture race, but I think we can all agree that watching Heath's family accept his well-deserved Oscar for best supporting actor was a moment many of us won't soon forget. Just because it wasn't a surprise doesn't make it any less historic or emotional.

Heath Ledger has become only the second actor to receive a posthumous Oscar, for his daring performance as the sociopathic arch-villain The Joker in "The Dark Knight."

His family -- father, mother and sister -- accepted the best supporting actor trophy "on behalf of his beautiful Matilda," his 3-year-old daughter with former love Michelle Williams. Matilda will inherit the Little Gold Man when she turns 18.

"It would've humbly validated Heath's quiet determination to be accepted by all you here, his peers, in an industry he so loved," said his dad, Kim Ledger. And as a reminder to a room full of Hollywood stars and perhaps a lot of viewers tearing up, Ledger's mother said, "We are choosing to celebrate and be happy for what he has achieved." In other words, this isn't a funeral, it's a wake.

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Kim Ledger, father of Heath Ledger, speaks after his family accepted the Oscar for best supporting actor on his behalf who won for his work in "The Dark Knight" during the 81st Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Looking on are Heath's mother, Sally Bell, left, and sister, Kate Ledger.

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Kate Ledger speaks after accepting the Oscar for best supporting actor on behalf of her brother, Heath Ledger, who won for his work in "The Dark Knight" during the 81st Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Looking on are Heath's father, Kim Ledger, left, and mother, Sally Bell.

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Sally Bell, mother of Heath Ledger, speaks after his family accepted the Oscar for best supporting actor on his behalf who won for his work in "The Dark Knight" during the 81st Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Looking on are Heath's father, Kim Ledger, left, and sister, Kate Ledger.

Christopher Walken, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alan Arkin, Kevin Kline and Joel Grey all of whom had previously won the award presented the trophy to the father, mother and sister of Ledger, who died of an overdose last year.
Source(s):
http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/heath-ledger/2006248/photos


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