Australian actor Heath Ledger wins posthumous Oscar

Late Australian actor Heath Ledger won a posthumous best supporting actor Oscar for his performance as the Joker in the Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight.

Late Australian actor Heath Ledger won a rare posthumous Oscar here on Sunday as best supporting actor for his performance as the Joker in Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight.

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Ledger, who died in January last year of a drug overdose aged 28, became only the second performer in history to be awarded an Oscar posthumously, emulating compatriot Peter Finch, who won for Network in 1976.

Ledger had already won a string of major awards this year for his superb portrayal of Batman's arch-enemy, helping The Dark Knight become the second-highest grossing film in US history.

Other nominees included Josh Brolin for Milk, Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt, Robert Downey Jr for Tropic Thunder and Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road.