Award Shows February 23, 2009
Ledger's Oscar to Matilda
Heath Ledger became the second person to receive a posthumous Oscar last night as his work as the maniacal Joker in "The Dark Knight" won the trophy -- and the statuette will be given to his daughter Matilda, 3, when she's 18.
The actor's father, mother and sister accepted the award to a standing ovation from his peers. "This award tonight would have humbly validated Heath's quiet determination to be truly accepted by all you here tonight, his peers within an industry he so loved," Heath's father, Kim, said in a quiet and deliberate voice.
His sister Kate added that the golden statuette would go to "your beautiful Matilda." Backstage, Kate revealed to AP that Heath had sent her "bits and pieces" of the unfinished "Dark Knight" before his death -- and that she knew he'd take home an Oscar. "I said, 'I have a feeling, this is it for you ... You're going to get a nomination from the Academy,'" Kate said. "He just looked at me and smiled."
Heath died in January 2008 of an accidental drug overdose. His death occurred during filming his final movie, "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus" -- with the role being saved with the help of Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Ferrell, who all stepped in to finish the "shape-shifting" role.
