Ledger Wins Australian Film Institute's Best Actor Award

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Ledger Wins Australian Film Institute's Best Actor Award

Source:Superhero Hype!

December 6, 2008

The late Heath Ledger was awarded one of his country's most prestigious film awards on Saturday for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight, reports Reuters.

Ledger, 28, who died of an accidental overdose of painkillers and other medicines in his New York apartment 11 months ago, was posthumously awarded the AFI (Australian Film Institute) international award for best actor.

Guests at a packed awards ceremony in Melbourne's Princess Theater rose to their feet clapping, but with some in tears, to pay tribute to the actor who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in 2005's Brokeback Mountain.

"It has been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member," said his sister Kate, fighting back tears as she accepted the award alongside Ledger's parents.

"We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter (Matilda) who we will cherish forever."

The AFI, celebrating its 50th-annual award ceremony, paid tribute to Ledger, describing him as "ground-breaking actor trapped in the body of a leading man."

"He was the untamed spirit many of us wish we could be. May the legend live on," an AFI tribute said.

In related news, a scooper at Ain't It Cool News attended a Blu-ray Disc release event with director Christopher Nolan. Here's a bit on the possible third film:

If he made a third film, it would be for no reason but the continuation of story. He is currently looking into where the story would go and if it needs to go there. He maintained that it's very hard to make a movie of this scale (and specified he wasn't asking for our sympathy, drawing a laugh from the crowd) - it's two hard years and you gotta love it. One of his biggest fears is getting halfway through making a film and realizing it's unnecessary and he doesn't want to make it anymore. If there is a third story that needs to be told, there will be a third film, but nothing is set in stone or a given.

Nolan, Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart talked about the film's Oscar chances on Wednesday which you can read about here.

Also, in addition to My-DarkKnight.com, Warner Home Video has launched game site TheDarkKnightPuzzle.com.

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Posted by: tael on December 6, 2008 at 11:40:20

RIP ledger

- from down under

Posted by: Kronus on December 6, 2008 at 11:40:51

Ledger deserved every little bit of it. His portrayal of the Joker was something that blew the whole world away. It is a shame that we cant see him in any future films but this film will stand alone in time forever. Congratulations to his family and to him for receiving this award. RIP Heath Ledger we miss you!

Posted by: hypestyle on December 6, 2008 at 11:54:05

hopefully ledger will get the posthumous Oscar that he deserves.. i'm saying it, yes!

Posted by: ningno090 on December 6, 2008 at 11:54:08

third

Posted by: Dr Moreau on December 6, 2008 at 11:58:24

I already have my DVD with the Batman mask set, it has a 3rd disc with a look at the Batman psychology called Batman unmasked, pretty cool.
Unfourtunely, not much about the Joker characther in all the bonuses.
Christopher Nolan, take your time and bring a great ending to your trilogy.

Posted by: WeaponXQc on December 6, 2008 at 11:58:50

Best. Joker. Ever.

One of the best actors of his time. Another one gone too soon.

RIP Heath Ledger. You will not be forgotten.

Posted by: FrankCastleisMyHero on December 6, 2008 at 11:59:15

Ledger deserves every nomination and award they could give as does the film but Hollywood is so full of self absorbed airheads, this film and Ledger may not get all that they rightfully deserve!

Posted by: Man of Steel on December 6, 2008 at 12:01:59

Joker in DK was bad a$$ give him the Oscar and give me a REAL SuperMan movie. Man of Steel

R.I.P Heath

Posted by: funkyjunk on December 6, 2008 at 12:12:09

can't wait to see it in imax again...

Posted by: wilyking on December 6, 2008 at 12:16:28

RIP Ledger,his potrayal of the Joker will go down as one of the best if not the best villain in film history.

Posted by: Fanboiii on December 6, 2008 at 12:37:55

can't wait to him on imax

Posted by: Smersh on December 6, 2008 at 12:46:47

What to go Heath!

Posted by: indestruktible on December 6, 2008 at 13:00:29

Great to see Heath won the award! I'm also happy to see that there is Oscar talk of awarding TDK best picture nomination. It's about time people realize comics aren't just for kids anymore but can be taken like any other serious literary work. Great job Nolan and Co. for making the best batman movie ever and giving us the best joker performance ever

Posted by: Bertie on December 6, 2008 at 13:08:56

he doesnt deserve anything.
The drug abuser got what he deserved

Posted by: nerdboy20950 on December 6, 2008 at 13:24:10

RE: "Bertie"

He wasn't a drug abuser, he was just a method actor who got to caught up in his role. I remember reading on this site (SuperHeroHype) that this Joker role was so evil that it made him unable to sleep. So, in a way, Christopher Nolan is responsable for Heath Ledger's death. His demand on sucking all the good parts out of the Batman legend and leaving only the darkness is the reason I hated "Batman Begins" and why I'm waiting to see "Dork Knight" until it shows up on TV for free. I refuse to give money to this travistry of a movie.

Posted by: stonedman on December 6, 2008 at 13:33:54

nerdboy your an idiot, the only person responsible for heaths death is heath. no one else made him take those pills. and to everyone else i will say his performance was ok but not legendary. it was the best part of the dark knight but after 5 viewings the movie gets boring and old quick unlike begins where ive seen that upwards of 25 times and it never gets old

Posted by: Forest Whitaker as Panthro on December 6, 2008 at 13:57:15

stonedman, why are you even looking at this site if comics are for kids or very immature adults. This is superherohype. this is what we do.YOU MAKE NO SENSE. KINETIC CARD IN YOUR FOREHEAD.

Posted by: daniel on December 6, 2008 at 14:00:36

what's up with this accidental overdose stuff. the guy committed suicide

Posted by: Belt on December 6, 2008 at 14:04:28

@Bertie + nerdboy20950

First of all. It is the fault of the media that he is percieved as a drug abuser. The man died from a mixture of purely legal drugs at accepted doses. So Bertie you callous waste of flesh and organs. Obviously you, as someone who is at least partly human as well as part tree stump must have taken medication at some point in your Wrinkle of a life. I only hope that if you're ever diagnosed with any mental disorder which seems quite likely. They put you on some drug course and you get what you deserve. Insomnia can be a very distressing thing to have to deal with. Maybe not for one such as you but for those who don't sit home stroking their penis all day, wishing death upon people it does get in the way of your day as lack of sleep does exhaust the mind. Also, to blame Nolan is ridiculous. You are both idiots.

RIP Heath

Posted by: Hatori Hanzo on December 6, 2008 at 14:14:09

ledger kicked ass in the bob dylan movie, and in brothers grim, TDK was the **** and anyone that tries to hate on the guy , obviously is blind and cant see that the guy jsut wasnt getting roles that showed his capabilities, and if you knew anything abotu him, youd know that he was going to leave acting behind and start directing after a few more films. some of you fellows are so lame, clearly jsut saying things to get a response out of people because noone will respond to you in the real world. YOU DONT HATE HIM, i think YOU WISH YOU WERE HEATH. he is the man. RIP, stop trying to tarnish the name of a legend. jsut because you have no name at all

Posted by: Hatori Hanzo on December 6, 2008 at 14:17:27

we all have weaknesses, that dosnt make you better then anyone jsut because he has a drug illness. he didnt get sick on TDK, he got sick on terry gilliams film where he had heath living in cole rainy conditions, thats how he got the cold, thats why he accidentally mixed the flu pills with the painkillers. your all morons, the guy jsut wanted to get some sleep. i hate you all for your unkind words, i hope you all have children that grow to have drug addictions and die at 28, then youll all be able to finally relate to something real. outside of a comis. id smack you in the face if u said these harsh words in front of me.

Posted by: David on December 6, 2008 at 14:54:38

I can't wait to see how this all turns out, I honestly hope that it wins some academy awards, and even if it doesn't, to just be nominated for such is a HUGE honor for a comic book based film, and Heath Ledger deserves every last bit of credit he gets, and I'm praying that he wins the award, truly the man was one of those great performers taken from us too soon.

Posted by: stonedman on December 6, 2008 at 14:55:32

you people are all on his nuts its not he was your brother. he was a person just like anyone else no better no worse i dont care if he had a drug addiction or whatever, just because hes an actor who entertains people doesnt mean he is legend or anything else and i can guarantee this though if he hadnt of died no one would be calling him a legend and the dark knight wouldnt of made so much money

Posted by: stonedman on December 6, 2008 at 15:00:41

Posted by: Forest Whitaker as Panthro on December 6, 2008 at 13:57:15

stonedman, why are you even looking at this site if comics are for kids or very immature adults. This is superherohype. this is what we do.YOU MAKE NO SENSE. KINETIC CARD IN YOUR FOREHEAD.

first off i dont read comics. tried but never will again they are boring. and they are aimed at kids you can say what you want but they are.
second this is a comics FILM website and this board is on a comic FILM , ive never seen any actual comics news only comics film news. btw comic films is my favorite genre thats why im here not for the source material

Posted by: Tennessee Whiskey On My Breath on December 6, 2008 at 15:00:55

"The man died from a mixture of purely legal drugs at accepted doses."

Purely legal...if they were his. Which they weren't, which makes it illegal. No source has been found for where he got them have they? I know the fanboys don't like to admit that their god did something retarded, but he did. It doesn't make his performance any less, it was pretty good. But facts are facts.

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