Heath Ledger Takes Posthumous Trophy At Australian Awards

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Late actor Heath Ledger won a posthumous trophy for Best Actor at the Australian Film Institute awards on Saturday.

Heath won for his role as the Joker in "The Dark Knight," a performance that's garnered him considerable Oscar buzz.



His sister Kate and his parents accepted the award on his behalf.

"It has been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member," Kate said, according to Reuters.



Other winners at the ceremony included Cate Blanchett, who won Best Actress for her titular performance in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," and "The Black Balloon," an Australian film starring Toni Collette that swept several major categories.

The Australian actor, who earned an Oscar nomination for his role in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain," died at the age of 28 of an overdose of prescription drugs in his New York apartment in January.

According to reports, "The Dark Knight" will be briefly re-released theatrically on January 23 - the day after both the announcement of the Oscar nominations and the one-year anniversary of Heath's death.