Ledger: Inches Closer To Oscar

His Portrayal Of Batman's Joker In "The Dark Knight" May Be His Greatest Achievement

(AP)  Is there an Oscar in store for Heath Ledger?

Nearly one year after his death, the Australian actor has been racking up honors for his role as the Joker in "The Dark Knight."

Ledger, who died last January of an accidental drug overdose, was honored posthumously Sunday as best supporting actor at the 66th annual Golden Globe Awards.

"It's always beautiful to think of him and remember him," co-star Aaron Eckhart said on the red carpet before the show.

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Photos: Golden Globes Winners

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The crowd rose to its feet as Ledger was named, the first standing ovation of the night inside the glitzy Beverly Hilton ballroom.

"Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan, who accepted the trophy, said the award came with an "awful mixture of sadness but incredible pride" and said that Ledger's untimely death represented "a hole ripped in the history of cinema."

"He will be eternally missed, but he will never be forgotten," Nolan said.

Ledger has long been considered a likely supporting actor Oscar nominee, but his Golden Globes victory increases the likelihood of an Oscar win. Ledger has also been honored by several film critics associations, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the Boston Society of Film Critics. He also won Critics' Choice and People's Choice awards for the role, and is nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award.

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Photos: Golden Globe Couples

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Balloting for the Oscars closes Monday.

"I'm really happy to see that 'The Dark Knight' is making a last-minute run at recognition," director and Cecil B. Demille Award winner Steven Spielberg said backstage. "I was really happy to see Heath win tonight. I'm looking forward to some more momentum. I think that balances everything out."

It's unusual for a popcorn-friendly flick like "Dark Knight" - and a villainous role such as Batman's arch nemesis - to be the source of such speculated Oscar acclaim. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voters tend to honor highbrow films that don't rake in $1 billion in worldwide theatrical grosses.

In 2006, Ledger was nominated for a best actor in a drama Oscar for his performance as lovesick cowboy Ennis in "Brokeback Mountain" but lost to Philip Seymour Hoffman for his role in "Capote."

The nominations are scheduled to be announced Jan. 22, the one-year anniversary of Ledger's death.

[misssuzq]

Sorry - but any time any of the co-stars are being interviewed, they are ALWAYS asked to comment or answer a question about Heath.

At the award show last night someone did it to Maggie G. and Aaron E., and they both stammered - it has to get old.

I commend them for biting their tongues while not getting praise that they also deserve.

[avigil2]

MissSuZQ, what are you talking about? Yes, it''s true that Ledger has received most of the accolades for THE DARK KNIGHT and that''s because he made it look so good. They have all been praised for their work on the film as has the director, Christopher Nolan, who made, most likely the best comic-based movie ever!

[misssuzq]

While he did well, it was an ensemble cast and yet when the media talks to those other actors, they are constantly put on the spot to HAVE to say positive things about Heath or get condemned or crucified if they said otherwise.

Since the movie came out, the rest of the cast has never been given proper credit for their part in the film.