Heath Ledger Honored As Best Actor

Heath Ledger's final performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" has been honored by the Australian Film Institute.

Ledger's family accepted the posthumous best actor award in a ceremony on Saturday in Melbourne, according to the Associated Press.

The Australian Film Institute said: "It was this swaggering, psychopathic clown that turned his career into a legacy and the name Heath Ledger into an ongoing inspiration for actors everywhere."

Many critics believe Ledger's performance has a solid chance to garner a posthumous Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.