Although 'Batman Begins' garnered Christopher Nolan some box office praise, it wasn't until Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight' that everyone else seemed to get on board. While the makeup work was truly phenomenal, it was Ledger's portrayal of this sadistic character that brought life to the comic book villain.

The movie was made all the more effective premiering after the untimely death of Ledger. It seemed only fitting for the Academy Awards to honor him with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2009, which was accepted by his father, mother and sister.

You can see more photos of Heath Ledger as the Joker here

The above left photo was taken of Heath Ledger in 2007.

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