Heath Ledger gets Oscar nod

Exactly a year after his tragic death, late actor Heath Ledger has been nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Dark Knight.

The Brokeback Mountain star died due to a prescription-drug overdose at his New York apartment on 22 January (08), shortly after completing filming of the Batman blockbuster, reports The Daily Express.

And exactly a year after the tragedy (22Jan09), the actor star has been granted a posthumous nod from the Academy Awards board.

Ledger has been shortlisted in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance as comic book villain The Joker.

Ledger will compete against Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt) and Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) for the coveted prize.

The late actor has already won a prestigious Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice Award.

The Oscar ceremony is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on 22 February.