Anniversary of Ledger's Death Marked With Oscar Nod

Supporting actor nomination comes a year after tragic OD

One year to the day after his tragic death from a toxic cocktail of prescription drugs, Heath Ledger's chilling turn as The Joker has earned the actor an Oscar nomination.

Ledger's work in "The Dark Knight" garnered a Supporting Actor nomination this morning, serving as a sad reminder of his untimely demise and the career he might have had.

"The Dark Knight"
"Brokeback Mountain"

On the afternoon of Jan. 22, 2008, Ledger's lifeless, naked body was discovered on the bedroom floor of his SoHo apartment by housekeeper Teresa Solomon and masseuse Diana Wolozin.

Police called to the scene found a bottle of prescription sleeping pills on a nearby night table. The subsequent autopsy found that Ledger, 28, had died from "acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine."

Ledger had move to Manhattan following the break-up of his relationship with Brokeback Mountain" co-star Michelle Williams. The two had bought a brownstone in the Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn in 2005, but two years and one daughter -- Matilda Rose -- later, the pair parted ways.

Competing with Ledger, who won the Golden Globe earlier this year, for the prize are Robert Downey Jr. for "Tropic Thunder," Josh Brolin of "Milk," Michael Shannon from "Revolutionary Road" and Philip Seymour Hoffman of "Doubt."

Ledger's previous Oscar nod, for best actor, came for his star-making turn in "Brokeback Mountain."

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