Ledger's father arrives in LA for Oscars

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- The father of late Australian actor Heath Ledger has made the trip from Perth to Los Angeles for Sunday's Oscar ceremony, Radar Online reported.

Ledger, who died of a prescription drug overdose last year at the age of 28, is posthumously nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for his riveting portrayal of the villainous Joker in "The Dark Knight."

Radar Online said Thursday Kim Ledger traveled to Los Angeles so he can attend the awards show and accept the Oscar on Heath's behalf should he win.

The actor has already won a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild award and BAFTA for his performance. If he wins, he would be only the second actor in Hollywood history to do so after his death. Peter Finch was declared a posthumous winner in 1976 for his role in "Network."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said this week that if Heath Ledger wins the Oscar, it will go to his 3-year-old daughter Matilda when she turns 18.