Late Australian actor Heath Ledger, pictured in 2006. [File Photo: AFP/Jeff Haynes]

Late Australian actor Heath Ledger received a second posthumous award Tuesday, as the Los Angeles Film Critics Association honored his performance in Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight".

Ledger was a heavy favorite to land a best supporting actor Oscar for his spellbinding portrayal of arch-villain the Joker in the film, which shattered a series of US box office records after its release in July.

Ledger, who died from an overdose of prescription drugs in January, aged 28, won the Australian Film Institute's international best actor award on Saturday.

Perth-born Ledger gained international stardom and was nominated for an Oscar for his role as a gay cowboy in the 2005 film "Brokeback Mountain".

If Ledger is honored at next February's Academy Awards, he would be only the second posthumous Oscar-winner after Peter Finch, who triumphed in 1976 for his iconic role in "Network".