JOKER: Joaquin Phoenix Wins Best Actor Oscar

Joaquin Phoenix won the “Best Actor in a Leading Role” Academy Award for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck in JOKER.

The late Heath Ledger also won an Oscar — for “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” — for playing The Joker in 2008’s THE DARK KNIGHT.

I’m not sure if this is a first — It has to be, right? — but it seems that this is the only time that two actors have won an Academy Award for playing essentially the same character.

(Several BOF’ers hit me up to remind me that Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro both received “Best Actor” Oscars for playing Vito Corleone in THE GODFATHER and THE GODFATHER, PART II, respectively. – “Jett”)

Regardless, it shows how great of a character — and role — The Joker is.

And Batman is awesome too. – Bill “Jett” Ramey