Here’s a look at every single Academy Award winner who was honored posthumously.
He followed up hisGigiwin with a victory for another Oscar record-holder, Biblical epicBen-Hur(1959).
Horning was nominated twice in 1960, also receiving a nod for his work onAlfred HitchcockclassicNorth by Northwest.
Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in 1939’s ‘Gone With the Wind’.Everett Collection
To this day, he remains the only posthumous winner for Best Picture.
Eric Orbom,Spartacus
The mid-century was dominated by Biblical and sword-and-sandal epics.
Ultimately, it won four Oscars, including a posthumous win for art director Eric Orbom.
Everett Collection
So, it stands to reason he would’ve eked out one last posthumous win.
He died of a heart attack while filmingTess(and consequently shared this posthumous win with Ghislain Cloquet).
Unsworth had the only posthumous win in the entire 1980s, coming in at the start of the decade.
Everett Collection
His partner Bill Lauch accepted the Oscar alongside Alan Menken for the film’s title song.
Ashman had won for Best Song previously alongside Menken forThe Little Mermaid’s"Under the Sea."
His son, who is also a cinematographer, accepted the award on his behalf.
Everett Collection
His no-holds-barred take on iconicBatmanvillain the Joker was a fan favorite from the moment the film was released.
Ledger’s family accepted the Oscar on his behalf.
Friesen passed away by the time the film was released and won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2014.
Everett Collection
Everett Collection
Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images; Everett Collection
Everett Collection
Everett Collection
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images; Everett Collection
Heath Ledger as the Joker in ‘The Dark Knight’.Everett Collection
Darlene Love in ‘20 Feet From Stardom’.Radius / TWC
