'Slumdog Millionaire' Wins Big at the 81st Annual Academy Awards, Ledger wins posthumous Oscar

"Slumdog Millionaire" - the year's underdog tale - took eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, Sunday night at the 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony.

The late Heath Ledger won the long-anticipated Best Supporting Actor for "The Dark Knight," while Sean Penn won his second Best Actor award for "Milk," and Kate Winslet, after five previous tries, finally came out victorious as Best Actress for "The Reader."

Ledger became the second performer ever honored with a posthumous Oscar. As his father, Kim; his sister Kate and his mother, Sally Bell, went onstage to accept his statuette, the celebrities in the Kodak Theatre teared up.

"We'd like to thank the Academy for recognizing our son's amazing work," said his father.

"Heath was such a compassionate and generous soul who added excitement and inspiration to our lives," said his mother. "We choose to be happy tonight for what he has achieved."

Kate Ledger closed the family's comments, invoking Ledger and actress Michelle Williams' 3-year-old daughter.

"Heath, we wish you were here - we proudly accept this award on behalf of your beautiful Matilda."

Penn beat the heavily favored real-life underdog Mickey Rourke. He spoke of equal rights and shame for Californians who voted for a ban on gay marriage.

"You Commie, homo-loving sons of guns - I know how hard I make it to appreciate me," joked Penn as he stood at the podium, before pointing out Rourke and celebrating him.

Winslet recalled the first time she had dreamed of winning an Oscar.

"I'd be lying if I said I haven't made a version of this speech before - I was probably 8 years old and looking in the bathroom mirror and this was a shampoo bottle.

"Well, it's not a shampoo bottle now," she said.

Penelope Cruz won Best Supporting Actress for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

"Has anyone ever fainted up here?" Cruz said, "because I may be the first one."

"Slumdog's" first of 10 possible wins was for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also got Best Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Film Editing, Original Score and Best Song ("Jai Ho") in addition to Director and Picture.

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which went into the evening with the most nominations - 13 - won only for Best Art Direction, Makeup and Visual Effects.

"The Dark Knight," last year's No. 1 blockbuster, won Best Sound Editing in addition to Ledger's win.

"Milk" won Best Original Screenplay. "WALL-E" won Best Animated Feature.

The 18th century outfits of "The Duchess" won Best Costume Design. "Man on Wire" won Documentary Feature; "Smile Pinki" won Documentary Short Subject.