3:33
Phoenix's portrayal of Arthur Fleck in \"Joker\" marks the second time in Oscar history that an actor has won an Academy Award for playing the same character.
Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for best supporting actor for his performance playing the Joker in \"The Dark Knight\" in 2009.
The first actors that accomplished this feat were Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro for their portrayals of Vito Corleone in \"The Godfather\" and the film's second installment, \"The Godfather Part II.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/joker-joaquin-phoenix-ht-ml-190403_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Phoenix's best actor Oscar win marks the culmination of his successful awards season run.
He's taken home the award for best actor in a motion picture drama at the Golden Globes, lead actor at the BAFTAs, outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role at the SAG Awards and best actor at the Critics' Choice Awards among many other accolades.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Joker Movie (@jokermovie) on Nov 25, 2019 at 10:08am PST
During past acceptance speeches for the various awards he's received, the actor has used his platform to call out issues he is passionate about, like the lack of diversity in Hollywood and environmental advocacy.
In an impassioned speech while accepting his BAFTA award earlier this month, Phoenix called out \"systemic racism\" in the film industry. That award show notably drew criticism for its all-white list of nominees in all four leading categories.
\"I think that we send a very clear message to people of color that you are not welcome here,\" he said. \"I think that is the message that we are sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry -- and in ways that we benefit from.\"
He also acknowledged his own shortcomings, adding that he is \"ashamed to say that I am part of the problem.\"
\"This is not a self-righteous condemnation ... I have not done everything in my power to ensure that the sets I work on are inclusive,\" he shared. \"But I think that it's more than just having sets that are multicultural.\"
\"I think that we have to really do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism,\" he noted. \"I think that it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit from a system of oppression to be the one to dismantle it. So that’s on us.\"
During his speech at the Globes, Phoenix thanked the HFPA \"for recognizing and acknowledging the link between animal agriculture and climate change\" with its plant-based menu at the show. He also commended the Critics’ Choice Awards for having a plant-based menu.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Joker Movie (@jokermovie) on Nov 3, 2019 at 4:41pm PST
\"It’s great to vote, but sometimes we have to take on that responsibility on ourselves and make changes and sacrifices in our own lives and I hope that we can do that,\" he added. \"We don’t have to take private jets to Palm Springs for the awards, sometimes, or back.\"
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