Christian Bale is known for his onscreen stoicism, but during the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday night, the actor got unexpectedly emotional while watching clips of Heath Ledger.

Bale -- on stage with his "Dark Knight Rises" co-stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gary Oldman -- introduced a video package highlighting both "Batman Begins" and its blockbuster sequel, "The Dark Knight." When the montage ended, Bale was noticeably choked up.

"Man, great to remember Heath in that moment," he said, holding back tears. "Wonderful to see Heath Ledger there."

Ledger famously played The Joker in "Dark Knight," and won a posthumous Academy Award for his efforts. Ledger died on Jan. 22, 2008 after an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

Following Bale's unscripted bit of empathetic humanity, the actor gave way to Gordon-Levitt, who brought director Christopher Nolan out to the stage. Nolan, ever modest, debuted a new trailer for "The Dark Knight Rises" while stating that he hoped fans would enjoy his Batman finale.

Watch Bale's emotional scene above. Check out the new "Dark Knight Rises" footage by clicking here.

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  • Actress Emma Stone arrives at the MTV M

    Actress Emma Stone arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Emma Watson arrives at the MTV M

    Actress Emma Watson arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Charlize Theron arrives at the M

    Actress Charlize Theron arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Kristen Stewart arrives at the M

    Actress Kristen Stewart arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Charlize Theron arrives at the M

    Actress Charlize Theron arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Amy Paffrath arrives at the MTV

    Actress Amy Paffrath arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Holland Roden arrives at the MTV

    Actress Holland Roden arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actor Jackson Rathbone arrives at the M

    Actor Jackson Rathbone arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Musicians Dan Auerbach (L) and Patrick C

    Musicians Dan Auerbach (L) and Patrick Carney of The Black Keys arrive at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • American R&B/soul musician Janelle Monáe

    American R&B/soul musician Janelle Monáe arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actors Ryan Guzman and Kathryn McCormick

    Actors Ryan Guzman and Kathryn McCormick (R) arrive at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Victoria Justice arrives at the

    Actress Victoria Justice arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Paris Hilton (L) and Nicky Hilt

    Actress Paris Hilton (L) and Nicky Hilton arrive at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Paris Hilton (L) and Nicky Hilt

    Actress Paris Hilton (L) and Nicky Hilton arrive at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Comedian Jeff Dye arrives at the MTV Mov

    Comedian Jeff Dye arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Paris Hilton (L) and Nicky Hilt

    Actress Paris Hilton (L) and Nicky Hilton arrive at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Alex Frnka arrives at the MTV Mo

    Actress Alex Frnka arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • TV personality Mario Lopez arrives at th

    TV personality Mario Lopez arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Jessica Lu arrives at the MTV Mo

    Actress Jessica Lu arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actor Jean Claude Van Damme arrives at

    Actor Jean Claude Van Damme arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Shailene Woodley arrives at the

    Actress Shailene Woodley arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actor Josh Hutcherson arrives at the MTV

    Actor Josh Hutcherson arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Elizabeth Banks arrives at the M

    Actress Elizabeth Banks arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Kristen Stewart arrives at the M

    Actress Kristen Stewart arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actor Chris Hemsworth arrives at the MTV

    Actor Chris Hemsworth arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Jenna Dewan-Tatum arrives at the MTV Mov

    Jenna Dewan-Tatum arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actor Channing Tatum (L) and Jenna Dewan

    Actor Channing Tatum (L) and Jenna Dewan-Tatum arrive at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Greer Grammer arrives at the MTV

    Actress Greer Grammer arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Jessica Biel arrives at the MTV

    Actress Jessica Biel arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Shailene Woodley holds her award for "Be

    Shailene Woodley holds her award for 'Best Breakthrough Performance' for her role in 'The Descendants,' in the press room at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Christina Ricci arrives at the M

    Actress Christina Ricci arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GettyImages)