"The Joker": Actors Who Have Portrayed The 'Batman' Villain

"The Joker" was created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson in 1940. In the same year, the character appeared in the first Batman comic book. The creators based his appearance in part on Conrad Veidt's character in the 1928 film The Man Who Laughs. In live-action films and television series, "The Joker" has been portrayed by five actors. The first was in 1966 and the most recent was in 2019. Numerous actors have also voiced the "Batman" archenemy in animated adaptations and video games. Another performer could soon join the list for the upcoming Batman film trilogy starring Robert Pattinson!

Cesar Romero was the first actor to portray "The Joker." He did so in the original Batman TV series opposite Adam West's "Batman." Romero was born in New York City in 1907 and died at the age of 86 in 1994. His career featured hundreds of film and television roles, for which he earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Cesar Romero landed the role as the first "Joker" for the classic Batman TV series. It ran for three seasons and 120 episodes from 1966 to 1968. Romero also reprised the role in the 1966 film Batman. The actor refused to shave his moustache for the role, so the villain's trademark make-up was painted on over it. Romero's "Joker" made TV Guide's list of "The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time."

Jack Nicholson is one of the most celebrated actors in the history of film. He's the all-time record holder among men at the Academy Awards with 12 career nominations. He won three Oscars, including two for Best Actor and one for Best Supporting Actor. Among his great body of work, Nicholson's 1989 portrayal of "The Joker" is one of his most popular roles!

Jack Nicholson's "Joker" is the main villain opposite Michael Keaton's "Batman" in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie. The character's origins as "Jack Napier" are shown in the film. Nicholson's flamboyant and evil portrayal of "The Joker" is highly regarded in the history of the Batman franchise.

Mark Hamill follows Jack Nicholson in the chronology of "Joker" actors. He first voiced the character in the animated film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm in 1993. His voice portrayal of "The Joker" has been very popular. In the decades that followed Mask of the Phantasm, Hamill has voiced the character in over 20 films, TV shows, and video game adaptations. Over the years, fans have sought a live-action film with the Star Wars actor as "The Joker," but that's yet to materialize.

One of Mark Hamill's more recent outings as the voice of "The Joker" was in 2016's Batman: The Killing Joke. In addition to Hamill, several other voice actors have brought the character to the screen over the years. These skilled voice performers have included Troy Baker, Michael Emerson, John DiMaggio, Brent Spiner, Steve Blum, Jeff Bennett, and Kevin Michael Richardson. With Hamill, this group has voiced the "Batman" nemesis across dozens of animated films, TV series, and video games.

Jack Nicholson's name was long synonymous with "The Joker" after his 1989 portrayal of the character. But Australian actor Heath Ledger challenged that history with his performance in 2008's The Dark Knight. The actor tragically died of an accidental overdose shortly after filming his part as "The Joker," for which he posthumously won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Heath Ledger gave a haunting performance as "The Joker" in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. The film spawned some of the more memorable moments in the 21st century of the superhero genre, including a scene where "The Joker" describes how he got his scars. Ledger posthumously received many awards for his supporting role in the film.

Jared Leto created much buzz ahead of his portrayal of "The Joker" in Suicide Squad in 2016. His performance gained notoriety for his in-character behaviour on set. It remains possible that Leto could reprise his "Joker" in the upcoming sequel to the film, but that hasn't been confirmed as of yet. The actor is an Oscar winner for his role in 2013's Dallas Buyers Club. He's also the frontman of the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars.