As one of the most iconic villains of all time,Joker appeared in the Batman films.Psychopath as a clownThe Joker continues to attract audiences, regularly topping lists of the greatest comic book characters of all time. Naturally, the Joker has been reimagined by various writers, artists, animators, and actors throughout its long history, from giggling annoyance to cold-blooded killer.
Over the years, a total of six actors (playing seven versions of the character) have made the Joker their own character in various projects.Here is a list of all the actors who have ever played the Joker, excluding unofficial or fan films.
Cesar Romero (Batman - 1966)
Romero, notoriously vain, refused to shave off his mustache for the role - the dark hair visible under the Joker's iconic white make-up for most if not all of his run. Romero's laid-back approach is not only a funny little thing, but also a stark contrast to the intense psychological process that would later define the role in the eyes of the media. While hardly the best version of the character, Romero's Joker worked well within the campy, tongue-in-cheek limits of the 60s TV show - playing the character three years later and a spin-off film. batman: The Movie, in 1966.
Jack Nicholson (Batman - 1989)
Jack Nicholson's JokerBatman" Tim Burton (1989) marked a change in public perception of the character; unexpectedly "worthy" and "defiant" in the eyes of snobbish critics as a result of Nicholson's casting - nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA after the film's success. Nicholson is phenomenal in this role - he is able to portray the anarchist lunatics better than anyone else - and works with devilish glee opposite Michael Keaton's stoic Batman. Full of weird tics and odd variations, Jack Nicholson's Joker holds nothing back; more ruthless and sadistic than anything the public has seen in the superhero genre up to this point.
Despite the terrible end during the climaxBatman, Nicholson's Joker was supposed to be back inBatman Unchained a proposed fifth film in the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher series, in which Nicholson would reprise his role as a hallucination caused by the Scarecrow. Unfortunately, afterBatman and Robin" (1997) failed miserably, the studio decided to go in a different direction - to cancel "Batman Unchained" and with it, any realistic possibility that Nicholson would ever return to the role he helped define.
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight - 2008)
While Jack Nicholson received acclaim and award nominations for his take on the Joker, the late Heath Ledger actually won an Oscar for his role in Christopher Nolan's filmThe Dark Knight" (2008); another major milestone regarding the character's legacy that will raise the bar for all future skins. Nolan's views on myths aboutBatman were that the characters were placed in a more violent and modern setting than audiences are used to in superhero films – with Heath Ledger's Joker representing one of America's greatest fears: terrorism. As a result, he was absolutely intimidating, yet still conveyed the character's twisted sense of humor and remains the high point against which all other Jokers are compared.
Jared Leto
As DC aims to create its own cinematic universe similar to Marvel's MCU, Jared Leto has been announced to play the Joker inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but his role was dropped from the final film - instead, Leto made his debut inSuicide Squad David Ayer.
Joker Leto is something of a departure from previous incarnations; Looks more like a pimp than a clown, with tattoos, bars and a cane. While Leto's performance was acclaimed by critics, DC fans were more critical - many people didn't like the urban-style update.
Cameron Monaghan (Gotham - 2014)
Originally intended to tell the story of Jim Gordon's early days at the Gotham City Police Department and later expanded to include the misadventures of a young Bruce Wayne,Gotham worked for the Fox network for five seasons, introducing two new versions of the Joker, both played by Cameron Monaghan. Although the show's writers were keen to include the Joker in bulk, they realized that his origin was dependent on Batman and thus would not work within the prequel's schedule. Instead, they decided to use various elements of the Joker's personality - twin brothers Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska acted as cultural precursors to the real Joker.
Monaghan has been largely well-received in both roles, becoming a fan-favorite addition to the series - even if his status as the "official" Joker actor is dubious given how it ends.Gotham; leaving the audience to wonder if Monaghan's remaining twin will become the Joker, or rather inspire another character to take up the mantle. Curiously, the idea of the Joker as some sort of social influencer has been gaining momentum in recent years - no doubt a worrying sign of a time when political dissatisfaction and unrest are being felt across much of America.
Joaquin Phoenix
While many fans enjoyed Phillips' dark reimagining of the Joker's origin story, others found it overwhelmingly mean-spirited - though Phoenix's portrayal was generally praised across the board, with most of the film's problems stemming from its highly nihilistic tone and underdeveloped secondary characters. Although intended as a standalone film, its success led to the possibility of a sequel "Joker, in in which Phillips and Phoenix have expressed interest in returning, though no official announcement has yet been made. Anyway,Joker, likely to inspire a wave of R-rated comic book films; miles away from Cesar Romero's camp days, and a boon to insecure male babies everywhere.
