It is fair to say that there have been many comic book characters who have had definitive adaptations on-screen. Hugh Jackman, Robert Downey Jr. and Christopher Reeve have all provided performances so iconic that it would be difficult to imagine anyone else in their respective roles. The Joker (like Batman) is different in that there have been many iconic performances from a range of different actors in the role. Here I will be looking through the main versions of the character that have graced our screens.

Caesar Romero (1966-1968)

Romero’s version of the character may look silly by our modern standards but it is important to see his take as the first step on the journey. Like most villains in the Adam West TV series, his Joker is flamboyant, silly and campy. Yet, Romero provided the foundations for the character which other actors would build on in the years to come. Just try to forget about the actor’s real-life moustache which can clearly be seen under the clown makeup.

Jack Nicholson (1989)

At the time, Nicholson’s portrayal of the character was deemed untouchable. To such an extent that when Heath Ledger was announced in the role, fans were sure that Nicholson would never topped. His portrayal of the character certainly has fantastic moments as Nicholson took what Romero did and made it darker and weirder. He is also the only version of the character in film that is responsible for the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents.

Mark Hamill (1992 – 2015)

It is indisputable that Hamill has provided the definitive voice for the Joker over the past twenty years or so. What started as a role in Batman: The Animated Series soon became a phenomenon as Hamill has voiced the character in everything from video games to animated movies. His Joker has all of the unhinged grit you would expect along with a crucial sense of humour . Hamill is rare among the actors here in that he has played the character longer than anybody else.

Heath Ledger (2008)

It is hard to write anything about Ledger’s interpretation of the Joker in The Dark Knight that hasn’t already been written. His version of the character is undoubtedly one of the great screen performances of the all time. What makes it so effective however are the little nuances that can be picked up after repeat viewings. Interestingly, Ledger’s Joker is also first seen wearing a mask strikingly similar to one worn by Caesar Romero in the Batman TV series.

Jared Leto (2016)

Not many people like Suicide Squad or Leto’s version of the Joker that featured in it. While Leto was good in the role, his take on the character was less memorable than previous takes. After Nicholson’s gangster turned artist and Ledger’s psychotic anarchist, Leto’s tattooed gangster/pimp just didn’t cut it. It has to be said that this version of the character is interesting but never iconic.

Joaquin Phoenix (2019)

And so, we are now up-to-date with Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker. While it is hard to judge a character in a film that hasn’t been released yet, early buzz suggests that this will be another iconic take on the character. This time, the Joker will be seen as a hopeless comedian left struggling due to horrific treatment by the ruling classes. Whatever happens, it will be interesting to see a new take on the character. I’m just happy that there is no ‘Damaged’ tattoo on his forehead this time around.

Image Credits:

Suicide Squad Trailer Finally Released!, AntMan3001, Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0), some rights reserved.

The Joker PNG image with transparent background, pngimg.com, Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0), some rights reserved.

Arkham Asylum Joker Screenshot 1 1680×1050, Jay Prospero, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), some rights reserved.

The Dark Knight, muammerokumus, Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0), some rights reserved.

The Joker PNG image with transparent background, pngimg.com, Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0), some rights reserved.

Joaquin Pheonix’s Joker Look + Set Photos Officially Revealed!, AntMan3001, Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0), some rights reserved.

Disclaimer Notice: Any thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely my own. Any images (copyrighted or otherwise) have been used according to Creative Commons and if needed, have been referenced to the best of my knowledge.

© 2020 Kelly’s Film Guide