Iconic Movie Jokers: From Jack Nicholson to Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix

Joker is one of most iconic comic book villains. He is also kwn as clown prince of Gotham and arch-nemesis of fan favourite DC superhero Batman. re are several actors who have portrayed character on screen.

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Actors who played Joker

Cesar Romero

first actor to play Joker was Cesar Romero in 1960s Batman television series. He reprised his role in 1966 film Batman. Joker was a member of United Underworld, alongside fellow Gotham City villains  Penguin,  Riddler, and Catwoman.

Romero kept his Latin lover moustache in white makeup. His version of Joker was more a harmless fraud than a reckless Gotham villain, which was fairly good at time. He h a childlike sense of mischief in both, TV series and film.

Jack Nicholson

In Tim Burton’s 1989 film Batman, Jack Nicholson took on mantle of Joker. inspiration for character was taken from Alan Moore’s comic, Killing Joke.

It showed transformation of Jack Napier into Joker, as he falls into a vat of chemical waste, turning his skin white, his hair green, and his lips red. With Nicholson’s natural smile, which stood at par with Joker, his performance was praised. He played both, wise gangster and lunatic with perfection.

Nicholson's performance was openly cruel, which gave many children’s nightmare, but also hilarious and clever. His Joker is also famous for line,"Have you ever danced with devil in pale moonlight?"

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Heath Ledger

One of best portrayal of Joker is Heath Ledger's. He played character in Christopher lan’s Dark Knight in 2008. Joker is hired by Gotham City's mob bosses to kill Batman and anunces that he will kill people every day until Batman takes off his mask in public and surrenders himself to police.

Ledger stunned everyone with his finest performance of manic clown. He set a new benchmark as schizophrenic, mass-murdering, psychopathic clown with zero empathy. actor won several awards.

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Jared Leto

After a milestone act by Heath Ledger, depiction of villain was more observed by audiences. Jared Leto played Joker in DC Extended Universe in Suicide Squ. It shows how clown prince of Gotham, turns Dr Harleen Quinzel into Harley Quinn and n rescues her from a dely mission.

Leto impersonation of character received several backlashes from many, as expectations were high. However, ors praise him for his performances in much less screen time. It was a modern gangster depiction. 

Joaquin Phoenix

Todd Philips’s Joker, a standalone film of character, stars Joaquin Phoenix in titular role. He portrays Arthur Flex, a party clown and aspiring stand-up comedian who suffers from a mental illness that causes pathological laughter. Due to uncertain events, he turned into mman.

Phoenix received immense appreciation for his unique representation of both comedian and maniac. actor is on a streak of winning several awards for his performance.

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