Top 5 Actors To Portray The Joker

The Joker is one of the most iconic characters in all of entertainment history. He has appeared in nearly every medium in multiple different variations, but with each new interpretation the lovably insane traits have remained ever present. Ever since the 60’s actors have been playing the character in multiple ways and seeing as we will be having a new actor in Jared Leto playing the character this summer in Suicide Squad it’s a great time to take a look back at the best actors to have portrayed the character. This includes both the live action performances as well as the vocal performances.  With any list I want to state that this is my opinion and if there is an actor left out feel free to make your own list in the comments. Now on to the countdown!

  1. John DiMaggio – Batman Under The Red Hood (2010)

This voice actor mostly known for his work on Futurama as the loveable, drunk robot Bender gets around when it comes to being in many different animated projects. In the animated film, Batman Under the Red Hood, the Joker plays a crucial part and DiMaggio lends his voice to the clown prince of crime himself.  His portrayal is highly unique in that his voice is played on a more lower register and sinister tone. He’s able to emote a wide range of Joker emotions in his own way. His performance is memorable and deserves recognition for it.

  1. Cesar Romero – Batman (1966)

The 1966 Batman series is a hilarious take on the iconic superhero and with it comes his villains also represented in unique ways.  Cesar Romero was a well respected actor by the time he was offered the part to portray The Joker. In his adaptation of the character he was able to achieve the gleeful evil that was needed in this more comedic take. He was never sinister like most of the other actors on the list, but his portrayal was accurate in achieving the insanity and his love for humor.  He certainly was a clown and it was very fitting for the show.

  1. Jack Nicholson – Batman (1989)

At this point in his career Jack Nicholson was an acclaimed and highly respected actor. When it came time to finally bring Batman to the bring screen in a darker tone it was also important to have him face his greatest adversary. Nicholson came on to the project and played it in the way that only he could play. Some would argue that his portrayal was essentially just the psychotic version of himself, but that worked well with the tone of the film and it worked in this universe.  He balanced silly and sinister and was extremely enjoyable. He even gave us the memorable line, “You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?” His performance was wonderful and every time that I revisit it I enjoy it more and more.

  1. Heath Ledger  – The Dark Knight (2008)

When Christopher Nolan reinvented the world of Batman in Batman Begins people wondered how he would follow up. He did so in casting someone that most people believed would not work, but ended up being surprising by easily becoming the greatest live action representation of the character so far. Ledger’s performance is creepy and hilarious all at once and it made the character and this adaptation extremely prominent in the eyes of the general public yet again. By the time the film had been released Ledger had passed away, but it didn’t stop  him from getting praise for his performance including receiving an Academy Award.

  1. Mark Hamill – Multiple Appearances

Mark Hamill came on to the role of The Joker back in 1992 with Batman: The Animated Series and since then he has become the iconic and quintessential voice of the character. His voice embodies the range of expressions that the character emotes from sinister all the way up to silly and ridiculous. With his latest performance appearing in this summer’s Killing Joke animated film it is still impressive that he continues to provide his voice and bring life to the character. In my view his knowledge of the character and how to portray him makes him the best Joker of all time.

Christian Michael Stoic

Christian Michael Stoic

Christian Michael Stoic is a writer, filmmaker, and comic lover from Los Angeles, CA. Heroic Hollywood is his introduction into the world of Journalism which...