Few villains in popular culture are as beloved as the Joker. Since the 1940’s, the Joker has appeared in several movies. With his maniacal grin, charming personality and psychopathic nature, the Joker has become an iconic figure in popular culture. Throughout cinematic history, the Joker has been portrayed by several commemorated actors. Each actor has offered a distinctive interpretation of the commemorated supervillain. Listed below are my picks for the best actors that have depicted the Joker on film.
1. Heath Ledger
The Joker is a legendary villain that shaped my brother’s identity. As far as I can remember, my brother has always been a big fan of the Joker. I remember forming strong bonds with a brother that was a huge fan of the character. He grew up to embrace a villain holding a special place in his heart that left smiles on his face. Through his love for the Joker, my brother gave me greater appreciation for an iconic comic-book character. My brother adored all the bright actors that played the comic-book villain but his favourite performance was always Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight”. Ever since its release in 2008, Ledger’s film has stood the test of time as a comic-book classic. In the greatest role of his career before his tragic death, Heath Ledger did an extraordinary job portraying the iconic supervillain evoking fear. It isn’t easy to embody a legendary villain in popular culture, but Ledger pulled it off tremendously. Ledger’s greatest strength as an actor has always been his method acting, and it is clearly evident in “The Dark Knight”. With the Joker, Ledger created one of the most iconic villains in cinematic history. To prepare for the role, Ledger spent several months locked up in his hotel perfecting the Joker’s maniacal laugh. Not only did Ledger capture the Joker’s eccentric physical appearance, but he embodied the villain’s maniacal personality. Ledger’s intense commitment towards the role paid off tremendously resulting in one of the greatest performances in cinematic history. For instance, the iconic interrogation scene in which the Joker engages in a tense one-on-one confrontation with the Batman in the police station remains one of the greatest moments of the villain in cinematic history. Ultimately, what made Heath Ledger the greater Joker was his commitment to the role. Ledger poured his heart and soul into creating the character before his death. Ledger managed to capture the essence of the Joker as a complex comic-book villain that inspires terror. Years after he passed away, Ledger’s performance remains the greatest portrayal of the iconic villain today. 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking comic-book film about clownish villains that are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder about a legendary villain whose stories are worth celebrating.
2. Jack Nicholson
Few actors that have ever portrayed the Joker in history have gained the appreciation of Jack Nicholson. Nicholson has always built a commemorated reputation for playing maniacal characters throughout his long-lasting career. He’s one of those actors that always excels at playing crazy characters that are onthe brink of insanity. In this regard, Nicholson was the perfect actor to portray the Joker. Ever since he was first cast in 1989’s “Batman”, Nicholson has always stood out for offering a distinctive take on the comic-book villain. Arguably, the main quality that makes Nicholson stand out from the pantheon of actors that have played the Joker is his sense of humour. Nicholson did an excellent job capturing the twisted sense of humour of the iconic comic-book character. Jack Nicholson has always been one of those actors that excels at playing maniacal characters, and his strengths as an actor are clearly evident in “Batman”. With his maniacal laugh, psychotic expressions and sharp sense of humour, Nicholson created a distinct portrayal of the comic-book character. For instance, the scene in which the Joker invades Bruce Wayne’s home causing terror is one of the greatest moments of the villain in cinematic history. Ultimately, what makes Jack Nicholson stand apart from other actors that have played the Joker is his maniacal mannerisms. Unlike other movie-stars that portrayed the legendary character in the past, Nicholson brought out a maniacal side to the Joker audiences hadn’t seen before. In many ways, Nicholson’s portrayal of the Joker was most faithful towards the comics. While it’s far from a perfect comic-book movie, “Batman” remains a stunning showcase for Jack Nicholson. It remains a great reminder of a legendary actor that thrived at playing maniacal characters in a career that audiences regard highly. As strong as the Joker’s desire to dance like a devil in the moonlight, it’s a breathtaking reminder about a character shining light on barriers heroes fight that hasn’t lost his abilities to captivate audiences in the spotlight.
3. Joaquin Phoenix
Mental illness has shaped my personality. As far back as I can remember, I have always been an anxious person. This anxiety first began in high school when I faced extreme pressure to succeed in a class that was cruel. Unable to cope with the intense pressure posed by studies, I experienced a nervous breakdown that impacted my mental health adversely. I felt humiliated experiencing a panic attack in front of teachers I respected. Few films I’ve ever seen have managed to capture the danger of mental illness as powerfully as “Joker”. Released in 2019, Joaquin Phoenix’s film offered a fresh interpretation of the iconic comic-book villain from the unique perspective of mental health. Joaquin Phoenix has always been one of those actors with a strong commitment to playing each character through his unique approach of method acting. With “Joker”, Phoenix showcased his strengths as an actor. Phoenix brought an emotional vulnerability to the Joker that was missing from previous iterations of the iconic character. In stark contrast towards previous interpretations of the Joker, Phoenix created a sympathetic character facing mental health struggles whom anyone could easily identify with. Out of all the actors that have portrayed the Joker, Joaquin Phoenix has always been the most sympathetic. For instance, the scene in which Joker shoots Murray Franklin on live television after discussing his problematic issues with mental health is one of the most memorable moments of the villain in cinematic history. Ultimately, what makes “Joker” a meaningful comic-book masterpiece is its message. The film delivers a profound message about the importance of mental health which would resonate with everyone. Unlike most comic-book movies that portray the Joker as a villain without humanity, it stands out because of its sympathetic depiction of the iconic comic-book character. A phenomenal portrait of mental illness, it’s a profound reminder of a commemorated villain raising awareness about issues that has become an icon in the entertainment business.
4. Cesar Romero
When it comes to the most iconic actors that played the Joker several years ago, it’s worth discussing Cesar Romero. Several years ago, I formed strong bonds with a grandfather that loved Romero. He would often speak fondly about an actor that he thought did the best job of portraying an iconic comic-book villain in history. We would often have arguments about which actor did the best job of portraying the Joker in movies. Despite our disagreement, I developed a bond with a grandfather that gave me a lifelong love for entertainment. My grandfather admired all the actors portraying the Joker but his favourite version was always Caesar Romero’s portrayal. In 1966, Romero put a fresh stamp on the iconic comic-book character in the film “Batman”. Romero’s performance is significant because it was the first ever live-action portrayal of the Joker on film. Before Romero, no actor had ever portrayed the clown prince of crime on screen that audiences adore. Unlike other characters that have portrayed the Joker in the past, Romero captured the comical nature of the iconic character. Romero brought a goofy sense of humour to the character that was missing from other serious interpretations of the Joker in cinematic history. This goofy sense of humour is clearly evident throughout the 1966 “Batman” movie which offered a fresh comical take on the legendary character. Although Romero’s comical portrayal of the Joker may be considered outdated today, there’s no denying that he transformed the public’s perceptions of the commemorated character in a huge way. A memorable portrayal of a world-famous villain cracking unforgettable jokes that are comical, it’s a powerful reminder of a commemorated character fans consider special.
5. Jared Leto
The Joker is one of those characters that hasn’t always been portrayed perfectly on the big-screen. While most movies have done admirable jobs of portraying the legendary supervillain that’s celebrated, others have fallen short leaving audiences sorely disappointed. Unfortunately, “Suicide Squad” is a flawed movie that failed to celebrate the Joker’s legacy. Released in 2016, Jared Leto’s over-the-top comic-book blockbuster was a disaster that failed to celebrate the Joker. Leto is a great actor that can truly excel when he’s given the right material to work with. However, “Suicide Squad” failed to give him the chance to showcase his strengths as an actor. Leto’s performance as the Joker is widely considered to be the worst portrayal of the character. Leto goes for an over-the-top approach focusing on the maniacal laugh, crazy energy and menacing look of the character. However, he can’t capture what makes the Joker an iconic character. His surface-level performance fails to capture why the Joker is an iconic villain. For instance, the scene in which the Joker interrogates a henchman about Harley Quinn’s whereabouts with homosexual gestures remains one of the worst cinematic portrayals of the character. To be fair, it isn’t entirely Leto’s fault. “Suicide Squad” is a poorly written film that lacked a strong screenplay. One can’t help but wonder whether Leto would have succeeded in the role if he had been given stronger material to work with. Nevertheless, for all its faults Leto’s performance remains a unique take on the Joker. Although it may not be the best portrayal of the character, it definitely stands out as being the most unique. Despite its faults, “Suicide Squad” deserves recognition for offering a unique take on a beloved comic-book character that’s unlike anything audiences have seen before. A strong tribute towards a suicidal supervillain with a smile on his face, it’s a sensational reminder about a commemorated character that will forever hold a special place in my heart for inspiring me to chase dreams of film criticism that I embrace.
The Film Buff 