The Joker

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Lore & Background

The Joker's mythology is explored in Gotham through twin brothers Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska, both portrayed by Cameron Monaghan. Believing that the Joker should not precede Batman, showrunner Bruno Heller initially did not want to use the character, but later decided to 'scratch the surface' of his origin because 'this is America — nobody wants to wait.' Jerome is introduced in the first season as the mentally unhinged son of a nymphomaniac circus performer. Despite being killed at the start of the second season, he becomes a martyr for various Gothamites. While Monaghan was not comfortable drawing from the previous live-action actors who had played the Joker, he took influence from Mark Hamill in his performance as well as various comic books featuring the character. In the fourth and fifth seasons, Jeremiah was introduced, with the intention that he would represent different characteristics of the Joker. While it was never confirmed whether he would go on to become the Joker following the series finale, the DC FanDome documentary Joker: Put on a Happy Face included Jeremiah among the various iterations of the character adapted for film and television across his 80-year history. The Joker appears in Batman (1989), portrayed by Jack Nicholson in the present and Hugo Blick in flashbacks. This version, previously known as Jack Napier, is a self-described 'fully functional homicidal artist' who previously served as mob boss Carl Grissom's right hand and killed Bruce Wayne's parents Thomas and Martha Wayne years prior. While fighting Bruce as Batman in the present, Napier suffers a facial scar from a ricocheting bullet before falling into a vat of Axis Chemicals chemical waste, which turns his skin white, hair green, and lips red. Following a botched plastic surgery operation, Napier is left with a permanent rictus grin. Driven insane by his reflection, he becomes the Joker, kills Grissom, takes over his syndicate, and goes on a crime spree to 'outdo' Batman, who he feels is getting too much press, in addition to seeking revenge on him for his disfigurement.

In Their Own Story

The Joker appears in Batman (1966), portrayed by Cesar Romero whose moustache remained visible underneath his facial makeup as he refused to shave it for the role. This version is based on his comic book appearances in the 1960s as an elaborate prankster with a Vaudeville-esque sense of humor who wields harmless weapons. The Joker appears in the Batman OnStar commercial 'Joker Face', portrayed by Curtis Armstrong. The Joker appears in Birds of Prey, portrayed by Roger Stoneburner and voiced by Mark Hamill. The Joker makes a cameo appearance in the Powerless episode 'Wayne or Lose'. The Joker makes cameo appearances in Titans, portrayed by Mustafa Bulut. The Joker appears in flashbacks depicted in the third season of Batwoman, portrayed by Nathan Dashwood. Similarly to Jack Nicholson's portrayal, this version's real name is 'Jack Napier'. Additionally, he was indirectly responsible for separating Kate Kane from her sister and mother, Beth and Gabrielle Kane, before Batman killed the Joker years prior. Before then, the latter exposed Marquis Jet (portrayed by Nick Creegan) to his joy buzzer, rendering him insane and leading to him attempting to continue the Joker's legacy in the present before he is defeated and has his sanity restored by Batwoman. The Joker appears in the Snickers commercial. The Joker appears in the State Farm commercial, including an extended cut released later.

Reader's Guide

The Joker has been portrayed by multiple actors across live-action and animation. In live-action, Cesar Romero played him in the 1966 Batman series and film; Jack Nicholson in Batman (1989); Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008); Jared Leto in Suicide Squad (2016) and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021); Cameron Monaghan as twin brothers Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska in Gotham; and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker (2019) and Joker: Folie à Deux (2024). In animation, Mark Hamill voiced the Joker in the DC Animated Universe (Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Static Shock) and other projects like Justice League Action and Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?. Other voice actors include Larry Storch (The Adventures of Batman, The New Scooby-Doo Movies), Lennie Weinrib (The New Adventures of Batman), Frank Welker (The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians), Kevin Michael Richardson (The Batman 2004), Jeff Bennett (Batman: The Brave and the Bold), Brent Spiner (Young Justice), Jason Spisak (Teen Titans Go!), Alan Tudyk (Harley Quinn), and Mick Wingert (Batwheels). The Joker appears in Batman: Caped Crusader, voiced initially by an uncredited voice actor and subsequently by Matthew Needham; this Joker is German, rarely smiles, and has a calm demeanor, calling Batman 'Brother'.

Did You Know?

• Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor, respectively, for their portrayals of the Joker.
• The Joker is one of only three characters played by two actors to win Oscars for both portrayals, alongside Vito Corleone from The Godfather and Anita from West Side Story.
• Cesar Romero refused to shave his moustache for the role, so it remained visible underneath his Joker makeup in the 1966 Batman series and film.
• In the Gotham series, the Joker's mythology is explored through twin brothers Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska, both portrayed by Cameron Monaghan.
• Mark Hamill has voiced the Joker in multiple animated series and films, including Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and Justice League Action.