Photo: Tony Barson/WireImage; Snap Stills/REX/Shutterstock
01of 14Joaquin Phoenix / Joker (2019)Dominique Charriau/WireImage2013’s Walk the Line actorJoaquin Phoenixtook on the role of Batman’s infamous super villain in the 2019 film that’s quite different from its predecessors, as it serves as the origin story of the killer clown.TitledJoker, the plot chronicles the evolution of outcast Arthur Fleck and his slow descent into a mad murderer — transforming into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.It’s no surprise Phoenix took home a variety of awards (including the2020 Best Actor Oscar) for his portrayal of the character due to the work he put in to prepare.Similar toJared Leto’s Joker approach, Phoenix transformed physically and mentally with his method madness — losing 52 pounds for the role!“It turns out, that affects your psychology. You start to go mad when you lose that amount of weight in that amount of time,“the actor saidat the Venice Film Festival.
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Joaquin Phoenix / Joker (2019)
Dominique Charriau/WireImage
2013’s Walk the Line actorJoaquin Phoenixtook on the role of Batman’s infamous super villain in the 2019 film that’s quite different from its predecessors, as it serves as the origin story of the killer clown.
TitledJoker, the plot chronicles the evolution of outcast Arthur Fleck and his slow descent into a mad murderer — transforming into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.
It’s no surprise Phoenix took home a variety of awards (including the2020 Best Actor Oscar) for his portrayal of the character due to the work he put in to prepare.
Similar toJared Leto’s Joker approach, Phoenix transformed physically and mentally with his method madness — losing 52 pounds for the role!
“It turns out, that affects your psychology. You start to go mad when you lose that amount of weight in that amount of time,“the actor saidat the Venice Film Festival.
02of 14Zach Galifianakis / The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Warner BrosThat’s right — the best-loved character inThe Hangoverseries voiced the Clown Prince of Crime himself in the animated comedy spin,The LEGO Batman movie(2017).Zack Galifianakis, 48, starred in the follow-up to 2014’s hit LEGO movie, a timely revival of DC fan’s spirits following the negative reception ofSuicide Squadthe previous year. Featuring a collection of non-stop action, Batsongs, jokes at previous films, and comically self-aware characters, the movie received a significant 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, breaking over $300 million at the box office.The LEGO Batman movie sequel is set for February 8, 2019.
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Zach Galifianakis / The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Warner Bros
That’s right — the best-loved character inThe Hangoverseries voiced the Clown Prince of Crime himself in the animated comedy spin,The LEGO Batman movie(2017).
Zack Galifianakis, 48, starred in the follow-up to 2014’s hit LEGO movie, a timely revival of DC fan’s spirits following the negative reception ofSuicide Squadthe previous year. Featuring a collection of non-stop action, Batsongs, jokes at previous films, and comically self-aware characters, the movie received a significant 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, breaking over $300 million at the box office.
The LEGO Batman movie sequel is set for February 8, 2019.
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Jared Leto / Suicide Squad (2016)
In 2016, Academy Award-winning actorJared Leto, 46, took a stab at DC’s esteemed supervillain, the first major onscreen debut sinceHeath Ledger’s performance in 2008’sThe Dark Knight— an act critics agreed was tough to follow.
Despite its overall negative reception,Suicide Squad(2016), starring actors likeWill Smith,Margot Robbie, andViola Davis, defied its reviews to become a box office smash.
04of 14Troy Baker / Arkham: Origins Video Game (2013)Allen Berezovsky/WireImage; Warner Bros.Troy Baker, 42, is one of the only actors to have ever voiced both the Joker and his black-caped crusader, Batman. A prominent video game actor, Baker played the infamous antihero in the 2013 gameArkham: Origins.Baker provided the voice of Two-Face and Robin in its 2012 prequel gameBatman: Arkham City, and will be lending his voice to Batman in the upcoming sequel toLEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroesin 2019.
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Troy Baker / Arkham: Origins Video Game (2013)
Allen Berezovsky/WireImage; Warner Bros.
Troy Baker, 42, is one of the only actors to have ever voiced both the Joker and his black-caped crusader, Batman. A prominent video game actor, Baker played the infamous antihero in the 2013 gameArkham: Origins.
Baker provided the voice of Two-Face and Robin in its 2012 prequel gameBatman: Arkham City, and will be lending his voice to Batman in the upcoming sequel toLEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroesin 2019.
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Michael Emerson / Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2012)
Michael Emerson, 63, best known for his inscrutable role as Ben on the hit seriesLost(2004-2010), plays an older, crazier joker determined to bring Bruce Wayne out of his retirement in the animated film,Batman: The Dark Knight Returns(2012).
The Golden Globe nominee, who’s starred in films likeSaw(2004) andJumping of Bridges(2006) is no stranger to darker roles, finding it easier than some of his counterparts to access the character’s demented persona.
“I have to say that I don’t really have to search very far and wide to find a twisted or dangerous character,” the actor said in a videointerview, “It’s actually harder for me to play untwisted.”
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Brent Spiner / Young Justice Series (2010)
Barry King/Getty Images;
Spiner, best known for his role as Data in theStar Trekfranchise voiced the Joker in the series centered on teenage superheroes like Robin and Superboy, intended to be the younger version of the famous adult Justice League.
Despite popular fan support, the show was cancelled in 2013 after its second season. However, Warner Bros announced its revival in 2016 with a third season,Young Justice: Outsiders, set for a 2019 release.
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John DiMaggio / Batman: Under The Red Hood (2010)
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Warner Bros.
Animation’s voice king John DiMaggio, 49, one of the industry’s most talented voice actors, took the reigns as Batman’s ultimate enemy in the animated filmBatman: Under The Red Hood(2010).
08of 14Heath Ledger / The Dark Knight (2008)Tony Barson/WireImage; Snap Stills/REX/ShutterstockIn what was perhaps the most celebrated Joker portrayal of all time,Heath Ledgerwas posthumously awarded the Oscar for Best Actor following his performance in the critically acclaimed sequel toBatman Begins(2005),The Dark Knight(2008).Ledger died on Jan. 22, 2008, after atoxicology report revealed a fatal mix of prescription drugs in his system. An avid method actor, he committed several weeks to getting into the mindset of the character. “I sat around in a hotel room in London for about a month, locked myself away, formed a little diary and experimented with voices,“he told Empire Online.
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Heath Ledger / The Dark Knight (2008)
Tony Barson/WireImage; Snap Stills/REX/Shutterstock
In what was perhaps the most celebrated Joker portrayal of all time,Heath Ledgerwas posthumously awarded the Oscar for Best Actor following his performance in the critically acclaimed sequel toBatman Begins(2005),The Dark Knight(2008).
Ledger died on Jan. 22, 2008, after atoxicology report revealed a fatal mix of prescription drugs in his system. An avid method actor, he committed several weeks to getting into the mindset of the character. “I sat around in a hotel room in London for about a month, locked myself away, formed a little diary and experimented with voices,“he told Empire Online.
09of 14Steve Blum / Lego Batman: The Videogame (2008)Barry King/FilmMagic; Warner Bros.Since Steve Blum’s voice acting debut in 1992, he’s appeared in numerous video games, notably as Batman’s arch nemesis in 2008’sLego Batman.Blum, 58, has experience voicing other superhero villains like Lex Luthor, Spike fromCowboy Bebop(1998-2003) and Sub Zero from theMortal Kombat(1992) games. In the video game, players navigate the Joker’s funhouse to stop him from releasing his toxic laughing gas.
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Steve Blum / Lego Batman: The Videogame (2008)
Barry King/FilmMagic; Warner Bros.
Since Steve Blum’s voice acting debut in 1992, he’s appeared in numerous video games, notably as Batman’s arch nemesis in 2008’sLego Batman.
Blum, 58, has experience voicing other superhero villains like Lex Luthor, Spike fromCowboy Bebop(1998-2003) and Sub Zero from theMortal Kombat(1992) games. In the video game, players navigate the Joker’s funhouse to stop him from releasing his toxic laughing gas.
10of 14Jeff Bennett / Batman: The Brave and The Bold (2008)David Livingston/Getty Images; Cartoon NetworkJeff Bennett, 55, best known for the voice of the mid 90s animated seriesJohnny Bravo(1997-2004), took on an alternate version of the typical animated DC Universe film adaptations.InBatman: The Brave and The Bold, the characters' designs were modeled after those from the ’60s era, creating a lighter-hearted tone throughout the movie, better suited toward younger audiences.
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Jeff Bennett / Batman: The Brave and The Bold (2008)
David Livingston/Getty Images; Cartoon Network
Jeff Bennett, 55, best known for the voice of the mid 90s animated seriesJohnny Bravo(1997-2004), took on an alternate version of the typical animated DC Universe film adaptations.
InBatman: The Brave and The Bold, the characters' designs were modeled after those from the ’60s era, creating a lighter-hearted tone throughout the movie, better suited toward younger audiences.
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Kevin Michael Richardson / The Batman (2004)
J. Countess/Getty Images; WB
Richardson, who voiced Lex Luthor in the 1992 DC Animated Universe and Cleveland Brown inThe Cleveland Show (2009),told GeekMomthat the Joker was his favorite character to play. “He was like a crazy sick sandwich. He had his highs and lows and the laugh, I almost passed out every time doing that laugh, but I would love to do it again,” he said.
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Mark Hamill / Batman the Animated Series (1992)
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; WB
Of all the actors that have filled the Joker’s evil and maniacal shoes,Mark Hamillhas done it the longest.
Kicking off the DC Animated Universe with his first appearance in the Emmy-nominatedBatman the Animated Series(1992), Hamill has since gone on to star in adaptations ofThe Justice LeagueandSuperman.
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Jack Nicholson / Batman (1989)
“Tim Burton’s a genius. He had the right take on it. That’s why I did the movie,” he said. “I did the movie based on a single conversation with him. We both come from the cartoon world originally. We had similar ideas.”
14of 14Cesar Romero / The Batman Series (1966)Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images; ABC/Getty ImagesThe original Joker, Cesar Romero, was known for his acting and singing skills well before playing the iconic character in the first of the caped vigilante films,Batman: The Movie(1966).Adam West, the actor playing Batman, said that Romero “brought an enormous amount of energy to the role,” in theA&E documentary seriesBiography,adding, “I don’t know how he did it.” Romero, however, found the performance relatively easy: “When [you] get in an outfit like that…you fall right into it,” he said in the same special.
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Cesar Romero / The Batman Series (1966)
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images; ABC/Getty Images
The original Joker, Cesar Romero, was known for his acting and singing skills well before playing the iconic character in the first of the caped vigilante films,Batman: The Movie(1966).
Adam West, the actor playing Batman, said that Romero “brought an enormous amount of energy to the role,” in theA&E documentary seriesBiography,adding, “I don’t know how he did it.” Romero, however, found the performance relatively easy: “When [you] get in an outfit like that…you fall right into it,” he said in the same special.
source: people.com
