The Actor Who Played the Original Joker: Cesar Romero and the Makeup War That Defined a Legend

When you think of the Joker today, your mind probably goes straight to Heath Ledger’s greasy, chaotic face paint or Joaquin Phoenix’s haunting, skeletal dance on those Bronx stairs. It’s all very dark. Very serious. But if you hop in a time machine back to 1966, the Clown Prince of Crime was a completely different beast. Honestly, he wasn't even a "beast" at all. He was a cackling, high-camp prankster in a hot pink suit. Cesar Romero, a suave leading man known as the "Latin Lover" of Hollywood, was the actor who played the original Joker on screen, and he did it with a flair that arguably saved the character from comic book obscurity.

Most people don't realize how close the Joker came to being a footnote in history. By the late 1950s, the character had been sidelined in the comics, appearing less and less as DC tried to move away from the grim origins of the 1940s. Then came the Batman TV show. It changed everything. Romero didn’t just play the role; he inhabited it with a manic energy that defined the villain for an entire generation of kids who grew up glued to their wood-paneled television sets.

The Mustache That Wouldn't Die

There is one legendary piece of trivia that every Batman fan needs to know about Romero. It's the mustache. Romero was incredibly proud of his signature facial hair. He’d spent years cultivating this sophisticated, thin mustache that helped him land roles as a dashing romantic lead in films like The Thin Man Goes Home. When 20th Century Fox told him he had to shave it to play the Joker, Romero basically told them to take a hike. He refused.

So, what did the makeup department do? They just slapped thick white greasepaint right over it.

If you watch those old episodes in high definition today—or even if you just look closely at a still photo—you can clearly see the texture of his mustache under the white paint. It’s hilarious. It’s also perfectly "Joker" when you think about it. The sheer audacity of a villain who refuses to groom himself properly for his own chaotic schemes is accidentally brilliant. It added a layer of bizarre, lumpy texture to his face that unintentionally made him look even more unhinged.

Romero’s performance was built on his laugh. It wasn't a growl. It wasn't a sob. It was a high-pitched, musical "Hee-hee-hee!" that he supposedly discovered by accident while looking at production art for the character. He saw the drawing, thought it looked absurd, and let out a spontaneous cackle. The producers heard it and told him, "That’s it. That’s the guy."

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Why the 1966 Joker Still Matters

It’s easy to dismiss the 60s show as "cheesy." It was. It was "Bam! Pow! Zap!" neon-colored silliness. But the actor who played the original Joker had to lay a foundation that allowed for the darker interpretations we see now. Without the popularity of Romero’s version, the character might have stayed in the "Golden Age" vault forever.

Romero’s Joker wasn't a serial killer. He was a nuisance. He wanted to turn the city's water supply into strawberry gelatin or steal a collection of rare art by using a giant magnet. There’s a certain purity to that. In the episode "The Joker Is Wild," which was actually based on a 1952 comic book story (The Joker's Utility Belt), we see the blueprint for the rivalry. It wasn't about deep psychological trauma or "we live in a society" monologues. It was a game.

A Leading Man in a Purple Coat

Before he was the Joker, Cesar Romero was a massive star. We're talking about a guy who danced with Carmen Miranda. He was the epitome of Hollywood elegance. Taking a role where he had to wear a green wig and act like a total lunatic was a huge risk for his "tough guy" or "romantic lead" image. But Romero loved it. He famously said that the Joker was the most fun he ever had on a set because he was allowed to be as big and loud as he wanted.

He appeared in 22 episodes of the series, plus the 1966 feature film. Think about that volume. While Jack Nicholson or Jared Leto had a couple of hours to make their mark, Romero had hours and hours of screen time to flesh out the Joker’s theatricality. He established the "clown" part of the Clown Prince of Crime. Every version since—even the super dark ones—still uses that theatricality. Mark Hamill’s legendary voice acting in Batman: The Animated Series owes a massive debt to Romero’s cadence.

The Evolution of the Grin

When we look at who played the original Joker, we also have to acknowledge the visual transition. In the 1940s comics, the Joker was inspired by Conrad Veidt in the silent film The Man Who Laughs. He was creepy. He was a killer. But by the time Romero got the role, the Comics Code Authority had neutered villains. They couldn't be too scary.

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Romero leaned into the "trickster" archetype. He used gadgets that looked like toys. He had a "Joker-mobile." He had a secret hideout that looked like a circus gone wrong. This era of the character is often called the "Campy Era," but it’s actually the most "comic book" the character has ever been. Modern movies try to make the Joker feel "real," like someone you might actually meet in a dark alley. Romero didn't care about being real. He wanted to be a cartoon come to life.

It’s worth noting that Romero was already in his late 50s when he started playing the role. Most actors at that age are slowing down. Not him. He was jumping, sprinting, and throwing theatrical punches at Adam West with the energy of a teenager. He brought a physical comedy to the role that is often overlooked. The way he would hitch up his shoulders and tilt his head—it was pure vaudeville.

The Legacy Beyond the Greasepaint

Cesar Romero passed away in 1994 at the age of 86. By then, Jack Nicholson had already redefined the role for a new generation in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman. Many people expected Romero to be bitter about being replaced or overshadowed. Instead, he was incredibly gracious. He understood that characters like the Joker are like Shakespearean roles—they are meant to be reinterpreted by every generation.

However, if you ask any fan who grew up in the 60s or 70s, Romero is the only one who matters. He didn't need a tragic backstory. He didn't need to explain why he did what he did. He did it because it was funny. To him, the joke was the point.

Comparing the Originals

While Romero was the first to play him on a TV screen, the character's history is a bit more complex if you look at "firsts" in different mediums.

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1. Cesar Romero (1966): The first actor to play a live-action Joker in a television series and a theatrically released film.
2. Curtis Armstrong (Potential): There were early radio dramas, but the Joker didn't have a definitive "voice" until much later.
3. The Comic Origins (1940): Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger, and Bob Kane created him, but Romero gave him his first physical heartbeat for the masses.

The impact of Romero’s performance is still felt in the merchandising world today. When you see a "Classic Joker" action figure with the bright purple suit and the wide, non-scary grin, that's Romero. He created the visual iconography that lasted for thirty years before the "grim and gritty" movement took over.

Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors

If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of the actor who played the original Joker, you shouldn't just watch the clips on YouTube. You need to see the context of the 1966 series to understand why his performance was so radical.

• Watch "The Joker Is Wild" (Season 1, Episode 5): This is widely considered Romero’s best outing. It’s the first time we see his utility belt and his direct challenge to Batman’s gadgets.
• Look for the 1966 Feature Film: This is where Romero teams up with the Penguin, the Riddler, and Catwoman. It’s a masterclass in ensemble villainy.
• Check out Romero’s non-Batman work: To truly appreciate the transformation, watch him in Captain from Castile. Seeing him as a serious, dramatic actor makes his turn as the Joker even more impressive.
• Study the Makeup: If you're a cosplayer or a film buff, zoom in on the 4K restorations of the 1966 show. Studying how they layered the paint over his mustache is a fascinating lesson in 1960s television production "hacks."

Ultimately, the Joker is a mirror of the era he exists in. In the 60s, we needed a colorful, harmless distraction from a complicated world. Romero provided that. He wasn't trying to win an Oscar; he was trying to make you laugh (and maybe feel a little bit uneasy). He succeeded. Even now, over half a century later, that painted-over mustache remains one of the most rebellious and iconic "middle fingers" to Hollywood norms in history.

Next time you see a dark, brooding Joker on the big screen, remember the man in the pink suit. Remember the actor who played the original Joker with nothing but a cackle, a cape, and a stubborn refusal to shave. He’s the reason the character survived long enough to become the legend he is today.

Next Steps for the Batman Historian:
Start by watching the 1966 Batman movie to see Romero's chemistry with other legendary villains. From there, track the evolution of the Joker's "laugh" by comparing Romero's 1966 episodes directly with the 1992 animated series—you'll be surprised how much of the original DNA remains.