If you ask a casual fan about the Clown Prince of Crime, they’ll probably start arguing about whether Heath Ledger’s chaos or Joaquin Phoenix’s tragedy wins the crown. Some might even throw a bone to Jack Nicholson’s permanent grin. But if you’re looking for the actual roots of the character—the man who played the original joker in batman—you have to look past the modern gritty blockbusters and go all the way back to 1966.
His name was Cesar Romero.
He wasn’t a brooding anarchist or a failed stand-up comedian living in a basement. He was a "Latin Lover" movie star who refused to shave his mustache for the role. Seriously. If you look closely at the high-definition remasters of the 1960s Batman TV series today, you can clearly see the thick white greasepaint caked over his facial hair. It’s glorious. It’s weird. It’s exactly what the Silver Age of comics deserved.
The Mustache, the Man, and the 1966 Premiere
Cesar Romero didn't just play the Joker; he inhabited a version of the character that feels like a fever dream compared to the R-rated versions we see now. Before the 1966 Batman series starring Adam West, the Joker existed only in the pages of DC Comics and a few 1940s serials where he wasn't even the primary focus. Romero was the first to give the villain a voice, a laugh, and a physical presence on screen.
Born in New York City in 1907, Romero was already a Hollywood veteran by the time he stepped onto the colorful, tilted sets of Gotham City. He was known for playing suave, sophisticated leads in musicals and dramas. When he was cast as the Joker, people were actually a bit surprised. How does a guy known for his elegance turn into a cackling lunatic?
Romero just leaned into the absurdity. He decided that the Joker wasn't a monster, but a man having the absolute time of his life. Every bank heist was a punchline. Every death trap was a setup for a gag. That high-pitched, staccato laugh wasn't something the writers came up with; it was something Romero developed to bridge the gap between his natural charm and the character’s insanity.
Why he wouldn't shave
The mustache story is legendary in nerd circles. Romero was proud of his looks. He felt his mustache was his trademark, and he told the producers he wouldn't get rid of it. Instead of recasting, the makeup department just slapped white paint over it. It’s one of those "once you see it, you can't unsee it" details. In a way, it makes the character even more unsettling. It’s a layer of artifice on top of artifice. It tells you that this Joker is a guy who doesn't care about the details—he just wants to look the part of a clown while he’s causing mayhem.
✨ Don't miss: Cuba Gooding Jr OJ: Why the Performance Everyone Hated Was Actually Genius
What Most People Get Wrong About the Original Joker
There’s this common misconception that the "original" Joker was always dark and that the 60s show "ruined" him by making him campy. That’s actually not true. If you look at the comic books from the 1950s and early 60s—the era known as the Silver Age—the Joker was more of a trickster than a serial killer. The Comics Code Authority had stripped away the violence of the 1940s.
Romero was actually a very faithful adaptation of the comics of his time.
He used elaborate props. He had a "Joker-mobile." He left behind riddles that weren't quite as complex as the Riddler's, but just as annoying for Batman and Robin. He represented the "Prankster" era of the character. When you're searching for who played the original joker in batman, you aren't just looking for a name; you’re looking for the architect of the character’s theatricality. Without Romero’s flamboyant energy, Jack Nicholson’s 1989 performance probably wouldn't have been as flamboyant.
The 1966 Movie vs. The TV Show
A lot of people forget that there was a full-length feature film in 1966, too. Romero starred alongside Burgess Meredith (The Penguin), Lee Meriwether (Catwoman), and Frank Gorshin (The Riddler). This was the first time the Joker was on the big screen in a color production. The stakes were "global"—the villains were trying to dehydrate the United Nations Security Council into piles of dust. It was ridiculous. But Romero played it with 100% conviction.
He didn't wink at the camera. He didn't act like he was in a comedy. To Romero’s Joker, trying to turn the world's leaders into colorful dust was a perfectly logical and hilarious Friday afternoon activity.
Comparing the First Joker to the Modern Icons
It is wild to think about the evolution from Romero to Ledger. We went from a guy who wouldn't shave his mustache to a guy who allegedly didn't sleep for weeks to get into the headspace of a terrorist.
🔗 Read more: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
- Physicality: Romero was tall (6'3") and athletic. He moved like a dancer. Modern Jokers tend to be twitchy or lethargic. Romero was all big gestures and broad shoulders.
- Motivation: Romero wanted money and to humiliate Batman. There was no "we live in a society" philosophy. It was about the loot and the laugh.
- The Laugh: Romero’s laugh was melodic. Mark Hamill—the legendary voice of the Joker in the animated series—actually cited Romero as an influence. If you listen to Hamill’s Joker, you can hear echoes of that 1966 staccato rhythm.
Honestly, the 1966 version is the only one you can watch with a five-year-old without causing permanent psychological trauma. That counts for something. It was a time when Batman was "The Bright Knight" instead of the "Dark Knight," and the Joker was his perfect, neon-colored foil.
The Legacy of Cesar Romero
Romero played the character in 22 episodes of the TV series plus the movie. That’s a lot of screen time. For an entire generation, he was the Joker. There was nobody else. He set the visual template: the purple suit, the green hair, the white face, and the red lips. While the comic books created those elements, Romero brought them into the living rooms of millions of people.
He never seemed to mind being associated with the role, either. Some actors get "typecast" and grow bitter. Romero? He loved it. He frequently talked about how much fun he had on set. He enjoyed the fact that he could be totally "over the top" in a way that his serious film roles never allowed.
Other "Firsts" often confused with Romero
Technically, if we are being pedantic (and let's be honest, comic fans love being pedantic), the Joker appeared in the comics in 1940's Batman #1. But in the 1943 Batman serial, the villain was Dr. Daka. In the 1949 serial Batman and Robin, the villain was The Wizard.
This means Cesar Romero truly holds the title of the first person to ever play the Joker in a live-action, professional production. He didn't just play the "original" Joker; he was the only Joker for nearly twenty years until the character returned to animation and eventually to Jack Nicholson in the late 80s.
Why Romero Still Matters Today
In a world where every new Batman movie tries to be more depressed and "realistic" than the last, Romero’s performance is a palette cleanser. It reminds us that these characters originated in pulp magazines for kids. There’s a joy in his performance that is missing from modern interpretations.
💡 You might also like: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
He didn't need a tragic backstory. He didn't need a "reason" to be the Joker. He just woke up, put on a purple suit, and decided to be a menace. There’s something actually quite terrifying about that if you think about it—a man who is purely, unthinkably happy while doing terrible things.
How to watch the original Joker
If you want to see the performance for yourself, the 1966 Batman series is widely available on Blu-ray and streaming. It has been beautifully restored. You can see every hair of that mustache. You can see the vibrant fuchsia of his suit. It looks better now than it did on the grainy tube TVs of the 60s.
Actionable Insights for Batman Fans:
- Look for the "Easter Eggs": In the 2017 The LEGO Batman Movie, there are dozens of references to Romero’s Joker, including his specific costumes and gadgets.
- Study the Voice: If you’re a fan of the Arkham games or the Animated Series, go back and listen to Romero. You’ll realize that every Joker actor since 1966 has borrowed at least one "note" from his laugh.
- Respect the Mustache: Next time you see a Joker cosplay, check if they have a mustache painted white. It’s the ultimate signal of a "true" fan who knows their history.
- Check the Comics: Read Batman #1 (1940) and then watch a Romero episode. You’ll be surprised how much of that early, mischievous energy he actually captured despite the "camp" reputation of the show.
The search for who played the original joker in batman usually starts with a simple question of trivia, but it ends with an appreciation for a Hollywood icon. Cesar Romero didn't just put on a wig; he built the foundation for every cinematic villain that followed. He proved that a villain could be the most charismatic person in the room. He made it okay for bad guys to have fun. And he did it all without ever touching a razor.
To truly understand the Joker, you have to understand where he started. He started with a laugh, a purple suit, and a very stubborn piece of facial hair in 1966.