Infamous for his cunning criminal tricks, signature grotesque smile and fiendish laughter, the Joker has been chilling our spines ever since the release of Batman in 1966.
By this point, the role has been taken on by several actors across various DC films and series, some of whom have perfectly brought out the character of the impractical joker.
We’ve already ranked the stars who played Batman, but which actor portrays his nemesis best? Who brings the best Joker to life? We rank the eight popular actors from least to most impressive…
Who Is the Best Joker Actor? Here’s Our Ranking…
8. Zach Galifianakis
Appeared in: The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Best-known for:
- A more innocent and satirical take on the Joker.
- Playing up the Joker’s obsession with Batman in a comical way.
- Galifianakis’ typically goofy presence (even in a voice-acting role).
Comedian Zach Galifianakis puts a new spin on the Joker in The Lego Batman Movie, and it isn’t just kids who are endeared by the miniature version of the killer clown. Galifianakis more or less does for the Joker what Will Arnett had already done for his Lego Batman: poke fun at a character that’s usually quite self-serious.
Historically a dark villain with serious ill will, this animated version of the Joker is less sinister and more satirical. Not as villainous and murderous compared to what we’re used to, by the end of it all, he winds up being a villain we can laugh at and enjoy. (It helps, of course, that Galifianakis’ own goofy personality shows through.)
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7. Jared Leto
Appeared in: Suicide Squad (2016)
Best-known for:
- Basically being a blend of Tony Montana (Scarface) and the Alien from Spring Breakers.
- A tattooed, psychotic look more in line with Gotham’s underworld.
- Association with clubs and gangs rather than clowns and funhouses.
Jared Leto had big shoes to fill as the first cinematic Joker following Heath Ledger’s iconic performance in The Dark Knight. And if we know anything at all about Leto as an actor, it’s that he really goes for it when he gets a big role (or really, any role).
It’s unsurprising, then, that he winds up with an over-the-top take on the Joker, blending the Alien from Spring Breakers with Scarface’s iconic Tony Montana. Leto’s ‘thuggish’ Joker also stands out for his heavily tatted look and his association with underworld crime (rather than just the usual array of clown stooges). Ultimately, despite his talents, Leto doesn’t meet Ledger’s bar — but at least he offers a unique version of the character.
6. Cameron Monaghan
Appeared in: Gotham (2015-2019)
Best-known for:
- Uniquely playing two different Jokers in one series.
- His grotesque, pale, butchered face.
- Cleverly taking on the Joker’s traits via two characters.
Known for his roles in Shameless and in Star Wars video games, Cameron Monaghan also takes on the role of the Joker… kind of… in the hit TV series Gotham. Due to those pesky licensing limitations that are always impacting comics adaptations, Monaghan’s character is not explicitly referred to as the Joker.
He actually plays two characters, the identical twin brothers Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska. It’s clear, though, that these brothers are each meant to embody traditional aspects of the Joker’s character: Jerome, the psychotic chaos agent tormenting Gotham, and Jeremiah, the obsessive schemer preoccupied with Bruce Wayne.
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5. Cesar Romero
Appeared in: Original ‘Batman’ Series (1966)
Best-known for:
- The look: purple suit, white-painted face, thin mustache.
- Turning enemies into kid-friendly heaps of colorful dust.
- Giving the character a childlike mischievous streak.
Cesar Romero was the first actor to take on the role of the Joker in the 1966 Batman series. Presented as a tamer villain, this Joker is more mischievous than diabolical. In fact, to modern Batman fans (or people who grew up on the famous Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger interpretations), Romero’s Joker probably seems campy and dated.
Much like Adam West’s Batman, Romero’s Joker was designed for an era when televised comics were lighthearted and family-friendly. What’s the worst this ‘baddie’ can do? Turn his enemies into a colorful pile of dust! ‘Sinister’ indeed… So hey, if the darker and more twisted takes on Gotham from the likes of Tim Burton or Christopher Nolan are a little grim for you, the ’66 series and Romero’s Joker may be refreshing to look back on!
See how Heath Ledger pays homage to Cesar Romero’s Joker in our list of Batman Easter Eggs!
4. Mark Hamill
Appeared in: Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
Best-known for:
- A sinister but more buffoonish take on the popular villain.
- Comedy; Hamill brought the most humor to the part.
- A distinctive cackle equal parts funny and creepy.
Hamill is popular for being the voice behind the iconic Joker in Batman: The Animated Series. He also features as the man behind the Joker in several acclaimed Batman video games. With his signature chilling and infectious laughter, Hamill offers such a delightfully over-the-top voice-acting performance that his Joker has become beloved.
It’s pretty ironic that the man responsible for one of the most prototypical “good guys” in entertainment history — Luke Skywalker — is now linked by many to the unmistakably insane, sinister cackle of the Clown Prince of Gotham.
3. Joaquin Phoenix
Appeared in: Joker (2019)
Best-known for:
- Psychotic, unstable behavior, calling to mind mental illness more than any past Joker.
- A performance both unsettling and sympathetic.
- The darkest and most terrifying depiction with less humor.
Joaquin Phoenix gives such a powerful performance as Mistah J, it’s difficult not ranking him as the second-best Joker actor. But of course, it would be nearly blasphemous to drop the iconic Jack Nicholson down… so here we are with Phoenix in third place.
Phoenix delivers an Oscar-winning performance in 2019’s Joker, by tapping into the aspect of the character other versions gloss over: mental health. While it’s easy to describe most versions of the Joker as “psychopaths,” Phoenix delves into the core fact that this character is troubled. While this might strike some as a bit “too real,” it emphasizes a chilling aspect of the villain: This man is not okay, and no one is helping him.
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2. Jack Nicholson
Appeared in: Batman (1989)
Best-known for:
- Colorful clown attire (trench coats, fedoras, and a blend of purples and greens).
- His giddiness, frightful and sinister energy.
- A grin that helped solidify one of the Joker’s core traits.
At the time of its release, Batman was applauded in the film industry and awarded blockbuster status. There were a lot of reasons for its success, but one of the things that helped set it apart (and arguably launch a new era and new expectations for superhero cinema) was the simple fact that Tim Burton cast Jack freaking Nicholson as the lead Batman villain.
Today, this seems obvious: Villain roles (think Bond, DC, Marvel, etc.) have a lot of juice. At the time, though, Nicholson was an unfathomably big name to be a supporting actor in a Batman film. But the rest was history. Nicholson’s delightfully colorful, overtly absurd, yet genuinely chilling performance is instantly iconic.
1. Heath Ledger
Appeared in: The Dark Knight (2008)
Best-known for:
- Being unpredictable, unstable, and eccentric.
- A more strategic, cleverer Joker.
- An unprecedented performance that won Ledger an Oscar.
For an actor who wasn’t a fan of superhero movies, Heath Ledger gives a hauntingly powerful performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight. In fact, in the eyes of many fans, he sets the bar beyond anyone else’s reach. The actor resurrects the spirit of the brutal villain exceptionally, giving rise to a Joker who is less cartoonish than previous versions, and far more captivating.
Where Nicholson’s Joker highlights insanity and absurdity, Ledger’s is more calculating — unhinged, to be sure, but engaged with Gotham and Batman in a way we’d never seen before. Ledger, officially our best Joker actor, took a fascinating character and made it even better. Simply iconic.
Despite his many crimes and insane antics, there’s no denying that the killer clown is a movie villain we love to see.
Each depiction has brought something new to the table, but which one gave the best Joker performance? Let us know who your best Joker actor is in the comments below.
Originally published August 2016.
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