Every live-action Joker actor, from Cesar Romero to Joaquin Phoenix, ranked

To be fair to Jared Leto, his Joker wasn’t a central figure in 2016’s “Suicide Squad” or 2021’s Zack Snyder’s “Justice League.” But in both films, it feels like Leto is posing as the Joker rather than embodying a new take on the character.

Leto gets the theatrics of the clown prince of crime, but not the sinister or unpredictable elements of the Joker.

Cesar Romero gave the first live-action portrayal of the Joker, starring in the 1966 TV series “Batman.” Like Leto’s Joker, Romero’s take emphasized the character’s prankster side, rather than his other personality traits.

But every good Joker needs to be a perfect reflection of their Batman. Opposite Adam West’s cartoonish, corny Batman, Romero’s Joker fits perfectly and adds humor to every scene.

In “Joker” and “Joker: Folie à Deux,” Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill comedian who becomes a serial killer, the Joker, as payback for how society treats him.

Many Joker actors get viewers on his side, make them laugh, or feel terrified, but Phoenix was the first to make fans feel sorry for the villain. Phoenix’s Joker laugh is so haunting because it almost feels like he is in pain.

Then, when Arthur transforms into the Joker, Phoenix’s persona completely flips. He becomes a menacing figure who treats the world like it’s his stage.

In short, Phoenix gives an incredible performance as the Joker, but he lacks mischief, unpredictability, and grandiosity. His Joker is all rage and sadness without the fascinating contrasts of joy and fun that make the character the clown prince of crime.

The right villain can make a good film great, and that’s exactly what happened in 1989’s “Batman.” In the movie, Jack Nicholson plays Jack Napier, a mafia enforcer who falls into a vat of chemicals, transforming him into the Joker.

This crime-boss version of the character sees Nicholson frequently switch between being playful and sinister, making every scene erratic as you wonder what his next move will be.

Nicholson also has some of the most striking facial expressions as the Joker, truly like a comic brought to life.

But Nicholson’s Joker doesn’t complement his Batman (Michael Keaton). The Joker overwhelms every scene, making Batman feel like a blank slate instead of a mirror to his nemesis.

Cameron Monaghan technically didn’t play the Joker in the 2010s “Gotham” TV series, but he did portray two Joker stand-in characters that may be the best live-action interpretations of the character.

From season one, he plays Jerome Valeska, a maniacal, volatile ringleader who attempts to take over Gotham by inspiring chaos in others. In season four, Monaghan plays Jerome’s secret brother, Jeremiah Valeska, a calm, mastermind-like villain who denies his insanity.

Both mirror Gotham’s pre-Batman Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz). Jerome tries to corrupt Bruce to become chaotic like him, while Jeremiah tries to prove they are the same. The Valeskas embody all facets of the Joker, from his clown persona to his terrifying switches in character.

There are a lot of great interpretations of the Joker, but Heath Ledger’s performance in 2012’s “The Dark Knight” is truly the most iconic.

His Joker is everything you want the character to be. He’s erratic, theatrical, and absolutely terrifying. Ledger’s Joker and Christian Bale’s Batman feel like two sides of the same coin as they battle to achieve their version of order in the chaos of Gotham.

But most of all, he makes the Joker his own, making the character feel fresh. Ledger’s voice and mannerisms have come to define the Joker, despite multiple other interpretations since.

There have been and will likely be many more film performances of the Joker — but I can’t see who can top Ledger’s.