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The Joker's first appearance on screen
This first appearance of the Joker was played by Cesar Romero, an actor who usually performed as a dancer as well as an actor (2). Romero refused to shave his mustache, despite comics depicting the Joker as clean shaven (2). As a result, a faint mustache is noticeable underneath the Joker's chalk white paint. Romero's colorful red suit, bright green hair, chalk white face paint, and bright red lipstick served as a memorable, original Joker in the Batman series (2). -
The new and improved Joker in Batman
This portrayal of the Joker was played by Jack Nicholson (3). This Joker was very similar to Romero's Joker, having similar makeup and hair. However small details such as his curved makeup on both sides of his mouth tell details about his origin story. In this particular movie, it is claimed that the Joker fell into acid and this makeup trick can be attributed to covering up his scars around his mouth (3). -
The masterful Joker in The Dark Knight
Artifact link 1*
This rendition of the Joker is played by Heath Ledger who won an Oscar as a result. Ledger's Joker is drastically different than the first two Jokers, giving a much more scruffy and rough appearance, playing into his chaotic and crazy personality (5). His hair is more wild and greasy with a very poorly done dye job (5). The makeup around the mouth is more similar to Nicholson's Joker, with makeup around the mouth which he claims covers his scars. -
A different, interesting rendition of the Joker in Suicide Squad
This Joker, played by Jared Leto, completely reinvented the usual look, for better or worse. Leto served as a more human Joker, covered in tattoos from head to toe and dawning metal grills over his teeth. These metal grills are used as replacement teeth as Batman had previously punched all of his teeth in (1). He also has many tattoos with backstories such as his "damaged" tattoo, implying that the damage done to his face by Batman has caused him emotional damage as well(1). -
A new sympathy-garnering take on the Joker in Joker
Artifact link 2*
The most recent Joker, played by Joaquin Phoenix, featured the Joker as the star of the movie as it was titled "Joker". This Joker has more of a clown look to him compared to other Jokers, giving insight into the beginning of the movie when he had a job as a clown (4). This also gives him more of a friendly look, as the movie shows his troubled upbringing of neglect and sadness (4). Soon the Joker descents into madness and we see his makeup smear into the look we know today. -
External links
Artifact link 1*: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_5dP_83O7o
Artifact link 2*: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbliHNs4q14 -
Bibliography
(1) - Ewing, Jeff. “The Untold Truth of Jared Leto's Joker.” Looper.com, Looper, 3 June 2021, https://www.looper.com/365641/the-untold-truth-of-jared-letos-joker/. Accessed Apr. 5 2022.
(2) - “Joker (Batman 1966 TV Series).” DC Database, https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Joker_(Batman_1966_TV_Series). Accessed Apr. 5 2022.
(3) - “Joker (Batman 1989).” Villains Wiki, https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Joker_(Batman_1989). Accessed Apr. 5, 2022 -
Bibliography/footnotes ext.
(4) - “Joker.” IMDb, IMDb.com, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7286456/mediaviewer/rm1332777985/. Accessed Mar. 27, 2022.
(5) - “The Evolution of the Joker (1966-2019) - Shifter.” SHIFTER Magazine, 22 July 2021, https://shiftermagazine.com/film/evolution-of-the-joker-1966-2019. Accessed Mar. 27 2022.