The Joker has been a fixture of movie and TV for over half a century, but which actor portrayed Batman’s Clown Prince of Crime the best?
The Joker is, without a doubt, a legend. A terrifying legend, but a legend nonetheless. The unsettling comic book villain theatrically burst onto the pages of DC Comics all the way back in 1940 and he has been terrorizing the heroes (and villains) of Gotham City ever since.
Initially more of a whimsical jester with an affinity for cataclysmic capers and perilous plunder, the character evolved with the times as writers would begin to capitalize on his more sinister attributes, with him eventually transforming into a more unhinged character with a larger-than-life personality that thrived on anarchy and terror.
While the vast majority of Batman’s villains are very popular in their own right, The Joker has transcended his genre to become a pop-culture icon – joining his “dear Dark Knight” among the most instantly recognizable comic book characters of all time. In fact, he’s so beloved that he’s even received his own standalone origin story.
Joker was, without a doubt, one of the biggest films of the past decade and, with Joaquin Phoenix receiving a ton of praise for his performance – including a BAFTA Award and an Academy Award – it’s clear that he redefined the role. But he wasn’t the first to do so. With that in mind, a new Joker in Barry Keoghan to terrify us on the big screen in The Batman, and the celebrations of Batman Day still on our minds, let’s look back and rank all the major interpretations of The Joker.
Note: While there were multiple other actors to voice The Joker on TV and in video games, this list will take a look at the ten most famous (and best) to do so on the big-screen or small-screen.