The Joker, the clown prince of crime, is arguably the most famous arch-enemy in the history of comics. This list is about the various times the Joker has been adapted in live-action. The actors are listed in chronological order.
Cesar Romero in the Batman television series (1966-1968) and Batman: The Movie (1966)
Notes: Cesar Romero started playing the Joker at the age of fifty-eight which makes him the oldest actor to play the Joker. He knew almost nothing about Batman or comics in-general before being cast, but that didn't mean he didn't have a lot of fun playing the role.
Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier in Batman (1989)
Notes: The Joker was named Napier in this film as a tribute to Alan Napier, the actor that played Alfred Pennyworth in the 60's show and movie. In the film, Jack Napier was the one who shot Thomas and Martha Wayne, not Joe Chill.
Rene Requiestas as Jocson in Alyas Batman En Robin (1991)
Notes: In this film, Jocson is one of the classmates of Kevin (Robin). Also, Jocson is the Penguin's nephew in the film which makes this the only version of Batman where Joker and Penguin are related.
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008)
Note: Heath Ledger was the first actor to win an Oscar for playing the Joker.
Cameron Monaghan as Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska in Gotham (2014-2019)
Notes: Cameron Monaghan started playing the Joker while in his early 20's which makes him the youngest actor to play the Joker. Both of the Valeska twins are loose adaptations of the Joker and Jeremiah has a henchwoman, named Ecco, who is a loose adaptation of Harley Quinn.
Jared Leto in Suicide Squad (2016) and the director's cut of Justice League (2021)
Note: A lot of Jared Leto's scenes in Suicide Squad got cut out which he wasn't happy about, but he's scheduled to return as the Joker in HBO Max's director's cut of Justice League.
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Joker (2019)
Notes: Joaquin Phoenix was the second actor to win an Oscar for playing the Joker. The film has a subplot about Arthur thinking he's Thomas Wayne's first-born child which would make him Bruce Wayne's half-brother. However, this is only implied and is never stated as a fact.
Cesar Romero in the Batman television series (1966-1968) and Batman: The Movie (1966)
Notes: Cesar Romero started playing the Joker at the age of fifty-eight which makes him the oldest actor to play the Joker. He knew almost nothing about Batman or comics in-general before being cast, but that didn't mean he didn't have a lot of fun playing the role.
Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier in Batman (1989)
Notes: The Joker was named Napier in this film as a tribute to Alan Napier, the actor that played Alfred Pennyworth in the 60's show and movie. In the film, Jack Napier was the one who shot Thomas and Martha Wayne, not Joe Chill.
Rene Requiestas as Jocson in Alyas Batman En Robin (1991)
Notes: In this film, Jocson is one of the classmates of Kevin (Robin). Also, Jocson is the Penguin's nephew in the film which makes this the only version of Batman where Joker and Penguin are related.
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008)
Note: Heath Ledger was the first actor to win an Oscar for playing the Joker.
Cameron Monaghan as Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska in Gotham (2014-2019)
Notes: Cameron Monaghan started playing the Joker while in his early 20's which makes him the youngest actor to play the Joker. Both of the Valeska twins are loose adaptations of the Joker and Jeremiah has a henchwoman, named Ecco, who is a loose adaptation of Harley Quinn.
Jared Leto in Suicide Squad (2016) and the director's cut of Justice League (2021)
Note: A lot of Jared Leto's scenes in Suicide Squad got cut out which he wasn't happy about, but he's scheduled to return as the Joker in HBO Max's director's cut of Justice League.
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Joker (2019)
Notes: Joaquin Phoenix was the second actor to win an Oscar for playing the Joker. The film has a subplot about Arthur thinking he's Thomas Wayne's first-born child which would make him Bruce Wayne's half-brother. However, this is only implied and is never stated as a fact.
