When it comes to fictional villains, very few can transcend multiple mediums and reach the heights only a few characters have. One of the best examples of this is the Joker, a villain first introduced in Batman #1 by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson. While the likes of Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger added to the iconography in live-action. But before them, one Latino set the standard for all actors that would come after: César Romero.
Born February 5th, 1907, in New York, New York, Romero was a multifaceted entertainer who acted, danced and sang and did so without hiding his Cuban heritage. This led him to often be portrayed in the “Latin Lover” trope in many films, leading him to stardom. Though he was highly admired even in his early acting career, he enlisted in the Coast Guard during World War II, where he wanted no special treatment, leading him to be admired by his fellow seaman for his humble work ethic.
Following the war, Romero was offered a chance to watch the first episode of the iconic 1966 Batman series starring Adam West. After watching the first episode, Romero fell in love with the character of the Joker and took on the role without any prior knowledge of the character. The only contingency he had was that he’d not shave his mustache for the makeup process, meaning that any scene he was in, audiences can see his mustache under the white makeup, a feature that can still be seen even today.
Romero debuted as the Joker in Batman Season 1, Episode 2, “The Joker Goes to School,” which featured the villain terrorizing a school, establishing that this villain was very low stakes compared to more recent interpretations. However, the real impact of the series was that it gave audiences a full showcase on what Romero brought to the role, from his manic and booming laughter to his campy eccentricities that perfectly balanced this version of Batman’s over-the-top sense of justice. That said, what made the Joker such a fun and infectious character was that Romero, while not being the most versed in the lore at the time, understood what the Joker needed to be as a villain and left it all on the set.
Batman: The Movie also gave Romero the chance to bring a beloved show to the big screen and also offered Romero an even more outlandish stage to give the Joker life. Though he teamed up with a host of villains in the film, the Joker was a standout because even though he and others were kidnapping UN officials, the Joker never lost his upbeat, twisted humor. As a result, Romero established a standard that has yet to be left behind, no matter the interpretation of the character.
From 1989’s Batman to Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker, each actor that embodied the role took something from what Romero established. Jack Nicholson brought the manic gangster to life with murderous intent, while Heath Ledger’s Joker introduced himself in The Dark Knight wearing a mask similar to one Romero wore in the series in the episode “The Joker is Wild!” In the end, Romero’s influence was always there.
It’s easy to see why Romero’s Joker was special, but in every way, it was Romero’s skill and even his upbringing that helped establish everything the Joker has become in live-action and animation. Romero, being a talented dancer and actor, brought a flair for the dramatic to his movements and even how he spoke, and this has followed the character for decades, most notably in Mark Hamill’s Joker. Romero was an actor who took nothing and turned it into something completely unique, and he did so as a Latino in the ’60s during a time where such a feat would’ve been nearly impossible.
César Romero’s Joker may not be deadly nor a true mastermind, but he not only embodied but pioneered everything that fans love about the Joker. From his consistent excitement to do bad to his playful mannerisms even when terrorizing innocents, these have become the building blocks of the character and the foundation, and, thanks to many fans, it’s hard not to acknowledge his importance as the first Latino and live-action Joker ever.
