Mark Hamill gave special recognition to The Joker on Tuesday for employing so many actors over the years: “SHOUT OUT to The JOKER for no reason other than a lifetime of villainous mayhem & providing gainful employment for so many actors,” tweeted Hamill.
SHOUT OUT to The JOKER for no reason other than a lifetime of villainous mayhem & providing gainful employment for so many actors! #Gr8ful pic.twitter.com/PSIGiWEefO
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) April 25, 2017
The Joker was first introduced 77 years ago today in Batman #1 (April 25, 1940). The comic book villain was created by Batman co-creator Bill Finger (who was only recently given the credit he deserves), Bob Kane, as well as artist Jerry Robinson in 1940.
Over the years, The Joker has appeared in a variety of media, including television series, animated and live-action films. The Joker’s earliest on-screen adaptation was in the 1966 television series “Batman,” in which he was played as a cackling prankster by Cesar Romero. A darker version of the Joker (played by Jack Nicholson) made his film debut in Tim 1989’s “Batman” directed by Tim Burton.
“Batman’s” success led to the 1992 television series, “Batman: The Animated Series,” voiced by Hamill.
Hamill’s Joker is considered a defining portrayal, and he voiced the character in spin-off films (1993’s “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” and 2000’s “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker”), video games (2001’s “Batman: Vengeance”), related series (1996’s “Superman: The Animated Series,” 2000’s “Static Shock” and 2001’s “Justice League”), action figures, toys and amusement-park voiceovers.
Jared Leto played the Joker in 2016’s “Suicide Squad” and is expected to return in Matt Reeves “The Batman.”