From César Romero’s comic television showman to Joaquin Phoenix’s psychologically focused Arthur Fleck, these 17 performers have brought distinct versions of the Joker—or, in a few cases, a closely related figure—to the screen and games. The list spans live-action films and television, animation, and video games; it is a curated selection, not a definitive count of every actor associated with the character.
Why the Joker has so many different portrayals
The Joker first appeared in Batman #1 in 1940, according to DC’s character history. Since then, performers have adapted him to very different formats and stories: a comic foil for Batman, a menacing criminal, a psychologically focused outsider, or a deliberately exaggerated animated villain.
These performances are easiest to compare along three lines: whether the actor works in live action or voice, the tone of the portrayal, and the character’s status in its story. Most entries below are direct portrayals of the Joker. Cameron Monaghan played Joker-inspired precursors in Gotham, Nick Creegan played a successor figure in Batwoman, and Barry Keoghan’s Joker appeared in a deleted scene from The Batman. Those distinctions matter: “played the Joker” can describe quite different kinds of roles.
The 17 actors and their Joker roles
-
Joaquin Phoenix
Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck in Joker (2019) and its 2024 sequel. DC describes the first film as a standalone story centered on Fleck, rather than a chapter in a shared Batman continuity. Phoenix’s performance makes the character’s unstable inner life central to the film. Looking back on preparation, he told USA Today, as quoted by People: “And at some point, I realized that was the point. He was unstable.”
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.#1 Best Overall
DC Batman - Joker Comics - Figurine 30 CM - Univers Batman - Figurine Articulee - Jouet Collectionner - Enfant 3 Ans et +- 30 CM ACTION FIGURE: With 11 points of articulation, it’s easy to pose this 30 cm BATMAN action figure into a variety of dynamic action poses. Create your own epic good vs evil adventures!
- AUTHENTIC COMIC STYLING: This articulated action figure is highly detailed, featuring a cloth cape and comic styling that brings your favourite BATMAN superheroes and supervillains to life!
- COLLECT THEM ALL: Bring the excitement and adventure of BATMAN home! Add heroes and villains like BATMAN, ROBIN, THE JOKER and HARLEY QUINN to your action figure collection (each sold separately).
- The BATMAN 30 cm Action Figures make a great gift for fans and collectors aged 3 and up. Protect GOTHAM CITY with the BATMAN 30 cm Action Figures!
- Includes: 1 Figure
-
Barry Keoghan
Keoghan appears as the Joker in a deleted scene from The Batman. The scene offers a glimpse of the character, but it is not part of the film’s released theatrical cut.
-
Nick Creegan
In Batwoman, Creegan plays Marquis Jet, a successor figure connected to the Joker legacy. He is not simply another version of the Joker himself; the role explores how that legacy can shape a new character.
-
Zach Galifianakis
Galifianakis voiced the Joker in The LEGO Batman Movie (2017). The animated comedy leans into the character’s theatrical rivalry with Batman, using a playful tone distinct from the darker live-action films.
-
Jared Leto
Leto played the Joker in Suicide Squad (2016) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021). These appearances place the character within larger ensemble stories rather than making him the sole focus.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Cameron Monaghan
In Gotham, Monaghan played Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska, two Joker-inspired figures. The series presents them as precursors to the familiar character, rather than formally naming either one the Joker.
Rank #2
DC Comics Batman, Superman & The Joker Action Figure Gift Set, 3-Pack- 3-PACK ACTION FIGURES: This set includes The Joker, Batman, and Superman, each standing 9.5 inches tall and ready for epic battles and adventures
- AUTHENTIC COMIC STYLING: This 3-point articulated action figure is highly detailed, featuring comic styling that brings your favorite DC characters to life
- COLLECT THEM ALL: Bring the excitement and adventure of the DC Universe home Add The Joker, Batman and Superman to your action figure collection
- OFFICIAL DC COLLECTIBLE: The official DC action figures are the perfect Super Hero toys for boys and fans of the Justice League and DC Comics Universe
- GREAT GIFT FOR KIDS: Batman Collectible Action Figures make a great gift for fans and collectors aged 3 and up. Batman toys for kids, superhero toys, RC cars, and cool toys for boys of all ages
-
Troy Baker
Baker has voiced the Joker in video games as well as animated work. His credits show why a list covering more than screen appearances needs to distinguish game performances from film and television roles.
-
Michael Emerson
Emerson voiced the Joker in the animated adaptation Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, bringing the character into a story shaped by an older, more battle-worn Batman.
-
Brent Spiner
Spiner voiced the Joker in the animated series Young Justice, where the character appears within a broader ensemble of young heroes and established villains.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
John DiMaggio
DiMaggio voiced the Joker in the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood. The film’s serious crime-story setting gives the character a darker context than a broad comedy or children’s cartoon.
-
Heath Ledger
Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) is a major live-action interpretation, built around menace and unpredictability. The performance makes the Joker a destabilizing force in a crime thriller, rather than just an adversary for Batman to catch.
Rank #3
DC Comics Batman Action Figure Toys: Joker, Robin, and the Bat Man 12-inch Figures - Gotham City Edition, 11 Point Articulation - Super Hero Kids Gifts for Men, Boys & Girls- 12-INCH BATMAN ACTION FIGURES: Collect all three of your favorite Batman characters with this Team Up 3-Pack featuring Batman, The Joker, and Robin 12-inch-tall action figures
- DETAILED SCULPT WITH COMIC BOOK STYLING: These Batman action figures feature highly detailed sculpting with comic book styling, bringing your favorite characters to life in your own home
- 11 POINTS OF ARTICULATION: Each figure features 11 points of articulation, making it easy for kids to pose and recreate their favorite scenes from the comics and movies
- EXPAND YOUR COLLECTION: Collect Metallic Rebirth Batman, Gotham City Guardian Playset and more (each sold separately) to assemble your ultimate team of Super Heroes and Super-Villains for epic Batman adventures
- PERFECT GIFTS FOR KIDS: Encourage imagination with Batman toy figures & playsets Ideal for children who love Super Hero toys adventures and pretend play
-
Steve Blum
Blum voiced the Joker in LEGO Batman: The Videogame (2008). This is a video-game performance, not a film or television role, and its playful game setting shapes the character’s presentation.
-
Jeff Bennett
Bennett voiced the Joker in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold, a series with a deliberately comic, adventure-oriented approach to Batman’s world.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Kevin Michael Richardson
Richardson voiced the Joker in the animated series The Batman. His portrayal belongs to that series’ interpretation of the character, not the later live-action film of the same name.
-
Mark Hamill
Hamill began voicing the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series and returned to the role across later animation and video games. His long-running voice performance is one of the clearest examples of how an actor can shape the character across multiple formats and stories.
-
Jack Nicholson
Nicholson played the Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989). His performance brings a showman’s flair to a criminal antagonist in a stylized live-action film.
Rank #4
Sale
McFarlane Toys - DC Direct The Joker (The New Batman Adventures) 6in Scale Figure- Incredibly detailed 6” scale figure based on THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES
- Designed with articulation for posing and play
- THE JOKER is based on THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES animated series
- Accessories include figure base, 4 extra hands, 2 hyenas, reproduction animation cel, model sheet & art frame
- Collect all McFARLANE TOYS THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES figures!
-
César Romero
Romero played the Joker in the 1960s Batman television series and Batman: The Movie (1966). His broad, comic performance suits the playful tone of that era’s Batman stories. In an interview quoted by Backstage, Romero described the freedom of the role: “You can do everything you’ve always been told not to do as an actor. In other words, you can get as hammy as you like.”
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesSpecial offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
How to read the list: performance, tone, and role status
These 17 names are not 17 interchangeable versions of a single continuous character. The medium changes what a performance can do: live-action actors use face and body as well as voice; animation and games rely on voice performance, with games also shaped by interactive storytelling. Tone ranges from Romero’s comic showmanship and Galifianakis’s deliberate comedy to Ledger’s menace and Phoenix’s close focus on an isolated, psychologically troubled character.
Continuity matters just as much. Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck belongs to a standalone story, while other portrayals appear in wider Batman-related worlds. Monaghan’s Valeskas are precursors, Creegan’s Marquis Jet is a successor, and Keoghan’s appearance is confined to a deleted scene. Treating all of these as equivalent screen portrayals would obscure what each actor actually played.
Why there is no single definitive count
The number of people associated with the Joker changes depending on what a list includes: live-action roles only, animation, game-only voice credits, deleted scenes, successor and precursor figures, or unofficial productions. This selection intentionally includes film, television, animation, and games, while identifying its boundary cases. It should be read as a curated set of 17 performers, not an exhaustive credit database or an all-time total.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
