The Man Behind The Grin: Who Plays The Joker Now And The 7 Actors Who Defined The Clown Prince Of Crime

The question of "who plays The Joker" is no longer simple, as the iconic villain currently exists in two major live-action cinematic universes. As of December 18, 2025, the role is primarily held by Academy Award-winner Joaquin Phoenix, who is set to reprise his role as Arthur Fleck in the highly anticipated musical sequel, *Joker: Folie à Deux*. However, the terrifying, scarred version of the character from Matt Reeves’ universe, first glimpsed in *The Batman*, is played by Irish actor Barry Keoghan, who is expected to return for the sequel, *The Batman: Part II*.

This duality highlights the Joker's unique status in pop culture: no single actor owns the role. Instead, a select few have delivered transformative, career-defining performances that have reshaped the character for a new generation. From the Golden Age of television to the modern cinematic multiverse, here is a definitive, updated look at every major actor who has worn the unsettling grin of the Clown Prince of Crime.

The Current and Upcoming Kings of Chaos (2024–2025)

The immediate future of the Joker is split between two distinct, non-connected film universes, each offering a radically different take on the character's psychology and aesthetic.

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Joaquin Phoenix: The Oscar-Winning Anarchist (Arthur Fleck)

Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Arthur Fleck in the 2019 standalone film *Joker* earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, cementing his version as one of the most celebrated in film history. His performance focused on the disturbing psychological origins of the villain, presenting him as a mentally ill, marginalized stand-up comedian who descends into madness and sparks a class war in Gotham City.

• Film: *Joker* (2019), *Joker: Folie à Deux* (2024)
• Director: Todd Phillips
• Key Update: Phoenix will return in the sequel, *Joker: Folie à Deux*, which is a jukebox musical legal drama film co-starring Lady Gaga as Harleen "Lee" Quinzel, a character who will undoubtedly become the infamous Harley Quinn.

Barry Keoghan: The Scarred Arkham Prisoner

In a surprise reveal at the end of Matt Reeves’ *The Batman* (2022), actor Barry Keoghan appeared as an "Unseen Arkham Prisoner" who speaks with Paul Dano’s Riddler. The director later confirmed this character to be a new, heavily scarred iteration of The Joker, a version that is already established in Arkham Asylum and is a contemporary of Robert Pattinson’s Batman. Keoghan's brief scene was chilling, hinting at a grotesque and more monstrous version of the villain.

• Film: *The Batman* (2022)
• Expected Return: *The Batman: Part II*
• Portrayal Style: A deeply unsettling, physically disfigured antagonist, moving away from the chemical vat origin and towards a more naturalistic, yet horrifying, congenital condition.

The Pantheon of Live-Action Joker Actors

The cinematic history of the Joker is a battleground of acting brilliance, with four other actors having delivered defining, high-profile live-action performances that set the standard for the role across different eras.

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Heath Ledger: The Agent of Chaos

Heath Ledger’s transformative performance in Christopher Nolan’s *The Dark Knight* (2008) is often cited as the gold standard for the character. He portrayed the Joker not as a gimmick or a clown, but as a pure "agent of chaos," a terrorist with no motive other than to prove that society is as ugly as he is. Ledger tragically passed away before the film's release but was posthumously awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work, a rare honor that underscores the performance’s impact.

Jack Nicholson: The Gangster Clown

For an entire generation, Jack Nicholson’s portrayal in Tim Burton’s *Batman* (1989) was the definitive Joker. Nicholson’s take blended the character’s traditional theatricality with a ruthless, mobster-like menace. His Joker, whose real name was Jack Napier, was an established criminal who fell into a vat of chemicals, transforming him into the iconic villain. This portrayal emphasized the flamboyant, artistic side of the Joker’s madness.

Jared Leto: The Tattooed Maniac

Jared Leto took on the role in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), appearing in *Suicide Squad* (2016) and Zack Snyder's *Justice League* (2021). His version was a modern, highly stylized take, featuring extensive tattoos, silver teeth, and a chaotic, punk-rock aesthetic. While divisive among fans, Leto’s Joker represented a bold, contemporary reimagining of the character, focusing on his toxic relationship with Harley Quinn.

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Cesar Romero: The Original Laugh

The first actor to bring the Joker to live-action was Cesar Romero in the 1960s *Batman* television series and the 1966 film. Romero’s Joker was a campy, theatrical, and overtly comedic villain, perfectly fitting the show’s bright, lighthearted tone. Famously, Romero refused to shave his mustache, so the white makeup was simply painted over it, a detail that remains a charming piece of trivia about the original live-action iteration.

The Enduring Legacy of the Voice Joker

While live-action performances dominate the conversation, no discussion of The Joker is complete without mentioning the actor who has voiced the character across various animated series, films, and video games for over three decades.

Mark Hamill: The Definitive Animated Voice

Mark Hamill, best known as Luke Skywalker in the *Star Wars* saga, is widely considered the definitive voice of The Joker. Beginning with *Batman: The Animated Series* (1992–1995), Hamill’s chilling, maniacal laugh and vocal performance became the benchmark for the character in animation. He has voiced the Joker in countless projects, including *Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker* and the *Arkham* video game series, providing a consistent, high-quality take that spans multiple decades and media formats.

The enduring success of the Joker is a testament to the incredible talent of these actors. Each one—Phoenix, Keoghan, Ledger, Nicholson, Leto, and Romero, along with Hamill’s voice work—has taken the core entity of the Clown Prince of Crime and twisted it into something uniquely terrifying, ensuring that the character remains one of the most compelling and discussed villains in all of fiction.