The most famous opponent of Batman is the Joker. His most iconic portrayal is by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. His Joker had the perfect design for a serious presentation of the villain. His constant lip licking is the character’s trademark. Did you know that this was not originally planned?
Why does the Joker lick his lips so often? From the first scenes with the Joker, we see two trademarks that he repeats frequently. He slicks back his hair and constantly licks his scarred lips. This fits the character perfectly, but it was not originally planned.
In the documentary I am Heath Ledger (via Digital Spy), it is explained that the prosthetics on Ledger’s face, i.e., the scars, kept coming loose. To prevent this, Ledger constantly licked his lips. This was meant to keep the prosthetics moist, making them harder to break. However, it suited the character so well that it was included in the film.
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Another Joker refused to shave his mustache
Before Heath Ledger, there were of course other Jokers. The first actor allowed to embody the clown was Cesar Romero in the 1960s series Batman. In the series, Adam West portrayed Batman, and it was more of a children’s series that relied on silly slapstick and comedy elements.
Cesar Romero also wore makeup and dyed hair. However, one thing was too important to him. The actor did not want to shave off his mustache. Accordingly, they simply painted the white face color over his mustache, which could still be clearly seen. Here you can see a picture of the role:
In The Dark Knight there is even a reference to the old Batman series. The mask that the Joker wears in the first scene in The Dark Knight looks exactly like a mask that Cesar Romero wore in an episode of the Batman series.
The interesting thing about the Joker is that every actor gives the character their own flair. Mark Hamill is often overlooked, although he has voiced the clown in countless animated films and series. Of course, for many, Heath Ledger remains the true Joker. The Nolan trilogy is considered by many viewers to be the best depiction of Batman. But did you know that there is a secret fourth film?
