Joker (The Dark Knight)
Portrayed by Heath Ledger as a chaotic criminal mastermind.
The Joker is a fictional character and the main antagonist of Christopher Nolan's 2008 film The Dark Knight, the second film in The Dark Knight trilogy. Based on the DC Comics character, he is portrayed by the late Heath Ledger as a psychopathic criminal mastermind determined to sow chaos and anarchy throughout Gotham City. Ledger's performance, released six months after his death from an accidental prescription drug overdose, received universal critical acclaim and posthumously earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
- Portrayed by
- Heath Ledger
- Film
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- Based on
- DC Comics character Joker
- Known for
- Psychopathic criminal mastermind, iconic villain
- Influences
- Batman: The Killing Joke, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, Francis Bacon, Alex DeLarge, punk rock culture
Quick Facts
- Series
- The Dark Knight trilogy
- First
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- Adapted By
- Christopher Nolan · Jonathan Nolan · David S. Goyer
- Portrayer
- Heath Ledger
- Voice
- Ewan Bailey (Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight)
- Based On
- Joker · Bill Finger · Bob Kane · Jerry Robinson
- Full Name
- Unknown
- Alias
- The Joker
- Occupation
- Crime boss
- Affiliation
- Gotham Organized Crime / The Joker's Thugs
- Home
- Gotham City
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker on July 31, 2006, after being impressed by Batman Begins. Director Christopher Nolan cast him before a script existed due to Ledger's determination. Ledger aimed for a new interpretation, drawing visual inspiration from the artwork of Francis Bacon and the character Alex DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange. He was given the graphic novels Batman: The Killing Joke and Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth for preparation.
Reader's Guide
Ledger's Joker is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most iconic villains in film history and popular culture, regarded as one of the most definitive screen adaptations of the character. His performance was influenced by punk rock culture, with costume designer Lindy Hemming drawing from Iggy Pop, Johnny Rotten, and Sid Vicious. Ledger secluded himself in a London hotel room for six weeks, compiling a character diary and experimenting with voices. The character's disfigured, clown-like appearance is achieved through smeared makeup concealing facial scars resembling a Glasgow smile, rather than chemically bleached skin. Ledger's casting was initially met with skepticism, but his performance earned universal acclaim and numerous accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Did You Know?
- Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker before a script existed.
- Ledger's Joker makeup was applied with the actor scrunching special facial expressions to create imperfections.
- The character's appearance was inspired by the artwork of Francis Bacon.
- Ledger kept a character diary during six weeks of seclusion in a London hotel room.
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