The Joker isn't only one of Batman's most iconic villains, he's also one of the most iconic comic book characters of all time. The character instantly receives buzz when announced in a new movie, even if the choice of actor almost always results in a controversy online. However, while the Joker is something of a cultural phenomenon today, this wasn’t always the case.
Some actors have tried and failed to ‘put on a happy face’ others have turned down the role, deeming it not a serious enough venture. Due to the character several appearances in movies, there are more than enough actors who were considered for the part, but ultimately didn’t end up getting it.
10 Willem Dafoe
The case of Willem Dafoe is a strange one. According to Sam Hamm (writer of Batman 1989), and thousands of fans around the world, Willem Dafoe simply looks like the Joker. His face is perfectly suited for the role and he definitely has the acting chops for it.
However, for whatever reason, the actor hasn’t actually appeared as the Clown Prince of Crime. Instead, he has appeared as the Green Goblin and as Vulko in Aquaman.
9 Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the finest actors of the past few decades. Working closely with Martin Scorsese, DiCaprio has starred in some of the finest movies of the past decade and received the Best Actor Award at the Academy Awards for his performance in The Revenant.
Due to this connection with Scorsese, DiCaprio was considered for the role of the Joker in the 2019 movie that would ultimately star Joaquin Phoenix as the tragic Clown Prince of Crime. While the studio pushed for DiCaprio, Todd Phillips was set on Phoenix and DiCaprio wasn’t available at the time anyway.
8 Tim Curry
Batman: The Animated Series is considered by many to be the best adaptation of Batman. Famously, the series features two voice actors who have gone on to be considered the ‘archetype’ of that character: Kevin Conroy’s Batman and Mark Hamill’s Joker.
However, Mark Hamill almost didn’t play the role. Tim Curry was given the role first and voiced several episodes. While some stories say that he was kicked off for being too scary, Curry himself confirmed that he contracted bronchitis and had to leave the production.
7 David Bowie
One of the truly legendary musical figures, David Bowie wasn’t only influential in the world of music, he had several acting roles across his iconic career that helped transform Bowie into the icon he would become.
In the early 1980s, plans were in place for a Batman/ Superman movie and Bowie was the producers’ choice for Joker. Unfortunately, the movie wasn’t made.
6 Robin Williams
Perhaps the most famous example on this list, Robin Williams was considered for the role of the Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman, but would ultimately be turned down in favor of Jack Nicholson.
Williams wasn’t very happy with the studio’s decision, the actor felt as though he was used as bait to attract Nicholson to the role. Williams was promised the role of Riddler by Burton, but after Burton was kicked off production of the third film, the role went to Jim Carrey.
5 Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody may be one of the most under-appreciated actors of his generation. The actor would try for the part of Joker in Nolan’s The Dark Knight, but would ultimately lose out on the part to the legendary Heath Ledger.
Due to Ledger’s iconic performance in the role of Joker, it was a good choice by Nolan to opt against Brody. However, perhaps the actor could play the role in the future, after all, he does look like the Joker.
4 Sean Penn
Sean Penn is another actor that is considered by many to be one of the finest of all time. Due to this reputation, Christopher Nolan actually offered the role of the Joker to Sean Penn before Heath Ledger would eventually take the part.
Sean Penn would ultimately turn down the role, though. He felt that it would be disrespectful to play the same role as his friend Jack Nicholson.
3 Paul Bettany
Another actor on this list who, even ignoring their incredible acting ability, just looks like the Joker. Paul Bettany was considered for the role of Joker in Nolan’s The Dark Knight, but understandably the role went to Ledger.
Bettany is an incredible actor and would certainly make for a fantastic Joker in the future. As shown in The Da Vinci Code, he can play creepy and intimidating incredibly well.
2 Frank Sinatra
One of the stranger additions to this list, the legendary crooner Frank Sinatra actually expressed a desire to play the Joker in the 1966 Batman TV show with Adam West. The singer does have acting experience, with Sinatra starring in several movies with other members of the Rat Pack across the 60s.
However, unfortunately for Sinatra, the role had already gone to Cesar ‘I’m not shaving this mustache’ Romero, who did remarkably in the role.
1 Ryan Gosling
Like Heath Ledger before him, Ryan Gosling would’ve gone from Hollywood heartthrob to Clown Prince of Crime for David Ayer’s Suicide Squad movie. However, Gosling would turn down the part as he didn’t want to sign a multi-movie deal.
The role would eventually go to Jared Leto who, combined with the unique character design of Joker in the movie, would go on to become the most controversial Joker of all time.