Characters BIO's (Sucide Squad)

The Joker

 

Movie

A . Leto described his role as "nearly " and a "beautiful disaster of a character"; about portraying the villain, he stated "I took a pretty deep dive. But this was a unique opportunity and I couldn't imagine doing it another way. It was fun, playing these . But at the same time it was very painful." Leto throughout filming, with Smith going as far as stating he never met him. In preparation for the role, Leto spent his time alone, listened to from the 1920s—commenting he senses "Joker may be much older than people think"—and read literature on . Influences for the character's appearance include Mexican cartel bosses and the work of . Leto stated that he spoke with doctors and spent time with psychopaths in preparation for his role. The character's tattoos were added by Ayer, who considered it gave a modernized gangster look to the Joker.

Comics

The Joker is a fictional created by , , and who first appeared in the debut issue of the (April 25, 1940) published by . Credit for the Joker's creation is disputed; Kane and Robinson claimed responsibility for the Joker's design, while acknowledging Finger's writing contribution. Although the Joker was planned to be killed off during his initial appearance, he was spared by editorial intervention, allowing the character to endure as the archenemy of the superhero .

In his comic book appearances, the Joker is portrayed as a criminal mastermind. Introduced as a with a warped, sadistic sense of humor, the character became a goofy prankster in the late 1950s in response to regulation by the , before returning to his darker roots during the early 1970s. As Batman's nemesis, the Joker has been part of the superhero's defining stories, including the murder of —the second and Batman's ward—and the paralysis of one of Batman's allies, . The Joker has had various possible origin stories during his decades of appearances. The most common story involves him falling into a tank of chemical waste which bleaches his skin white, turns his hair green, and his lips bright red; the resulting disfigurement drives him insane. The antithesis of Batman in personality and appearance, the Joker is considered by critics to be his perfect adversary.

The Joker possesses no superhuman abilities, instead using his expertise in chemical engineering to develop poisonous or lethal concoctions, and thematic weaponry, including razor-tipped , deadly , and acid-spraying lapel flowers. Although the Joker sometimes works with other supervillains such as the and , and groups like the and , these relationships often collapse due to the Joker's desire for unbridled chaos. The 1990s introduced a romantic interest for the Joker in his former psychiatrist, , who becomes his villainous sidekick. Although his primary obsession is Batman, the Joker has also fought other heroes including and .

One of the most iconic characters in popular culture, the Joker has been listed among the greatest comic book villains and fictional characters ever created. The character's popularity has seen him appear on a variety of merchandise, such as clothing and collectable items, inspire real-world structures (such as theme park attractions), and be referenced in a number of media. The Joker has been adapted to serve as Batman's adversary in live-action, animated, and video game incarnations, including the 1960s television series (played by ) and in film by in (1989), in (2008), and in (2016). , , and others have provided the character's voice.

The Joker is Protrayed by Jared Leto