Biographic - Sunday May 25, 2008 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

Batman Villains. This summer's Batman movie "The Dark Knight" features the late Heath Ledger as the caped crusader's arch-nemesis, the Joker. He finished filming the role shortly before his tragic accidental death at the age of 28. Since the Batman comics were first adapted as movie serials in the 1940s, some of Hollywood's best known and acclaimed actors, including a number of Oscar honorees, have embraced villainy and battled Gotham City's Masked Manhunter. The camp classic tv series of the 1960s featured the likes of Frank Gorshin as The Riddler, Burgess Meredith ans The Penguin, and Vincent Price as Egghead, Cesar Romero played The Joker. And the former matinee idol was so attached to his trademark mustache that he refused to shave it off for the role, so it was disguised under a layer of greasepaint. The clown prince of crime was later portrayed by Jack Nicholson in the darker 1989 blockbuster "Batma" an outing that earned Jack a staggering $60 million payday! Three years later, Danny Devito played The Penguin in "Batman Returns" while 1995's "Batman Returns" while 1995's "Batman Forever" cast Jim Carrey as The Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones as tow-face. Released in 1997, "Batman & Robin" featured Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy and gave star billing to Arnold Schwarzeneger who played Mr. Freeze. 1992's Batman Returns" also starred Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, a role played on the TV series at various times by Julienewmar, Lee Meriwether and singer Eartha Kitt. The character was spun off inot the 2004 movie "Catwoman" featuring Hallie Berry in the title role.

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