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Cesar Romero

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Cesar Romero, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1934

Cesar Julio Romero, Jr. (February 15, 1907 – January 1, 1994) was a Cuban-American actor. He was born in New York to wealthy Cuban parents and played "Latin lovers" in films from the 1930s until the 1950s, usually in supporting roles. He starred as Cisco Kid in six westerns made between 1939 and 1941. Romero's Hollywood earnings allowed him to support his large family after his parents lost their sugar import business and suffered losses in the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Romero lived on and off with various family members, especially his sister, for the rest of his life.

Romero's skill at both dancing and comedy can be seen in the classic 20th Century Fox films he starred in opposite Carmen Miranda and Betty Grable, such as A Night in Havana and Springtime in the Rockies, in the 1940s.

Romero served admirably in various capacities in the United States Coast Guard in the Pacific for several years during WWII.

File:Cesar Romero Joker.gif
Cesar Romero in his most famous role as the Joker from Batman.

In 1966, Romero achieved icon status when he played The Joker in ABC-TV's Batman television series. He refused to shave his trademark mustache and so it was covered with white makeup when playing the supervillain throughout the series' run. Romero also portrayed The Joker in the spinoff movie version of the show.

Among Romero's guest star work in the 1970s was a recurring role on the western comedy Alias Smith and Jones, starring Pete Duel and Ben Murphy. Romero played Señor Armendariz, a Mexican rancher feuding with Patrick McCreedy (Burl Ives), the owner of a ranch on the opposite side of the border. He appeared in 3 episodes.

Romero later appeared as Peter Stavros in the television series Falcon Crest (1985-1987).

Romero always claimed his grandfather on his mother's side was Cuban poet and patriot José Martí although his mother's parents were legally Carmen and Manuel Mantilla with Jose Martí as his godfather. There was some speculation that Maria was fathered by Martí who was a boarder in the Mantilla household but he never claimed Maria as his daughter in his lifetime. Romero was a believer in liberation theology. Romero, who never married despite proposing to at least one woman, was rumoured to be openly gay, according to the more discreet standards of his generation. He was a mainstay of the Hollywood social circuit until his death in 1994.

Cesar Romero's cremated remains were interred at the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California [1].

File:FalconCrestCesarRomero.jpg
Main title caption from Falcon Crest.

Appearances

  • [2] The 1966 Batman TV Villains - Cesar Romero
Preceded by
None
 Actors to portray the Joker
1966-1989 		Succeeded by
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