Cesar Romero was a talented actor, dancer, and comedian who had a career spanning nearly 60 years. Born in New York City in February 1907 to Cuban parents, he attended the Collegiate School and Riverdale Country School before working as a ballroom dancer.
He made his Broadway debut in the 1927 production of Lady Do and later appeared in the stage production of Strictly Dishonorable. His first film role was in The Shadow Laughs (1933),followed by strong performances in The Devil Is a Woman (1935) and Wee Willie Winkie (1937).
Romero's best performance was as Spanish explorer Cortez in Captain from Castile (1947),and he also shone in the delightful Julia Misbehaves (1948) and several other lighthearted escapades. In 1953, he starred in the 39-part espionage TV serial Passport to Danger (1954),earning him a considerable income due to a profit-sharing arrangement.
Although Romero became wealthy and had no need to work, he continued to appear in a broad variety of film roles. He surprised everyone in Hollywood by taking on the role of "The Joker" in the hugely successful TV series Batman (1966),refusing to shave his trademark mustache for the role. He guest-starred in dozens of TV shows, including Rawhide (1959),77 Sunset Strip (1958),Zorro (1957),Fantasy Island (1977),and Murder, She Wrote (1984).
Romero's TV work was best remembered for his portrayal of The Joker, and he often remarked that for many years after Batman ended, fans would stop him and ask him to chuckle and giggle away just like he did as The Joker. He remained busy throughout the 1980s, even at the age of 78, and was cast as Jane Wyman's love interest in the top-rated prime-time soap opera Falcon Crest (1981),playing Peter Stavros from 1985 to 1987.
Romero stopped acting in 1990 but remained busy, regularly hosting classic movie programs on cable television. A talented and much-loved Hollywood icon, he passed away on New Year's Day 1994, at the age of 86.
