There's something about this character that really encourages actors to think outside the box and go out of their way to create memorable interpretations of The Joker. Heath Ledger's fantastic performance coupled with his untimely death created a legendary Joker, as we all know. But The Joker is no slouch in the medium of television, either. The Joker from the original series is dated and campy (although enjoyable), so when viewers look for true excellence for the beloved villain, they have to look at Batman: The Animated Series and hold Mark Hamill (yes, Luke Skywalker himself) and his version of the character up as the gold standard. He's a terrifying villain because he doesn't really have an ulterior motive; he doesn't want power or revenge, he just sort of does whatever he wants because he feels like it. Plus, the Mark Hamill Joker laugh alone is enough to earn him an entry on this list.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
