20 TV Villain Performances That Are Practically Flawless
16. Mark Hamill - Joker (Batman: The Animated Series)
To play one of the most iconic villains in pop culture history, you have to put your own spin on the character to properly stand out, and despite the stiff competition Mark Hamill's unique take is the definitive Clown Prince of Crime for many.
In Batman: The Animated Series, Joker is gleefully murderous, unrepentantly cruel, and psychopathic without question, and Hamill, with a vocal performance that shifts effortlessly between terrifying and hysterical, brings these traits to life with ease.
Somehow finding a striking balance between Joker's love for anarchy and his volatile relationship with Batman, Hamill nails every contradictory aspect of the character, from the cackling laugh to the menacing threats.
Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix may have won Oscars for their portrayals of the Caped Crusader's biggest adversary, but Hamill's is the most comic accurate and fun, and he steals the show with every wickedly sharp zinger he delivers.