Cesar Romero
A dashing Hollywood charmer who refused to shave his mustache to become television's first and most flamboyant Joker.
1907–1994 (age 87)·American actor·Birthday: February 15·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Cesar Romero brought a breezy, continental elegance to Hollywood for decades, his career a vibrant tapestry of mid-century American entertainment. Born in New York to Cuban parents, he broke into films as a suave dancer and romantic lead, often typecast as the Latin lover. He possessed a versatile charm that carried him from musicals with Carmen Miranda to dramatic turns as historical figures like the Cisco Kid. His most indelible mark came in 1966 when he gleefully embraced the chaos of the Joker on the 'Batman' TV series, his painted-over mustache visible beneath the clown makeup, creating a performance of anarchic joy that defined the character for a generation. Romero never retired, working steadily in film and television with an unflappable professionalism and a signature, booming laugh.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Cesar was born in 1907, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cesar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1907
Cesar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1907Born
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Started school
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1920Became a teenager
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Could drive
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1925Could vote
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Turned 21
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1937Turned 30
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 40
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 50
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 60
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 70
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 80
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1994Died at 87
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
Key Achievements
- He was the first actor to portray the Joker in a live-action adaptation, on the 1960s 'Batman' television series.
- He starred in over 100 films and television shows across a career spanning nearly six decades.
- He played the Cisco Kid in a series of popular 20th Century Fox films in the late 1930s and 1940s.
- He was a frequent guest star on classic TV variety shows and sitcoms like 'The Lucy Show' and 'The Mike Douglas Show'.
Did You Know?
He refused to shave his trademark mustache for the Joker role, so the makeup artists simply painted over it.
He served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.
He was a lifelong bachelor and was known for being a fixture on the Hollywood party scene.
He provided the voice for The Wizard in the 1985 animated film 'The Adventures of the GoBots'.
“I've had a wonderful life, a marvelous career. I wouldn't change a thing.”
