Tall, suave and sophisticated Cesar Romero actually had two claims to
fame in Hollywood. To one generation, he was the distinguished Latin
lover of numerous musicals and romantic comedies, and the rogue bandit
The Cisco Kid in a string of low-budget westerns. However, to a younger
generation weaned on television, Romero was better known as the
white-faced, green-haired, cackling villain The Joker of the camp 1960s
TV series Batman (1966), and as a bumbling corporate villain in a spate of
Walt Disney comedies, such as chasing a young Kurt Russell in the fun-packed
Superhirn in Tennisschuhen (1969). Fans and critics alike agreed that Romero was a major talent
who proved himself an enduring and versatile star in an overwhelming
variety of roles in a career as an actor, dancer and comedian that
lasted nearly 60 years.
Cesar Romero was born of Cuban parents in New York City in February
1907. He attended the Collegiate School and Riverdale Country School before working
as a ballroom dancer. He first appeared on Broadway in the 1927
production of Lady Do, and then in the stage production of Strictly
Dishonorable. His first film role was in The Shadow Laughs (1933), after which he gave
strong performances in Die spanische Tänzerin (1935) and in the Shirley Temple favorite, Rekrut Willi Winkie (1937).
Critics and fans generally agree that Romero's best performance was as
the Spanish explorer Cortez in Der Hauptmann von Kastilien (1947). However, he also shone in the
delightful Die unvollkommene Dame (1948) and several other breezy and lighthearted
escapades. In 1953 he starred in the 39-part espionage TV serial
Passport to Danger (1954), which earned him a considerable income due to a canny
profit-sharing arrangement. Although Romero became quite wealthy and
had no need to work, he could not stay away from being in front of the
cameras. He continued to appear in a broad variety of film roles, but
surprised everyone in Hollywood by taking on the role of "The Joker" in
the hugely successful TV series Batman (1966). He refused to shave his
trademark mustache for the role, and close observation shows how the
white clown makeup went straight on over his much loved mustache! The
appearances in Batman were actually only a small part of the enormous
amount of work that Romero contributed to television. He guest-starred
in dozens of shows, including Tausend Meilen Staub (1959), 77-Sunset-Strip (1958), Zorro (1957), Fantasy Island (1977) and
Mord ist ihr Hobby (1984). However, it was The Joker for which his TV work was best
remembered, and Romero often remarked that for many, many years after
Batman ended, fans would stop him and ask him to chuckle and giggle
away just like he did as The Joker. Romero always obliged, and both he
and the fans just loved it!
With a new appeal to a younger fan base, Romero turned up in three
highly popular Disney comedies: Superhirn in Tennisschuhen (1969), Es kracht, es zischt - zu seh'n ist nischt (1972) and Der Retorten-Goliath (1975) as corrupt
but inept villain A.J. Arno. Throughout the remainder of the 1980s
Romero remained busy, and even at 78 years of age the ladies still
loved his charm, and he 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.
Although Romero stopped acting in 1990, he 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.
