Connect with us


Idols

Cesar Romero, More than just the Joker

Published

on


Tall, handsome and sophisticated, Cesar Romero was born into a distinguished Cuban family and got his start performing as a nightclub dancer in his native New York City before landing Broadway acting roles such as “All Points West” and “Dinner at Eight” among other plays. An MGM talent scout spotted him on one of his Broadway runs and brought the young performer to Hollywood in 1934, where Romero went on to entertain movie and TV audiences for the next sixty years.

Though widely known as a “Latin lover,” Romero found his footing in such early roles as a suspect in “The Thin Man” (1934), an Afghan leader who counsels Shirley Temple in “Wee Willie Winkie” (1935) and a luckless lover in hot pursuit of Marlene Dietrich in Josef von Sternberg’s “The Devil is a Woman” (1935). Romero also met with success portraying the Cisco Kid in a series of B movies released by his home studio, 20th Century Fox, including “The Gay Caballero” (1940) and “Romance of the Rio Grande” (1941).

Throughout the forties, Fox also cast Romero in a number of musicals, capitalizing on his earlier years as a dancer. Despite the fact that he often lost lead roles to slightly better-known male names, Romero continually won audience favor with his ability to seamlessly combine styles from Latin to ballroom and beyond. In “Springtime in the Rockies” (1942), Romero got the chance to pair his footloose finesse with Betty Grable’s grace, and although his character may not have won the girl in the end, his performance guaranteed Romero a place in film history forever. Cesar with Carmen Miranda in Weekend in Havana.

Upon his return from service in WW II, Fox cast Romero in the extravagant “The Captain from Castille” (1947). Romero’s portrayal of Cortez is considered one of his finest by critics and fans alike. During the 1950’s, Romero turned his attention to TV, hosting “Your Chevrolet Showroom” (1953-54) and starring as the suave courier Steve McQuinn in the adventure series “Passport to Danger” (1954). The 1960’s ushered in more success, with Romero cast as the deliciously maverick Joker in the kitschy cult adventure series “Batman” (1966-68). In 1989, Romero revived his role as the Joker in the 1989 feature “Batman.” In a note to the trivia trendy, the story goes that during the time of filming, Romero was so enamoured of his mustache that he refused to shave it off and that the faintest of shadows is visible beneath his viscous clown makeup.

Advertisement

Romero kept busy throughout the 1970’s with such films as “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t” (1972), “The Strongest Man in the World” (1975), and “Simple Justice” (1989). From 1985 through 1988 he played the wealthy and sophisticatedly sexy Peter Stavros on TV’s “Falcon’s Crest” and continued to host television specials until his death in 1994.


Alastair James is the editor in chief for Memorable TV. He has been involved in media since his university days. Alastair is passionate about television, and some of his favourite shows include Line of Duty, Luther and Traitors. He is always on the lookout for hot new shows, and is always keen to share his knowledge with others.

Advertisement
48 Hours 48 Hours
News1 hour ago

48 Hours, March 30, 2024, CBS, “The Troubled Case Against Jane Dorotik”

CBS’s 48 Hours, in an episode titled “The Troubled Case Against Jane Dorotik”, explores a gripping true crime story of...

NBC Logo NBC Logo
News2 hours ago

Chuck Scarborough 50th Anniversary Special, March 28, 2024, NBC

NBC’s News 4 New York is set to air a special tribute episode celebrating the remarkable 50-year career of esteemed...

Summer House Summer House
News4 hours ago

Summer House, March 28, 2024, BRAVO, “Start Your Engines”

In the latest episode of the hit BRAVO series “Summer House,” titled “Start Your Engines,” tensions rise as the housemates...

Theresa Caputo: Raising Spirits Theresa Caputo: Raising Spirits
News4 hours ago

Theresa Caputo: Raising Spirits, March 28, 2024, LIFETIME, “Give Me a Sign”

LIFETIME presents a brand new episode of Theresa Caputo’s hit series “Raising Spirits,” airing on Thursday 28 March 2024 at...

Grey's Anatomy 20 ABC Grey's Anatomy 20 ABC
News4 hours ago

Grey’s Anatomy, March 28, 2024, ABC, “Walk on the Ocean”

The highly acclaimed medical drama series “Grey’s Anatomy” continues its landmark 20th season with an all-new episode titled “Walk on...

Bold and Bougie Bold and Bougie
News4 hours ago

Bold & Bougie, March 28, 2024, WE tv, “LGB-Trippin”

Bold & Bougie’s seventh episode of its inaugural season, titled “LGB-Trippin,” airs on WE tv at 9:00 PM on Thursday,...

Hudson and Rex Hudson and Rex
News4 hours ago

Hudson & Rex, March 28, 2024, UPtv, “Rexit, Stage Left”

Hudson & Rex presents the Season 5 Episode 14 episode, “Rexit, Stage Left,” airing on UPtv at 8:00 PM on...

Son of a Critch Son of a Critch
News4 hours ago

Son of a Critch, March 28, 2024, The CW, “Cabaret”

Son of a Critch, a comedy series on The CW, presents its eleventh episode of the third season, titled “Cabaret,”...

Bargain Hunt Bargain Hunt
News59 mins ago

Bargain Hunt, 1 April 2024, BBC One, “Asian Special”

In a special Asian-focused episode of Bargain Hunt, presenter Roo Irvine delves into some of the program’s most remarkable finds...

Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics
News23 hours ago

Nissan Figaro & Ferrari 250 GT, Bangers & Cash, March 28, 2024, Yesterday

On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 8:00 PM., Yesterday presents a brand new episode of Bangers & Cash. This reality...

Big Mood Big Mood
News23 hours ago

Big Mood Episode 2, 28 March 2024, Channel 4, “Down”

Continue the laughter and heartfelt moments with the second episode of Big Mood on Thursday, 28 March 2024 at 10:30...

Rob Beckett's Smart TV Rob Beckett's Smart TV
News23 hours ago

Natasia Demetriou, Anna Maxwell-Martin, Cush Jumbo, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett’s Smart TV, 28 March 2024, Sky Max,

Rob Beckett’s Smart TV is back with another entertaining episode on Thursday 28 March 2024 at 9:00 PM on Sky...

Trucking Hell Trucking Hell
News24 hours ago

Trucking Hell, 28 March 2024, 5Action

On Thursday 28 March 2024 at 9:00 PM., Trucking Hell returns with an action-packed episode that takes viewers into the...

A&E After Dark A&E After Dark
News24 hours ago

A&E After Dark, 28 March 2024, 5STAR,

Its another intense and gripping night at Tunbridge Wells A&E as A&E After Dark returns with a new episode on...

Big Mood Big Mood
News24 hours ago

Series Premiere, Big Mood, 28 March 2024, Channel 4, “Up”

Gear up for a hilarious and heartfelt comedy as Big Mood makes its debut on Channel 4 on Thursday, 28...

Great British Railway Journeys Great British Railway Journeys
News24 hours ago

Edinburgh to Queensferry, Great British Railway Journeys, March 28, BBC Two,

BBC Two is set to air a brand new episode of Great British Railway Journeys on Thursday, March 28, 2024...

Popular