This is our third installment in a continuing series about gay and bisexual actors from classic television. Our previous entries were Richard Deacon, Paul Winfield and Will Geer.
CESAR ROMERO
The best Joker of them all, reformed Ocean’s 11 mobster, and Kurt Russell’s Disney collegiate nemesis, Cesar Romero was a Latin-American actor who came to prominence during the Thirties and Forties in Hollywood. Generally relegated to Latin Lover types, he was also able to branch out into the Latin Villain role in movies like The Thin Man (1934), even finding leading roles in 15 Maiden Lane (1936) and other features.
Best known as The Joker in the ABC-TV situation comedy Batman (1966) starring Adam West, Romero’s supervillainous cackle and stylish ham acting would lay the iconic foundations for later portrayals by Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger, though he’s the only one who sported a mustache. Ironically, Romero was the least over-the-top of any of the Jokers. I can still hear the way he derisively calls out the Dynamic Duo as “FATmann and BOYee Blunderrr” in his faux-Shakespearean voice, as he laughs stage-maniacally before Robin’s quick riposte, “Oh boy! How I’d like to top HIM with a PUNCHLINE!”
A registered Republican and Nixon-Lodge campaign supporter, Romero was a “confirmed bachelor” who escorted the unmarried female queens of Hollywood (Barbara Stanwyck, Ginger Rogers, Joan Crawford, Lucille Ball) in public, while at home he entertained male queens and escorts. Marlene Dietrich called him “the undisputed queen of homosexuals” while apparently referring to his residence as a prime hookup spot: “I don’t think there was a gay actor in all Hollywood who hadn’t been there.”
I am surprised to hear of this. Never knew…
Metoo! I remember admiring Romero in the 1970s, who with the gray mane and mustache was a striking man, well into his later years. But I never knew he preferred same-sex relationships; his Wikipedia biography is silent on that subject.
I worked (doing dinner theatre – the former graveyard for stars of the silver screen) with Cesar when I was in my very early 20’s. He could be quite witty and charming, and then turn around and give you a tongue lashing like you’ve never heard. I felt the wrath many times, as I was very young, very gay, and very open. I think he was jealous, because he had to live most of his life in the closet. Although I wasn’t his favorite, he’d do The Joker laugh for me on command. (I was a HUGE fan of the original series – having worked with Lee Meriwether, Eartha Kitt, Burgess Meredith and others.) Upon the closing of the show, everyone received a gift…except me. Quite telling.