Mark Hamill's Heart-wrenching Retirement as the Joker
Mark Hamill, renowned for his iconic portrayal of the Joker for three decades, announces his retirement from the role following the tragic loss of his beloved Batman A poignant farewell to a legendary character that has touched the hearts of millions
After voicing the character of the Joker for over 30 years, Mark Hamill is preparing to step down from the role due to a poignant reason. While he is most famous for playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, his portrayal of Batman's infamous foe, the Joker, has also left a lasting impression.
Hamill initially lent his voice to the animated villain in the 1992 series Batman: The Animated Series, and has since continued to play the character in numerous movies, spin-offs, and video games. However, after portraying the Clown Prince of Crime for over 30 years, it appears that Hamill will be stepping away from the role due to a poignant reason he recently shared.
Hamill steps back from The Joker as his Batman passed away
During FAN EXPO San Francisco, Hamill revealed that he would be stepping back from the role of The Joker after 30 years.
He chose not to reprise the role because the original voice of animated Batman, Kevin Conroy, passed away from intestinal cancer on November 10, 2022, at age 66.
Following this announcement, Hamill referenced his Joker's iconic line "With Batman, crime has no punchline," from Batman: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 49: "The Man Who Killed Batman."
The episode features a minor mob member named Sidney Debris who claims responsibility for Batman's death, having allowed the hero to plummet off a building onto a propane tank, resulting in a dramatic explosion.
Batman survived the explosion, but the one who struggles the most with his "death" is Joker. He expresses deep emotions about Batman's impact on Gotham and how his loss has deeply affected him, claiming that Batman made him "a happy soul." For additional TV and movie coverage from Dexerto, click here.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I grew up watching Mark Hamill's iconic portrayal of the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series. His voice acting was incredible, and he brought the character to life in a way that was both terrifying and tragic. I was devastated to hear that he is retiring from the role, but I understand his reasons.
The death of Kevin Conroy, the original voice of Batman, was a huge loss for the Batman community. Hamill and Conroy had worked together for decades, and they had a close friendship. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for Hamill to lose his friend and colleague.
Hamill's retirement from the role of the Joker marks the end of an era. He will be remembered as one of the greatest voice actors of all time, and his portrayal of the Joker will continue to be enjoyed by fans for generations to come.
