Cesar Romero on "What's My Line?"

"The Joker" is wild!

[@SUPERMEDIABROTHERS6]

"did you ever have a mannerism, like an evil laugh?" "no" not yet ceasar, not yet.

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

Not yet. 😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@dominicvallejos1628]

Look at that penmanship! Outstanding Mr. Romero.

[@Baskerville22]

He was a 'gay blade' in many films

[@lynngregory393]

I am watching in 2023 and this man is definition of class.

[@aviduser1961]

Us kids of the 60's were lucky to get him as The Joker.

[@TheCollierjr]

We sure were.

[@doyleperkins4916]

A long lost time when both the audience, contestants, guest star and host exuded class...it literally drips off them.

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

Not anymore.

[@lynngregory393]

I’m watching these old shows because of COVID and Ceaser Romero is a riot!

[@johnnyyunne4242]

?? Stop the f...no fake c0\/!d sh..t

[@bored1ca]

How can you not love this man? Funny, charming, definitely handsome and gosh is he funny! He was perfect as The Joker!

[@charlesaguilar1708]

THAT WAS GREAT! I Always thought that CESAR ROMERO was the best "JOKER" on 1966 BATMAN series! GOD BLESS YOU!

[@hmaltravers]

Talk about a class act. Cesar was not only a great actor, but he was a true gentleman who was fiercely devoted to his family.

[@BGDD27]

it's pretty funny how a couple years after this when cesar romero played the joker he gave batman a clue in a game called "what's my crime?"

[@libertatus]

This program format could easily be brought back to television. All you need are intelligent, cultured panelist and top notch actors. I remember the show from the 1970's.

[@b.lloydreese2030]

So they would not be able to bring it back then

[@khj8716]

@@b.lloydreese2030 It would definitely be a s**t show lol!

[@phroggie1242]

I love that evil laugh question, when he played joker he certainly had one.

[@johnleos1687]

Cesar Romero R.I.P. Always a class act!💞🦇🦸🏆 2023 still can hear the Joker laughing! 😆🦇💞

[@scorpiowatertiger]

Much as I love Jack, Cesar's Joker was an instantly identifiable maniac every time he opened his mouth.

[@waynebrasler]

It should be added that although he almost always took supporting roles in films in terms of Hollywood social life he was forever at the top of the "A" list. He knew EVERYONE and was invited EVERYWHERE! For the ladies he was the perfect date to a premiere--handsome, dashing, charming, few, super-smart and super-witty.

[@randyroe5494]

Glad he disguised his voice well so that they did not guess who he was. He is my favorite Joker of them all.

[@originalmatchgame]

He was THE Joker

[@aleksandramakari]

Same as how Frank Gorshin was THE Riddler. He's my fav villan, he is a tru crazy person.

[@Mari_Kuai]

I absolutely cried when he answered his 1st 'yeaas'😂😂😂 an absolutely beautiful n funny man!

[@AlexanderArsov]

Never a dull moment with this guy. Haven't seen him in many pictures, but I do remember him from "Always Goodbye" with Barbara Stanwyck and Herbert Marshall. Hilarious!

[@carolynargabright8132]

He sure was handsome.

[@emg8810]

Great guest. Cesar had them going around in circles. Very entertaining.

[@anderson7293]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I've been waiting for this one for a long time. --- A brilliant panel --- But Cesar stumped everyone of them!!! HAIL CESAR!!!!!

[@RobertJones-ux6nc]

Loved watching him when he played the Joker on the Batman TV Show.

[@tomtriffid]

"If you're not a seal . . . " Arlene was always great at these quips.

[@kevind1931]

Even dying at 86, he was gone too young

[@FriendofRamblinJack]

ROOTS66: Tk you for posting this about Cesar - WWII US COAST GUARD. Refused to be given high placement just because he was an actor - went in as seaman - stayed in through the war. My Great Aunt Claire was his nurse and I need to find Cesar's autobiography to see what he wrote about my gentle aunt. Cesar was a gentleman and very accomplished. Took care of his huge family. Tks again. - mom to US Coast Guard veteran only child.

[@cgh7337]

Please let us know what you find out. Romero is a legend!

[@brandystoy]

I love it that he got them.

[@araymond1able]

This was really good. Laughed lots. I only remember him in a few movies such as Oceans Eleven and his role as The Joker in Batman Series (1966-68). Also played in many TV series-Man From U.N.C.L.E, Bonanza, Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, Death Valley Days, Rawhide, Burkes Law, It Takes A Thief, Falcon Crest and more then 100 others.

[@memorialled_zeppelin-warew1346]

Caesar Romero being... Well Ceasar Romero. Funny as hell. Best Joker ever.

[@michaelcubria]

Cesar Romero was born Cesar Julio Romero, Jr. in New York City on February 15, 1907, the son of Cesar Julio Romero, Sr.[2] and Maria Mantilla (daughter of Cuban national hero José Martí).

[@MarieElaina46]

Michael A Cubria facebook.com/groups/17377271017/

[@nelsontoondrawer7618]

I'm so glad you told us that! I didn't know though I'm Cuban born. Jose Marti was a great poet, writer, freedom lover, military leader & martyr.

[@peterkirgan6850]

Best joker ever!!!

[@kali8188]

Shame this predates the Batman series, but Cesar Romero was always that dichotomy: the suave performer and dancer -- and a unique baggy-pants comedian. A joker in more ways than one.

[@satori03]

i LOVED this man in pictures...Bless you Butch

[@cgh7337]

Cesar is one good looking man!

[@johnpauldeguzman823]

When shows had class

[@kingporter67]

Cesar Romero was awesome!

[@frumnyc]

This was great! I've watched numerous of these on You Tube, and has got to be one of the best

[@moorlock2003]

He would go on to his greatest fame as The Joker on Batman. It was a role he loved.

[@Tracy-os6un]

My favourite Joker of all time Ceser Romero RIP

[@24-karat-plonker]

I love how the moment Cesar stepped out you could hear several women gasp and nearly lose themselves xD but I don't blame them, he's beautiful ❤️

[@albertgirard7857]

I miss him

[@maryhabbart8847]

He was so handsome He was a great actor . Loved him on Batman as the joker back in the 60's.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😅

[@LastlyMore]

It's funny that he didn't say yes when he was asked if he had an evil laugh. I'm guessing this is before he played the Joker.

[@Pabpovich]

I thought the same thing ! I was just puzzled because I thought this was during and was waiting for the laugh lol

[@MarieElaina46]

This What's my Line was done in the early 1950s....he didn't play the Joker until 1966.....

[@canuckster24]

@@MarieElaina46 The original What's My Line ran until 1967, although this was an episode from the 50s I think.

[@grantdavis5945]

Don't know the exact air date of the episode but it's almost certainly before Batman head aired. Dorothy is still alive and on the panel. She died in November of 65. This is likely early 50s.

[@teenagerinsac]

Notice his hair wasnt yet mostly white, which it had become by the time of Batman.

[@kevinhealey6540]

Ceaser Romero during WW 2 volunteered although service was not required. Romero saw action during the invasions of Tinian and Saipan. Promoted to the rating of Chief Boatswain's Mate.

[@wmlfan9]

This was a good one. Lots of fun. Thanks. As the Joker on Batman he refused to shave his mustache and so they had to put the clown make-up right over it.

[@lindleywalsh6351]

Considering the interesting life Cesar had, it’s surprising no one attempted to write a biography.

[@oldfogey4679]

Lindley he did write an autobiography published after his death!

[@LaoSoftware]

Aaaaaw. He's adorable.

[@Brian-uy2tj]

It is funny that he was asked if he had a trademark laugh in any shows. If only they had asked that question a few years later. He was the best Joker the Batman franchise ever had and his laugh was so distinctive.

[@larry930legend]

I was very delighted that Arlene Francis got stumped,love her frustrated reaction, always believed she cheated(peeked) as much as the Joker foiled Gotham city.

[@waynebrasler]

He enjoyed a remarkably long career (after all, he was in "A Little Princess" with Shirley Temple because he could do drama, comedy, mystery, satire and musicals. He was one of the most popular people in the film colony, a thorough likeable, amiable person. He was particularly liked by the ladies because he was a great friend and a fun date. He really enjoyed a charmed life; that's what talent will do for ya.

[@SR-iy4gg]

I must have watched that movie a million times when I was growing up! I remember him from that movie. It was probably the first thing I saw him in.

[@roberte.miranda6122]

Cesar Romero would be PERFECT movie character Mafia Gang Member Boss besides the Joker💪💪💪💪R.I.P.

[@mitchyoung9484]

Old fogey here, but seriously, this is soooo f*in' funny with zero profanity. A better America

[@joebrennan230]

A slightly more racist America

[@sandybeach123]

Amen.

[@hyperchord]

Can we stop to talk about Cesar's amazing cursive?

[@chuckberger3196]

Absolutely fantastic post. I never saw this before. I love this. What a handsome man. I always enjoyed C.R.

[@banner74]

"AHAHAHAHAHA!!!! THE CLOWN PRINCE OF CRIME TRIUMPHS ONCE AGAIN,OHHOHOHOHO!!!" That's as close to one of his trademark Joker lines as I recall off the top of my head.

[@KairuHakubi]

"no" to evli laugh. i guess this was pre-batman.

[@DavidThomas-fb8bq]

Nowadays, what's my line would be made up of a panel of drug takers.

[@buddmannable]

What a classy guy Cesar was.

[@pagalley1]

I remember watching Cesar on Falcon Crest...That's probably the last show I saw him on...Cesar looks a lot like Adam Clayton Powell Jr....This is one of the funniest "put on" voices I've heard on WML...Everytime Cesar spoke, the audience cracked up...I've never seen that happen before with a guest...Cesar had a lot of fun with this performance.

[@morganrussell6783]

The Joker in Batman 💖💯

[@lorrainecrampton3447]

He was very handsome 😍

[@1luiszepol]

Cesar fooled them all!

[@Aannan]

He's gorgeous. What a charmer.

[@georgiaconti1667]

What a charmer! And. He stumped the panel. And. My gosh, was he handsome.

[@Veggieman87]

Cesar Romero is probably the primary reason I am an actor/comedian... and I'm 18.

[@kcatleticos]

Now you are 31, how did acting career go ?

[@Veggieman87]

@@kcatleticos It didn't... Long story short, college and my 20s weren't the best years of my life, and it took me a long time to get myself into a better place mentally and emotionally. Thankfully that's all much better, but I never properly pursued any of the things that I'd thought I'd wanted to do due to poor mental health, and now it feels like I shut myself off from ever being able to go down any of those paths properly because I'm too old and have no experience. But I'm keeping myself creative in other ways, and still making silly content, just on a different scale than I would've "hoped". I have built up a little audience for my comedy stuff, which is nice and surprising, nothing much but it's nice to see, and I'm getting my ducks in a row to sort of "expanding" myself a bit more on different platforms, too. Thanks for asking, by the way, sorry for rambling, it just helps me a bit to talk about it all.

[@ameroux]

That's the best fake voice I've heard in a while - it sounded nothing like him.

[@michaelhagemann8100]

This What's My Line episode was from 1952, Cesar Romero was age 45 at the time, he was also a panelist on the show five times through 1959, this was years before he played the Joker on Batman.

[@wmlfan9]

It is always a treat to see the panel truly stumped by the mystery guest's identity. They are so knowledgeable regarding show-biz celebs that they themselves can hardly believe it when they are bamboozled by one.

[@JohnHH59]

Funny that Ms. Killgallen asked if he had a trademark evil laugh. Of course, he wasn't the Joker then.

[@bambino100011]

He’s a great actor.

[@wurly164]

Have you ever painted your face white, dyed your hair green and try to kill crimefighters that run around in thier underware? yeeeessssss

[@angelafriedemann6722]

wurly164: Actually at THAT time the answer would've been "Nooooooo"...!

[@13loomisst]

Good fun, as ever. Thanks very much.

[@ilovetruffles99]

LOL this is amazing I’m dying right now 😂

[@johnmanier7968]

In Cesar Romero's first appearance as the Joker, he and his gang taunted Batman with a broadcast called "What's My Crime." It was the first time he called Robin "Boy Blunder."

[@roots66]

@clq4402 This appearance is from the '50s, long before "Batman."

[@davidcaldarola5188]

The panel members did not stand because the show was relatively new, and the formalities hadn't been established yet. Yes, this was about 15 years before he played the Joker on Batman. He was 59 when he made his first episode as the joker, which is amazing seeing how physical and energetic he was. But one should remember that he was an accomplished dancer in his younger years. I noticed that he almost always stood with his knees bent when he was in front of Adam West, and I can't help but think it was because they didn't want him towering over batman. Finally, the question about the evil laugh was because of a sinister laugh Richard Widmark used in a movie that was current at that time - so, no, Romero didn't have the evil laugh at that time, but Frank Gorshin, who played the Riddler, mentioned in an interview the Richard Widmark laugh from that movie and said he used it to pattern the riddler's laugh.

[@tomlemery8490]

The Joker laugh came not from Richard Widmark. According to Adam West's book, the Joke r laugh came when Romero was looking at drawings of his costume. He started to giggle and he howled. The executive producer hear him and said keep that laugh. Romero was confused as to what the EP was saying, and the EP said that is the Joker laugh.

[@ElaineHJ2006]

David Caldarola &7ub(hip

[@andydowling1216]

A class act at all times I am still laughing at this clip every time I see it tells me of his versatile but I have to say till this day if you watch every Joker who has played that part every single one of them have emulated at least one characteristic or trait of of Cesar Romeros Joker he was the best my sons also agree with me !!

[@kali3665]

When we found out the suave, sophisticated dancer and actor --- was a baggy-pants comedian in disguise....

[@UteLube]

SHAMWOW!

[@jediahagbossoumonde8348]

he sounds like Desi Arnaz!

[@STP43FAN1]

LOL! Romero is determined to keep his identity secret until the end. ;)

[@willbergie55]

I remember him from the Batman television series in the 1960s.

[@coyacan39]

Cesar Romero was charming and handsome and a lot of fun. No wonder he was popular with the ladies. A life-long bachelor, I don't think he ever married. I think he was born in Cuba, but I might be wrong, since he answered yes when asked if he were American. Usually John asked for clarification if the guest was born outside the U.S.

[@aguilacahc000]

He was gay

[@shoredude2]

He was born in New York, so he would be very much American. His father was born in Spain and his mother was Cuban.

[@MarieElaina46]

aguilacahc000 He was NOT gay....gheezzz

[@johnnyangel3683]

@@MarieElaina46 Oh sure he was !Marlene Dietrich said he was the Queen Bee of Holywood!

[@MarieElaina46]

@@johnnyangel3683 Who cares what she said?she was a slut who slept around with anyone who could get her in a movie, not to mention she was a crappy actress....

[@mattjones7621]

"Did you ever have a trademark, mannerism such as an evil laugh?" YES!!! HAHAHAHA!!! ;-)

[@keithhyttinen8275]

"The Joker" on the Batman TV series 1966-68.

[@graperonto]

I don't think I've ever seen an episode where even Bennett Cerf didn't stand up to shake hands... that's INCREDIBLY rare.

[@nandofigueira2005]

Episode dated 14 December 1952

[@Hootowl54]

That Cesar was really a joker.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

I would have been pissed if I had not discovered that it was Cesar Romero! But is this before Batman? Because he said he was not part of any TV programs.

[@wurly164]

@TheBlueyedblond Thats right it was the biggest secret in Hollywood that everyone knew

[@graperonto]

This must be one of the few times that the male members of the panel did NOT stand up to shake hands.

[@aarontaylor2808]

Outside protraying the Joker 🃏 on Batman, I've watched several movies Cesar has started in and I found them most entertaining. Mr Romero even appeared in a Toho production called Latitude Zero with Joseph Cotton.

[@banner74]

"AHAHAHAHAHA!!!! THE CLOWN PRINCE OF CRIME TRIUMPHS ONCE AGAIN,OHHOHOHOHO!!!

[@BabyBoomerChannel]

I think it was inappropriate for Arlene to ask about Romero about throwing orange wedges at nude young men.

[@johnjdevlin2610]

Cesar Romero is awesome. A true gentlemen among piteous peons. With all the voluptuous females with whom he co-starred, why did he never marry? Questions, questions!

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

I don't remember exactly when Hal Block was fired from the panel (it was pretty early on in the What's My Line? run), I'm guessing like around 1954 or so, so yes, this appearance of Cesar Romero was a good 12 years or so before the Batman series debuted on ABC-TV.

[@alderaan1978]

@JazzyFizzful yeah he was the original joker played with adam west (batman)

[@tazal5011]

@JazzyFizzful yes on the batman tv show starring Adam West in the 1960s

[@MystikWizard]

You did see how this was in Black and White and Batman was in color, right? That would imply this was filmed long before Batman was produced.

[@Saltysailor83]

Cesar Romero served in the US Coast Guard!

[@TheAllKnowingTribute]

Cesar wins? Awesome.