Cesar Romero on "What's My Line?"

[@dominicvallejos1628]

Look at that penmanship! Outstanding Mr. Romero.

[@Baskerville22]

He was a 'gay blade' in many films

[@johnleos1687]

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

[@bored1ca]

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

[@Tracy-os6un]

My favourite Joker of all time Ceser Romero RIP

[@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.

[@SUPERMEDIABROTHERS6]

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

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

Not yet. 😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@lynngregory393]

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

[@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.

[@charlesaguilar1708]

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

[@aviduser1961]

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

[@TheCollierjr]

We sure were.

[@martinwich8788]

Oh yes, I envy you. Unfortunately my Grandparents were born in a communist country so missed out at the time.

[@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!

[@RobertJones-ux6nc]

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

[@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.

[@maryhabbart8847]

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

[@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?"

[@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

[@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!

[@phroggie1242]

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

[@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!

[@Mari_Kuai]

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

[@scorpiowatertiger]

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

[@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!!!!!

[@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.

[@morganrussell6783]

The Joker in Batman 💖💯

[@carolynargabright8132]

He sure was handsome.

[@emg8810]

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

[@brandystoy]

I love it that he got them.

[@buddmannable]

What a classy guy Cesar was.

[@frumnyc]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@lorrainecrampton3447]

He was very handsome 😍

[@tomtriffid]

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

[@kevind1931]

Even dying at 86, he was gone too young

[@bambino100011]

He’s a great actor.

[@chuckberger3196]

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

[@kingporter67]

Cesar Romero was awesome!

[@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.

[@memorialled_zeppelin-warew1346]

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

[@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.

[@m.b.1201]

OMG! Cesar Romero is so damn funny, sounding like this is hilarious! 🤣🤣

[@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.

[@albertgirard7857]

I miss him

[@moorlock2003]

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

[@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.

[@georgiaconti1667]

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

[@Aannan]

He's gorgeous. What a charmer.

[@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 ❤️

[@roberte.miranda6122]

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

[@johnpauldeguzman823]

When shows had class

[@LaoSoftware]

Aaaaaw. He's adorable.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@cgh7337]

Cesar is one good looking man!

[@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."

[@peterkirgan6850]

Best joker ever!!!

[@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.

[@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.

[@keithhyttinen8275]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@ilovetruffles99]

LOL this is amazing I’m dying right now 😂

[@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.

[@hyperchord]

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

[@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"...!

[@roots66]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@mattjones7621]

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

[@davedruid7427]

When Cesar replied No to Killgalen's Question of his having an "An Evil Laugh' at 4:50 of the Program was a Cheat! That was BS as his Joker Character definitely had an 'Evil Laugh'!!!

[@Algaean]

This was years before his role as the Joker.

[@JohnHH59]

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

[@nandofigueira2005]

Episode dated 14 December 1952

[@KairuHakubi]

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

[@1luiszepol]

Cesar fooled them all!

[@DavidThomas-fb8bq]

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

[@13loomisst]

Good fun, as ever. Thanks very much.

[@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

[@kali3665]

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

[@miketheyunggod2534]

He did have a trademark laugh when he was The Joker. Later on. 4:40

[@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.

[@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 !!

[@roncaruso931]

Nice if you would indicate the date when this aired.

[@alderaan1978]

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

[@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.

[@SR-iy4gg]

4:49 He did later on ! (the Joker on Batman!)

[@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....

[@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.

[@willbergie55]

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

[@STP43FAN1]

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

[@tazal5011]

@greg4161 he had to disguise his voice because it was very recognizable.

[@wurly164]

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

[@tazal5011]

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

[@hjb103055]

I looked him up on the internet and read about him at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and this was what I read about his personal life "Romero never married, but made regular appearances on the Hollywood social circuit in the company of attractive actresses; however, he was almost always described in interviews and articles as a "confirmed bachelor".

[@jediahagbossoumonde8348]

he sounds like Desi Arnaz!

[@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.

[@clq4402]

did you hear him at 4:22 he said he didn't have a programe I thought he played the joker on ''batman'' 1966

[@ThePerson1959]

This was a very long time before he was in Batman. This was in the 1950s. No Batman until the 60s.

[@TheAllKnowingTribute]

Cesar wins? Awesome.