Born 1907 in New York City, American actor Cesar Romero was active in film, radio, and television for almost 60 years. The 6’3” [190 cm] Romero routinely played “Latin lovers” in films from the 1930s until the 1950s, usually in supporting roles.
In 1935, Romero played a leading role The Devil is a Woman opposite Marlene Dietrich, and starred as the Cisco Kid in six westerns made between 1939 and 1941. He danced and performed comedy in the 20th Century Fox films he starred in opposite Carmen Miranda and Betty Grable, such as Week-End in Havana and Springtime in the Rockies, in the 1940s.
His wide range of screen roles included Latin lovers, historical figures in costume dramas, characters in light domestic comedies, and the Joker on the Batman television series, which was included in TV Guide’s 2013 list of The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time. He was the first actor to play the character before the role was passed to Jack Nicholson and subsequently to Heath Ledger.
Romero never married and had no children, but made frequent appearances at Hollywood events escorting actresses, such as Joan Crawford, Linda Darnell, Barbara Stanwyck, Lucille Ball, Ann Sheridan, Jane Wyman and Ginger Rogers; he was almost always described in interviews and articles as a “confirmed bachelor”.
Romero died in 1994 at the age of 86. For his contributions to the motion picture and television industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6615 Hollywood Boulevard for film and another star at 1719 Vine Street for television.
Take a look at these vintage photos to see portrait of a young and handsome Cesar Romero in the 1930s and ’1940s.
