John Lithgow's Double Rejection of Iconic Joker Role Haunts Him
The beloved actor passed on playing Batman's nemesis not once, but twice, calling his decisions incredibly foolish. His missed opportunities with major directors still sting decades later.
John Lithgow has built a reputation as one of Hollywood's most reliable performers, bringing warmth and gravitas to every project he touches. Yet behind his impressive career lies a series of decisions that continue to haunt him, particularly when it comes to one of cinema's most memorable villains.
The Burton Audition Disaster
During a candid conversation with Vulture, Lithgow opened up about his disastrous audition for the Joker in Tim Burton's groundbreaking 1989 Batman film. The actor described it as the most catastrophic audition of his entire professional life. "I tried to persuade him I was not right for the part, and I succeeded," Lithgow admitted. "I didn't realize it was such a big deal."
What Lithgow failed to grasp at the time was the massive cultural impact Burton's Batman would have. This marked the first serious cinematic treatment of the Dark Knight since the campy Adam West television series, with Burton committed to delivering a darker, more sophisticated take on the beloved comic book character.
A Star-Studded Competition
Lithgow wasn't the only major talent being considered for the role of Gotham's Clown Prince of Crime. The list of potential candidates read like a who's who of Hollywood, including Robin Williams, Tim Curry, and even David Bowie. Ultimately, Jack Nicholson secured the part and delivered a performance that would define the character for an entire generation, at least until Heath Ledger's interpretation years later.
The three-time Academy Award winner threw himself completely into the role, creating a version of the Joker that perfectly complemented Burton's gothic vision and Michael Keaton's brooding Batman.
Missing Out Twice
Burton wasn't the first filmmaker who wanted Lithgow to don the purple suit and green hair. Joe Dante, riding high on the success of Gremlins, had been offered the chance to direct a Batman movie and had his sights set on Lithgow for the villain role. However, this project never materialized, and once again, Lithgow found himself saying no.
"I was doing M Butterfly on Broadway, and it was an exhausting show," Lithgow explained to Entertainment Weekly. "It would have meant leaving that show and going right into a movie, and I said, 'I just don't think I can'. How about that for stupid? Actors are not necessarily smart people."
While Dante's Batman never came to fruition, Lithgow's pattern of turning down the Joker role twice demonstrates how even seasoned performers can misjudge opportunities. His Broadway commitment, while understandable from a professional standpoint, cost him what could have been a career-defining performance in one of the most successful superhero films of all time.