Tim Curry: The Untold Story of His Near Casting as an Iconic Comic Book Villain

Tim Curry, the iconic actor who departed this world at the age of 80, remains celebrated for his memorable on-screen portrayals as Dr. Frank-n-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and the menacing Pennywise in “It.” However, much of his illustrious career unfolded out of the camera’s view, with Curry making an indelible mark in the world of voice acting through the ’90s and early 2000s. His vocal talents brought to life an eclectic mix of characters, including the sinister pollution entity Hexxus in “Ferngully: The Last Rainforest,” the adventurous Sir Nigel Thornberry in “The Wild Thornberrys,” and the imposing Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”

Despite his broad range of roles, Curry narrowly missed out on what could have been one of his most iconic cartoon characters: The Joker in “Batman: The Animated Series.” Initially cast as Batman’s infamous adversary, Curry even recorded three episodes before being re-cast with Mark Hamill stepping into the villain’s shoes. Andrea Romano, the voice director for the series, recounted to Vulture that although she believed in Curry’s unique take, producer Alan Burnett found it challenging to embrace his portrayal of the Joker.

Co-creator Bruce Timm revealed that while many actors fell into the campy traps of previous portrayals like Cesar Romero’s, Curry brought a mix of humor, eccentricity, and a touch of menace that Timm found intriguing but ultimately not a fit for the show’s vision. Curry later attributed his unexpected recasting to a bout of bronchitis that affected his performance during recording sessions.

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Meanwhile, Mark Hamill, a fervent comic enthusiast, initially engaged with “Batman: The Animated Series” by voicing a villainous CEO tied to Mr. Freeze’s tragic storyline. Yet, craving a regular presence on the show, he eagerly took on the role of the Joker, just as Curry’s exit opened the opportunity.

The transition was no small feat, as Hamill had to deliver the Joker’s lines within the constraints of animations already tailored to Curry’s performance. Romano lauded Hamill’s remarkable ability to adapt quickly, stating, “introducing such a dynamic character like the Joker under those conditions was immensely challenging.” With unwavering passion and undeniable talent, Hamill brought to life a rendition of the Joker that would become legendary, turning the Jedi himself into the perfect Clown Prince of Crime.

While Curry is among the actors who almost played the Joker, his voice can still be heard in two different “Batman: The Animated Series” episodes: his Joker laugh was used uncredited for a robot clown in “Be a Clown,” and provided additional voices in “Fear of Victory.” He’d return to the DC Animated Universe as Mutro Botha, the last survivor of the Society of Assassins, in the “Batman Beyond” episode “Final Cut.”