After his parents lost their sugar-import business and suffered losses in the Wall Street crash of 1929, Romero's Hollywood earnings allowed him to support his large family, all of whom followed him to the American West Coast years later. Romero grew up in Bradley Beach, New Jersey, and went to Bradley Beach Elementary School, Asbury Park High School, the Collegiate School, and the Riverdale Country Day School. His father was born in Barcelona and immigrated to the United States in 1888, where he was an import/export merchant. His mother was a concert singer and said to be the biological daughter of Cuban national hero José Martí.
was born in New York City on February 15, 1907, the son of César Julio Romero Sr. He was the first actor to play the character.Įarly life Romero as part of the deck crew aboard the USS Cavalier, c. 1944Ĭésar Julio Romero Jr. His wide range of screen roles included Latin lovers, historical figures in costume dramas, characters in light domestic comedies, and the Joker on the live action Batman television series of the mid-1960s, which was included in TV Guide 's 2013 list of The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time. He was active in film, radio, and television for almost 60 years.
(Febru– January 1, 1994) was an American actor.