The original inspiration for The Joker, Conrad Veidt, in "The Man Who Laughs" (1928)


Yikes, what a sardonic smile. Cesar Romero's Joker looks like he was inspired by this guy the movie itself was an adaptation of Victor Hugo's "L'homme qui rit" (1869). Conrad Veidt may be most known today for playing Major Strasser in Casablanca and Cesare in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. How cool is it when creators take inspiration from silent cinema, also, remember, this movie was only twelve years old when the Joker was created.