Immersive read filled with incredulous stories.
This autobiography reads like flipping through a magazine [complimentary] or sitting down with your friend at the coffee shop to discuss everything that is going on in your lives, at work, in the world [also complimentary]. Filled with sensational stories that are just fantastical enough to be true and those that add a wonderful depth to an remarkable actor and man.
The included Chronology, Bibliograph, and Index add interesting context to the work, showing how busy and Cesar Romero was in his career. The inclusion of photos in a biography or autobiography are always a great addition to the work.

Ride the rollercoaster of the highs and lows of stardom.
The story goes deep in this book – all the way to the heart of Cesar Romero. A young actor outwardly shining like a star but internally struggling with supporting those he cares about. This biography shows how the ups and downs of stardom (struggling financial, always searching for work, insecurities even when you do make it “big”) have existed always. As a reader you ride that rollercoaster of the highs and lows throughout the book and throughout Cesar Romero’s life.

The Final Verdict: Great read that transforms a well-recognized character (Joker) into a human (Cesar). Highly recommend!
Stars 4
Would I Recommend? Yes

Thanks to NetGalley and University Press of Kentucky for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I grew up watching reruns of the 1960s television program, Batman, the campy and cult series that has endured for decades. I also am a bit of a film buff, which led me to this biography of Cesar Romero. He played The Joker in the TV series, and had a long history in films, too.

Going in, I knew little about Romero, so this whole book was a revelation. This book worked for me in some ways, but not in others. There are meticulous details of facts that sometimes make this book a dry read. On the other hand, there’s plenty of speculation about Romero’s personal life. (Was he gay? He never married. Ultimately, who cares?) Too much time is spent alternating between the facts and assumptions.

The centerpiece of the book is obviously when Romero landed the role of The Joker. I found that part of the book the most interesting; that doesn’t surprise me as that is why I requested the ARC. It’s amazing the impact of the Batman television show on generations of young and old alike. Romero’s portrayal of the famed comic book villain was a master class in acting.

The biography itself is about half of the book. The remainder is an extraordinarily detailed filmography of all the roles Romero had. Overall, I thought this an adequate biography but not outstanding. I’m glad that this talented actor finally has gotten a biography written about him, though.

I thought i would love this. And while it was interesting, unfortunately it just couldn’t hold my attention. I definitely think this might be for people a little bit older than me. I think they will look back on this with nostalgia.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc

This book takes you on a detailed journey of the life of Cesar Romero. He is best known for his role as Joker in the 1960s Batman franchise, but this book explores his other roles in Hollywood films, television and Broadway. In addition to learning about his acting career, we learn about his personal life, including his relationships, and the balance between it all. I went into this book not knowing much about the actor, but I can honestly say I’m well informed now.

The first time I saw Cesar Romero, I was watching reruns of Batman, starring Adam West. When the Joker came on, I saw his green hair, crazy red lips, pale face, and heard his maniacal laughter. I had never seen anyone like him.
The next time I saw him, he was playing the role or Esteban de la Vega, the brother-in-law of Don Alejandro de la Vega, the father of Zorro. This time he was quite debonair. Well-dressed, he was targeting a wealthy woman for the property she owned. Set in the young 1800s, when California was deep in the throes of organizing itself as a state and divesting itself of the King of Spain and Mexico, women needed a husband to handle their holdings, so in stepped Cesar Romero's handsome and cultured character.
Who was he really and how did this handsome, Latino actor become famous and respected over the course of many generations.
He was popular for 60 years and had charm and good looks. He danced beautifully and his performances screamed energy as charm radiated from him.
In 1966, he played The Joker , one of the most recognized villains in tv history. Although he had been acting for a long time, this role catapulted him to a level of stardom that crossed generations. When he played The Joker, he was an older gentleman with white hair, popular with everybody from children to adults and everyone in between.
Born in New York City in 1907, he died in 1994 , and what a ride he had! He was cordial to his fans who would always ask him to do the Joker's laugh. They would approach him in shopping malls and airports, and he would happily comply with their requests. In his private life, he was gay, and he immersed himself in the characters he portrayed, plus he was nice, something we don't always get from famous actors.
He appeared on Broadway at the age of 20, played the villainous Cisco Kid as an outlaw, and saved Shirley Temple in more than one movie. He actually kidnapped her, and appeared in many movies, singing and dancing his way into our hearts and homes.
His talent and popularity knew no bounds. Mysteries, science fiction and every genre of work suited him, and whether he was a good guy or a scoundrel, his public loved him. Raised as a Latino man, he worked to support his family, even when he was very young. He kept his private life out of the limelight, which I think must have been hard to do since fans tend to fawn over their stars. Even today, many stars seek publicity to further their careers, but Romero was not one for playing games. He never outed his friends either. He refused to write a book about his life because he was not a gossip or sensationalist.
His father was financially ruined when Cesar was quite young, so he stepped up to take care of his entire family. No wonder he was so loved!
His portrayal of The Joker was more middle-of-the-road than his successors', Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix. Yes, he played a dastardly villain, probably a sociopath, but he was fun. His portrayal was gleeful, he didn't brood or stew and seemed to have lots of joy in the role. His portrayal did not place him in a crisis, a funk, or a death-spiral like others who played the role. His portrayal was not cringe-inducing. His villain was a barrel of laughs and we were along for the good times.' Cesar Romero played in about 500 movies, on tv, appeared on 130 talk shows, played on game shows, and thanks to the magic of film preservation, made more than 30 appearances after his death. He was admired and respected.
The author adds an addendum toward the back of the book with short reminders of what his roles were about , as well as how they were received. I know I love watching his reruns for his fully-involved characterizations. I thought he was dapper, elegant and nice, but now that I am learning more about him. I admire him even more He loved what he was doing and he lit up the stage, or the tv all the time. He had a very interesting friendship with Jose Marti, the liberator of Cuba at that time.
His path to fame and recognition was not an easy journey, but he always comported himself well and didn't allow the hard times and struggles to change his demeanor or warm way of dealing with other people. A rare quality indeed.
The book reveals another side to Romero's life. In the 1950s, his studio terminated his contract despite the fact that he served his country in WW 2. His salary was tiny when he served, but he had that family to support. He kept it to himself. The war itself made it impossible to make movies, and tv was on the way up, so he transitioned to theater and musical roles, with some work in movies.
TV would be good to him.
By the the 50s, he appears in Zorro, a show that I love. I love his portrayal of a man seeking a woman's fortune because he thinks she is rich. He engages with his nephew, Zorro, dances beautifully , and at the end of his 4 episode story line , returns to Spain. For a gentleman in his 50s, his good looks and suave, cultured appearance still charmed.
He danced The Twist on tv with alacrity and ability.
The role of Joker came up within a few years and the rest is history. He earned stars on the Hollywood Hall of fame in movies and then again in tv.
When I came across his biography, I pounced on it right away. I knew I would enjoy it and him. This handsome and hard-working Latino dancer had become one of the best parts of my childhood long ago and I wanted to know more about him. His huge talent transgresses time and generations. Even though I found him long after his career was over, he has made an impression on me. When he appears in reruns on Zorro, I can't look away, and I absolutely love when he dances. He was elegant and kind and I wonder if we still have that on Earth..
There is so much more to this humble man ,and this novel was a fast read for me.
Thank you to the author and publisher for including me in this ARC. I really loved his story. All opinions are my own.

I picked this up because I have no knowledge of Cesar Romero and would like to know more about him. The book very thorough in historical references and quotes - at times it felt like reading a Master's thesus on Romero.

I really enjoyed learning more about Romero and would pick up other books written by Samuel Garza Bernstein.

Thank you to NetGalley and The University Press of Kentucky for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I know of Cesar Romero from him playing the Joker on the Batman series. I had no idea that he was such a prolific actor. It turns out I have seen him in many other roles, but I did not recognize him because I was used to seeing him in his Joker makeup. There are interesting tidbits about him such as motorcycle riding with Freddy MacMurray. I enjoyed the part of the book detailing his life and talking about Hollywood. The story about David Niven’s wife was tragic. The second half where it went into the chronology of his roles would probably appeal to the extreme fan or researcher more than the casual reader.

Thank you to the author, University Press of Kentucky, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

It was so interesting to read about an actor that I thought I knew - what a surprise to find he was hugely prolific in so many genres. I thought the long list of Cesar Romero's accomplishments was so interesting. Now I'm looking for his name to come up in movie descriptions so I can reaqaint myself with his work. I would have liked more pictures, & I would have liked to have them interspersed with the narrative instead of collected at the end of the book. It's a good read. If you remember him in "Batman", you'll be excited to see how many other places he showed up in movies & TV. Give it a read!

Cesar Romero by Samuel Garza Bernstein is an intriguing look at a mainstay of old Hollywood. Cesar Romero was a man full of life. While most people remember him in the camp classic Batman series, the book details his career full of intriguing roles.

As a gay man in Hollywood, Romero’s dedication to keeping his private life private meant that he’s never been the subject of any of the gossip features that outed many of Hollywood’s leading men. He was dedicated to his family and enjoyed spending time with friends and coworkers.

Bernstein clearly enjoyed diving into Romero’s life and bringing his story into a clearer picture. There is no speculations of scandal. Even Romero’s possible romance with Tyron Power is handled with care and respect. The only true critique I have the work is that it would have been nice if the pictures were spread throughout the book instead of at the end.

4 out of 5 stars.

Hail Cesar, indeed!

This was such an intreasting history of joker and batman this was such a cool look back in time from the star to the 21st centry joker and batman this was so good and i love joker so this had all the details that i adored to know about the joker.

This wonderful deep-dive biography into the life of Cesar Romero is a must-read for every TCM fan and/or fan of TV’s Batman series from the 1960s. Growing up in the 60s, I loved the hammy villains on Batman, the Joker in particular. He seemed to take delight in embodying his character. Without knowing, I also enjoyed his performances in other fun movies of the time starring Shirley Temple, William Powell, Jane Wyman, Marlena Dietrich, Joan Crawford, Tyrone Power and other big stars of the time. I didn’t recognize him without the white pancake makeup covering his signature mustache! He was a chameleon, game for any role. He was prolific in output, with 500 credits to his name, according to the author. He was a dancer, a suit model, served in the military, was a game, talk and variety show regular, and participant in documentaries. He was also a popular fixation for gossip columnists and magazines of the time. Shout out to Photoplay, a magazine I poured over, entranced by the glossy lives and gossip about celebrities. I love the tidbits shared in this book! For any fan of TV and movies, this comprehensively researched biography offers a fascinating glimpse, within the context of the strict mores of the times, about restrictive rules governing personal sexuality and the harm this caused. Cesar Romero found a way to work within a limiting system for Cuban actors and actors who also wanted a private life. It made me think about how difficult this must have been for him personally. For a public figure, and someone who worked hard to support his sister and other loved ones, he sacrificed himself. At the same time, he made it look effortless, like his smooth dance moves that caught the attention of the VIPs in the industry and help to build his career. I admire this author for bringing Cesar Romero into vivid Technicolor, not fake like the Joker. He presents a deeper, real portrait a human being. I appreciate the human being, Cesar Romero, while also remembering that the Joker was a delight! One favorite anecdote shared by the author - How can you not love Cesar Romero, who was so delighted by a photo of the Joker’s planned costume that he (inadvertently) originated that exuberant, unforgettable signature laugh? This, and many other anecdotes, showcase an actor of zest, with passion and an indomitable spirit, famous during a narrow-minded time where actors were expected to conform to prescribed roles fitting public taste. A renegade at heart, Cesar Romero navigated expectations brilliantly, with humor and swagger. I’m more of a fan of his having read this book!

📚 Cesar Romero: The Joker is Wild by Samuel Garza Bernstein
📖 Format: eARC via NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC — this is my honest review.

I went into this biography knowing almost nothing about Cesar Romero beyond his iconic Joker role — and came out absolutely fascinated. Samuel Garza Bernstein paints a vivid, deeply human portrait of a man who lived a complex, rich, and unapologetically queer life in an era when Hollywood wasn’t exactly friendly to that truth. 🎭🌈

This book doesn’t just dish out old Hollywood glamour (though the stories are delicious) — it also explores the nuance of Romero’s identity, relationships, and resilience, while situating him within the changing cultural landscape of the 20th century. It’s the kind of biography that makes you feel like you’ve sat down with the subject over coffee, hearing their whole life spill out in charming, candid detail.

If you love biographies that balance glittering stardom with authentic humanity — and if you, like me, want to know more about the queer icons who paved the way in quiet but powerful ways — this one’s an absolute must-read.

—

✨ Golden Age Hollywood gossip ✨
✨ Queer history in the spotlight ✨
✨ Intimate + well-researched biography ✨
✨ Cultural + historical context ✨
✨ The Joker, but make it personal ✨
✨ Rich storytelling + candid tone ✨

#CesarRomero #TheJokerIsWild #SamuelGarzaBernstein #NetGalleyReviewer #QueerHistory #HollywoodBiography #GoldenAgeHollywood #booktok #bookstagram #QueerIcons #LGBTQReads #CelebrityBiography

3.5 stars as an overall biography, but a solid 4.0 for research.

Cesar Romero: The Joker is Wild (Screen Classics) is an ARC, which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the University Press of Kentucky (publisher), and I would like to thank them for allowing me to read for free for an honest review.

I was instantly intrigued by the subject matter, as Cesar Romero was my "joker," well before Heath Ledger or any of the others who were featured in films. I absolutely loved his laugh and the fact that he wasn't as dark and doom and gloom as Ledger's portrayal (though I loved Ledger's take, too, for other reasons). Thus, when I saw this was a biography of the original Joker, and not knowing anything at all more about Romero, I had to read to grab Netgalley's ARC and see for myself. For anyone like myself who only knew Romero as the Joker, then I highly recommend sitting down and learning more about this extremely talented actor!

One thing that struck me odd in the style of writing, especially for a biography, was present tense. It took a bit of time for me to get beyond that, though I have been coming across more and more books recently that are written in present tense. But because of the subject matter, Romero, I was able to let that go. If you enjoy biographies, I would say that Samuel Garza Bernstein did his homework by compiling information from entertainment magazines and newspaper clippings, plus he did include some photographs (presented at the end of the e-book--hopefully these will be interspersed throughout the hardcopy version and not at the end to make it more enjoyable for readers). Bernstein, many times over, describes Romero as very handsome and debonair, and having seen some photos included of the young Romero proves that point easily. All I knew of his looks were behind grease paint. And I had never even realized that he was hiding his moustache underneath the white paint because Romero refused to trim it. Overall, considering that Romero hid his sexual orientation from the world (and did an excellent job too as this was the first that I at least had heard otherwise), the author presents the actor's life in a straightforward manner, offering mostly minimal conjecture or speculation. However, there were a few times, that I felt Bernstein did go into a bit more information about that world in terms of the modern lens than was really needed and was a disservice to the actor, especially given how Romero preferred to keep that aspect of his life hidden. That was one reason I brought my rating down slightly.

As a memoir/biography of this great actor (again, reading this book did elevate my opinion of Romero to include him as one of the greats from Hollywood), there were times that this book felt more like a Curriculum Vitae and more surface information that one could read from IMDb. And given this actor's preference for keeping his personal life private, it likely was difficult to write about certain aspects, and easier to provide synopses of the various films and projects alongside Romero's co-stars. One very major memorable point that was repeated throughout the book was Romero's time during a South American publicity tour taken together in 1946 with actor Tyrone Power and how Power's death profoundly had an affect on Romero. There were definitely times in the biography there were times that I would have liked to know more about Romero, so other readers could be left wanting more as well. While reading this book, it seemed near the end of the actor's life and leading up to his death there may not have been very much information and the book felt like it ended nearly abruptly. Still, it's obvious that Bernstein wrote this book out of his love, respect, and admiration of Romero.

One last part of the book that should be addressed, and it could be considered a "spoiler alert." As other reviewers have already mentioned, and I tend to agree, the amount of time spent on the plot analysis and description of Romero's character on the show Falcon Crest did feel like filler. Having never watched the show, I'll admit that I may try and watch it because of Romero and that it was a major part of his later life. It would have been better to discuss/describe why or how that role affected/impacted the actor. Additionally, it might have been better overall, instead of some of the places where there were synopses (although Bernstein did discuss why wrote them) to offer insights as to how Romero felt about his costars, the parts he played, and how he enjoyed his time when not working and trying to provide for his family. But it makes sense why Bernstein may not have, if there wasn't that much information around. It would have been fine to have written a shorter biography/memoir rather than stretch it out with filler.

Reading Cesar Romero: The Joker is Wild (love the subtitle too; clever, and I believe Romero would have approved), left me wishing I would have met this actor in person. He seemed to be very humble and a joy to have been around, someone who loved dancing and loved to make others feel good, have a good laugh, etc. because life was special, despite sometimes being a cruel mistress.

I grew up in the 1970s and as such to me Cesar Romero was The Joker. I had no other reference point. I had no idea of the depth and breadth of his career. This book filled in every gap and engendered in me a supreme appreciation for his canon of work.

Not knowing more than his role as The Joker I also had never looked into his private life. The author explores it and carefully deals with the question of Romero's sexuality. In the hidden world of Hollywood of the 1940s, 50s and 60s, when coming out could have been a career killer, Romero played it cool, never tipping his hand. It makes you wonder if everybody in town knew one way or another, but just kept his private life secret to protect the man who apparently got along with everybody.

That, I believe is the Cesar Romero legacy I will take away from reading this book, that if there ever was a true gentleman, Cesar Romero was him. He befriended all, respected all and kept most of his criticisms to himself. He was old Hollywood personified. He was humble, played his part in World War II, in a war zone, life on the line like his brethren. He left us a wild IMDB page, a filmography that shows the broad range of his talent. It seems there was little that he would not try in front of a camera.

In the end it's somewhat incongruous to identify him only with his Batman villain role. He played many villains through time, but villainy seemed a long stretch from his true personality. This book features a lengthy breakdown of his screen work as well as a wonderful but short collection of photos.

Samual Garza Bernstein's biography of Cesar Romero is all too brief. It functions well as a summary of Romeo's career, but I didn't really feel like I got to know the man himself all that well. There are flashes of the kind of depth I'd prefer to see in a work like this, as when Bernstein discusses (again, all too briefly) Romero's political beliefs. For the most part, Bernstein's summaries of Romero's film and television work are fun and zip right along, but toward the end of the book, things get a little boggy with an extended summary of Falcon Crest and another of a sketch Romero appeared on The Tracey Ullman Show.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I just feel like there may have been some missed opportunities.

Samuel Garza Bernstein says Cesar Romero’s life as a closeted gay man is a fundamental aspect of his book, yet the absence of any gossip or factual accounts keeps Romero’s sexuality as an undercurrent to the story of his career. He has deep, dear friendships with other actors, including taking a lengthy trip to Mexico with Tyrone Power, in between two films that featured both actors. No speculation is present about a popular romantic interest between them. Later in the book, Bernstein addresses the assumptions of others about Romero and Power, in the context of Romero not being publicly attached to any other men.

Romero spends the majority of his life serving as the breadwinner for his family. After his father loses his fortune in the Depression, Romero takes responsibility for supporting his family: parents, siblings, and grandparents. When his film career begins, Romero is initially cast as the Latin lover, with many comparing him to Rudolph Valentino. Romero is unhappy with the comparison because his family is proudly Cuban. Like Valentino, actually, Romero earns his initial fame as a dancer, a skill which also turns him into a popular socialite. Through his talent, charm and seemingly endless energy, he becomes part of Hollywood social circles. Romero appeared in more than 110 films.

His started fades somewhat, but in the 1950s television saves his career as he becomes a popular variety show guest. Bernstein singles out a single skit with Eddie Cantor on the Colgate Comedy Hour in 1952. Cantor dresses as a woman to lure Romero out of self-imposed solitude in his quarters. Bernstein reports there is nothing homoerotic about the performance.

Romero is a tremendously prolific performer, on stage, television and film. That he is mostly known as playing the Joker in the campy Batman television series is hard to fathom. Beyond Gen X viewers, Romero’s role as The Joker is largely unknown. Another of Bernstein’s goals is to argue that the actors who have played The Joker in the past forty years all owe Romero a debt of gratitude for his stylization of the character. Yet there is controversy: as 21st century Batman fans see Adam West and Burt Ward as belittling Batman and Robin with their absurd, campy personas, Romero suffers from the same criticism.

The narrative shifts from Batman to Stonewall. Romero, who remains closeted, is embarrassed by the flagrant behavior of the LGBTQ community that comes newsworthy after the Stonewall Riots. Yet there is still no indication of any romance for the well-known actor. In the closing years of his career, Romero has guest appearances on several popular television series including The Love Boat, Falcon Crest, and Hart to Hart. Then, he performs in Lust in the Dust, a queer comedy starring then-closeted Tab Hunter and the outrageous cross-dressing Divine. Romero’s last television role is on Murder, She Wrote.

Bernstein’s style brings the past to light. He writes in the present tense, primarily with short, compelling sentences. The reader’s task of becoming engaged in the narrative is facilitated by the sense of being in the midst of each scenario, rather than pulling it forward from the past.

What did I think of this book? It took several attempts at reading it, because initially it was boring. But as I entered deeper into the book it was not so boring. I am surprised at the number and quality of the roles and cameos he played before Batman's Joker, the only role of Cesar that I was familiar with. Several things about Cesar surprised me but I will leave that up to the reader. If you like biographys, you should enjoy this book. I enjoy biographys, I found there were lots of details about his life. Well researched.

Cesar Romero was an incredible actor throughout the decades. While I remember him specifically for his role as The Joker in the Batman TV series, I did enjoy being reminded of other roles he had in both items I've seen and not seen.

While I enjoyed reading about his life, from the beginnings in NYC to all of the years in Hollywood, I think the writer did a disservice to his legacy with many of the comments and innuendoes alluding to Romero being a homosexual, especially because the author had no direct contact with any primary person involved in Romero's life.

The writing seemed to wander off in various directions with some parts using way too many superfluous words to demonstrate a more flowery description, probably targeted for a different audience than myself. And while the author barely explained "Passport to Danger" and touched "Batman" a little more, it was unexplainable why there is 5 plus page description of "Falcon Crest" entire plot. Maybe that's the series the author knew and cared about.

While ignoring the unsubstantiated innuendoes, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Romero's life through from professional ballroom dancing to all of the movies, tv shows and plays that he starred in as well as all of the actors and actresses he knew through the years.

This was interesting. This man's life in Highwood. It was a different types of acting starting in the movies t. V TV TV shows and 80s. T v shows About rich people. He played the joker in the Batman Show. This gave him a lot of To different things in life.. This was an amazing man who expanded all these generations from the thirties on up. He was gay , but it kept it very Quite. It was a great actor and the movies. We also did a lot of the showers in the fifties. Later on Sixty seventies and eighties.. Very interesting book

I really enjoyed this. I had no idea that the Joker I grew up watching was Cuban or had acted in so many different roles. I was fascinated hearing about his life. The book also includes a chronological listing of all Cesar's roles with summaries, a bibliography and several photos at the end. I hope there is an audio book coming. I look forward to hearing about Cesar Romero's life again.