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.

La biografía de una persona, en la mayoría de los casos, carece de una investigación profunda. A menudo se limita a lo ya conocido por los medios o a historias que han sido contadas una y otra vez.
Cesar Romero marcó una época con sus personajes; fue un artista en toda la extensión de la palabra. Son pocos quienes conocen su historia personal y las adversidades que lo llevaron a convertirse en esa figura admirable.
Samuel Garza Bernstein logra construir una narración cautivadora y precisa sobre su vida. Presenta a Romero con todas las herramientas disponibles, sin caer en la especulación ni invadir su intimidad. Considero que, además de ser una excelente introducción al actor, la obra deja abiertas muchas preguntas en torno a temas que se abordan solo de manera superficial.

Gracias University Press of Kentucky por el ejemplar anticipado a través de NetGalley. Opiniones 100% personales

Samuel Garza Bernestein's look at the life and career of Cesar Romero in "The Joker Is Wild" is a comprehensive but often dry read, which is a bit of a let-down. While Romero injected so much life and energy and artistry into his roles, his biography reads a bit like a reference book, with less of the nuanced writing of other celebrity biographies.

At times, the book feels padded with detailed recaps of articles from Romero's personal scrapbooks, the sources lost to time, at others, there are long lists of names that don't really add much and might be name-dropping, although some are a bit obscure. Romero's story is certainly interesting, and his contribution to the Batman on-screen legacy is significant, so fans looking for a complete history will certainly find what they're looking for compiled within the 300+ pages. For me, ironically, what the book is missing is that x-factor, that lively spark of "je ne sais que" that Romero himself embodied.

Batman fans will likely still enjoy this look at the actor who gave them their first on-screen version of the Clown Prince of Crime, who set the bar for future performances. Those who like to read about classic stars and the Golden Age of Hollywood will also probably find the history interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced read.

5-stars for the subject matter. Cesar Romero, who I had only previously know for his role as the Joker in the Batman TV series, is incredibly fascinating. After reading this, I will definitely be going down the rabbit hole to explore his roles pre- and post-Batman.

The majority of the book was fascinating, though I found the breathless play-by-play of Falcon Crest to feel a little out of place. The details and speculation around Romero's private life, which Romero seemed to guard pretty closely, cast a cloud over this for me as well. I think the intentions of the author are good here, it was just an interesting choice to include.

Before reading this book I only knew of Cesar Romero from watching 1960s Batman on TV. This was very in-depth about the man behind the iconic Joker's laugh. It opened my eyes to the long career Romero had in film and TV. The writing clearly shows how much the author admires Romero's career and personal life. The parts of the book about Romero's off screen life and motivations were fascinating. It was easy to see how well researched and respected the subject was.

Parts of the book I glazed and skipped through were when the author went in-depth about different TV show plots Romero was involved in. The author also spends a lot of time dropping names and listing women from different social circles. There were times these paragraphs felt repetitive and out of place. These parts made me feel like I was reading a research or term paper. Those rote details should have been left in the Chronological section of the book.

Overall I am happy to have read the book and learn more about Cesar Romero and the old Hollywood days. There are definitely a few shows and movies I have added to my watch list.

*** Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ***

Cesar Romero is a latinx legend. He’s the first Joker and the blueprint for everyone going forward. He fully committed to that part except he wouldn’t shave his mustache which has always been so fun and iconic to me. This was a great look at TBR man and the characters he played. Insightful and witty. I loved the day this was told. I could see how much research went into it.

The book starts out with a lot of promise, and Bernstein undoubtedly did a lot of research on Romero and his life and career. I do think in a lot of ways, this will be the definitive book on Romero. The problem is that it ends up being a who's who of Hollywood and just a list of his career. It made keeping my attention tricky. Overall, this is definitely a book made from love, but a little dry and bloated for my taste.

This is a very good exploration of the origins and life of Cesar Romero. The research is thorough and provides a look at the life of a talented artist in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Someone who we never hear much about these days, but who traced a remarkable pass throughout his life. Enjoyable read.

This was such a in depth and interesting read. Especially as someone who has always been fascinated with anything superhero or in this case villian. I really enjoyed learning more about his public and personal life.