How to Act Like The Joker

Co-authored by Tara Blau Smollen and Amber Crain

Last Updated: June 19, 2025 References

The Joker is one of the coolest and most popular villains in comic book history. If you want to act more like him, start by playing pranks on people and acting mischievous. Work on talking and laughing like the Joker to make it even more convincing. Try out the Joker's clothing and makeup style to really nail the whole act!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Behaving Like the Joker

1
Act mischievous and play pranks. The Joker always has a trick or two up his sleeve! Carry prank items with you at all times, and hide them in weird places. Your shoes and sleeves are great places to hide your tricks.^{[1]
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- Carry whoopee cushions, hand buzzers, disappearing ink, fake vomit, trick dice and anything else that appeals to you!
- Visit a prank store to get ideas and buy your pranks. You can also order stuff online.
2
Work with your minions to create evil plots. The Joker is cunning and intelligent. He always has plans, backup plans and people doing his dirty work. Gather a group of your friends to act as your minions, and get to work planning something mischievous.
- For example, you and your friends could plan an ambush of your sister's blanket fort.
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3
Be unpredictable to make people nervous. The Joker does and says things just because he wants to, and he doesn't care about the consequences! Introduce some chaos into your life by acting unpredictable around your friends and family. Don't do anything dangerous though!^{[2]
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- For example, when someone asks you a question, pretend they asked you something else entirely and answer that question instead!
4
Crack a lot of weird jokes. The Joker was constantly making jokes and saying weird, funny things to others. Do the same thing! Laugh hysterically while everyone else looks confused. Then laugh harder! The Joker loves to confuse people and crack jokes that only make sense to him. In the comic books, he says stuff like:^{[3]
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- "Life's a bowl of cherries...and this is the pits!"
- "I'm not mad at all! I'm just differently sane!!"
- Speaking to Superman: "More powerful than a locomotive... and just about as subtle!"
5
Never take anything too seriously. Always see the light-hearted and funny side of everything. Keep a humorous outlook on life, and never let anything get to you. No matter what happens, even when it’s negative, take it like the Joker. With a smile.^{[4]
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Part 2

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Looking Like the Joker

1
Wear tattered purple and green clothes. The Joker always dressed in nice clothes that were kind of shabby, like messy-looking suits. He mostly wore all purple and green. Try getting some weird suits, ties, and other "dress-up" stuff at a thrift store. Add a few rips and stains to make the clothes look shabby.^{[5]
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2
Put on Joker makeup. If you’re dressing up as the Joker, you can’t skip the makeup! Smear white grease paint all over your face. Add black grease paint around your eyes. Use bright red lipstick to create an exaggerated smile around your lips.
- You can pick up grease paint at costume shops.
- Be careful not to get paint in your eyes as you apply it!
- If you want to look like Heath Ledger's Joker, smear the lipstick a little and apply the makeup sloppily.^{[6]
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3
Practice the Joker's posture and walk. This really depends on which Joker you want to act like. Heath Ledger’s Joker walks with a slouch. Jack Nicholson’s Joker stands up very straight, almost comically so! Pick the Joker you want to be like, then practice their posture and the way they walked.
- Look up some YouTube clips if you can't remember some of the details.
4
Pick a few weird habits and repeat them constantly. The Joker has a lot of weird tics, like licking his lips constantly. When you're talking, emphasize certain things by pausing and licking your lips before finishing the sentence. You could also smile oddly at all the wrong times.^{[7]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Sounding Like the Joker

1
Speak briefly and get right to the point. The Joker doesn't ramble on. He speaks in short sentences and often says strange things. Try saying random weird things and then laughing hysterically afterward.
- The best way to get the voice right is to practice it as you watch the movie!
2
Change the volume of your voice randomly. The Joker usually speaks in a low, husky voice. Sometimes he randomly shouts out things to catch people off guard. Try saying some stuff in a low whisper. Then yell out a few sentences randomly and with evil glee.
3
Practice the Joker's unsettling laugh. The Joker's laugh is a sort of husky cackle that sounds pretty deranged. Before you laugh, exhale first instead of inhaling like most people. That will help you sound huskier. Then laugh long and hard. Think about how witches cackle in movies. Aim for something like that, but crazier.
4
Be charismatic when you talk to people. The Joker is confident and speaks without fear. This gets the attention of others. He then uses his words, looks and mannerisms to keep all eyes on him. Listen to people when they talk and act interested in what they're saying. Lean in to whisper a weird reply to them, then cackle before leaving the room.^{[8]
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- For example, look really interested while your friend tells you about the new movie he just saw. Lean in and whisper, "All it takes is one bad day." Then suddenly yell, "Isn't that right, moonlight?!" and then make your exit as you laugh hysterically.
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you play a villain?

Tara Blau Smollen
Presentation & Acting Skills Coach
Tara Blau Smollen is a Presentation & Acting Skills Coach based in Mill Valley, California. With over 35 years of professional and academic experience, Tara helps fellow coaches, entrepreneurs, and creatives become more comfortable speaking in front of an audience. She is a three-time Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (BATCC) Award Nominee and a two-time Dean Good Award Recipient. She was an Associate Professor of Theater and Drama at SF State, Contra Costa College, and at Los Medanos College where she taught Beginning Acting and Theater History. Tara received her BA in Theater and English from the University of Wisconsin and her MFA in Theater and Acting from The National Theater Conservatory.

Tara Blau Smollen

Presentation & Acting Skills Coach

Expert Answer

You have to figure out why they are like that, all while having love and sympathy for the character you're playing. We have to realize that when writers write, they are talking about all facets of the human condition—and many times, there are facets of the human condition that we don't like or that are hard to watch or that we personally feel scared of digging into within ourselves. Pretend you're writing an autobiography of the character and think about what has made them come to this. There is some sort of reasoning or secret that has compelled them to be this way, and that's what makes them so juicy, interesting, and compelling.

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Do I think The Joker is an "epic gamer"?

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Yes, from your perspective, he deeply cares for gamer rights and would never oppress gamers.

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Does my hair need to be green?

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Wigs and temporary hair dye spray are great alternatives to permanently dyeing your hair. Although, speaking from experience, some won't come out for months. Do yourself a favor and check reviews before buying anything.

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