Who knew? Cesar Romero was gay. - Democratic Underground

trof

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Wed Jan-17-07 05:54 PM
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Who knew? Cesar Romero was gay.

Tall, suave and sophisticated Cesar Romero actually had two claims to fame in Hollywood. To one generation he was the distinguished "Latin lover" of numerous musicals and romantic comedies, and was known as the rogue bandit "The Cisco Kid" in a string of low-budget westerns. However, to a younger generation weaned on television, Romero was better known as the white-faced, green-haired, cackling villain "The Joker" of the camp 1960s TV series _"Batman" (1966/II)_ , and then as a bumbling corporate villain in a spate of Walt Disney comedies, chasing such stars as a young Kurt Russell in the fun-packed The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969). Fans and critics alike agreed that Romero was a major talent who proved himself an enduring and versatile star in an overwhelming variety of roles in a career as an actor, dancer and comedian that lasted nearly 60 years.

Cesar Romero was born of Cuban parents in New York City in February 1907. He attended Collegiate & Riverdale County Schools before gaining employment as a ballroom dancer. He first appeared on Broadway in the 1927 production of "Lady Do", and then in the stage production of "Strictly Dishonorable". His first film role was in The Shadow Laughs (1933), after which he gave strong performances in The Devil Is a Woman (1935) and in the Shirley Temple favorite Wee Willie Winkie (1937).

Critics and fans generally agree that Romero's best performance was as the Spanish explorer Cortez in Captain from Castile (1947). However, he also shone in the delightful Julia Misbehaves (1948) and several other breezy and light-hearted escapades. In 1953 he starred in the 39-part espionage TV serial "Passport to Danger" (1954), which earned him a considerable income due to a canny profit-sharing arrangement. Although Romero became quite wealthy and had no need to work, he could not stay away from being in front of the cameras. He continued to appear in a broad variety of film roles, but surprised everyone in Hollywood by taking on the role of "The Joker" in the hugely successful TV series _"Batman" (1966/II)_ . He refused to shave his trademark mustache for the role, and close observation shows how the white clown makeup went straight on over his much loved mustache! The appearances in "Batman" were actually only a small part of the enormous amount of work that Romero contributed to television. He had guest-starred in dozens of shows, including "Rawhide" (1959), _"77 Sunset Strip" (1958/I)_ , "Zorro" (1957), "Fantasy Island" (1978) and "Murder, She Wrote" (1984). However, it was "The Joker" for which his TV work was best remembered, and Romero often remarked that for many, many years after "Batman" finished, fans would stop him and ask him to chuckle and giggle away just like he did as "The Joker". Romero always obliged, and both he and the fans just loved it!

Towards the end of his life, he was interviewed by author Boze Hadleigh, and gave a revealing, often comic account of what life was like in the Golden Age of Hollywood for a openly closeted gay man (i.e., out to everyone but "the public"). The interview is included in Hadleigh's book, "Hollywood Gays."