Born On This Day- February 15th... Cesar Romero

From everything I have read, Cesar Julio Romero, Jr. was the consummate professional, brimming with talent, & a total nice guy, one of the good ones. Famous as a "confirmed bachelor," the "Latin from Manhattan" was Hollywood's most popular date. After a hard day at the studio, he always dove into the nightlife & the social world. There was rarely a film or gallery opening where the debonair, dramatically dressed man was not seen with a famous star on his arm: Joan Crawford, Linda Darnell, Barbara Stanwyck, Lucille Ball, Ann Sheridan, Jane Wyman, or Ginger Rogers. It was reported that Romero's closets held 30 tuxedos, 200 sport coats, & 500 suits. Romero rarely spent an evening in his Brentwood home, which he shared with his sister Maria. It was well known in Hollywood that the likable Romero was gay, & it was well assumed that after he dropped off his beautiful date, he would end up in the arms of longtime lover-Tyrone Power.

Cesar Romero had supporting roles in nearly 100 films from the 1930s-1980s, musicals, period pieces, westerns, noir, comedy, he did it all.

In 1953, Romero starred in a 39-episode TV serial, Passport To Danger, & he continued to do guest spots on TV shows: I Love Lucy & the special Lucy Takes A Cruise To Havana, Zorro, 77 Sunset Strip, Fantasy Island, & Murder She Wrote (unfortunately, not on the episode that I appear in).

Romero achieved his greatest fame in 1966 as The Joker in the highly successful Batman TV series. He repeated the role in the 1966 movie, making him the first film Joker, before Nicholson. Like Heath Ledger, he was robbed of an Oscar.

Romero danced with Carmen Miranda on a live broadcast of The Milton Berle Show. Wearing glittering sequins & colorful fruit, Miranda forgot her panties while changing between acts, & when Romero twirled her above his head, she exposed her mango to millions of TV viewers across the USA. Talk about your wardrobe malfunctions.

Enduringly popular with audiences & co-workers, the wealthy Romero continued to work steadily through the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, & beyond.

Romero had a great sense of humor. Once, after taping a talk show featuring him & a beauty queen, the technician began removing their clip-on microphones, Romero quipped: "You can do the young lady first. The young queen before the old queen."

In 1968, Romero was named one of the “most beautiful men in the world" by TV Guide, with "hair the color of stainless steel," an "alert, erect posture," & "charm to spare." Romero continued to appear in films almost yearly throughout the 1970's & 1980's. In 1985, the still handsome & popular actor was cast as Jane Wyman's love interest on the popular Falcon Crest.

Romero: "Those beautiful actresses all had individuality & a flair for glamour…years ago the gals were real stars. There was an excitement to the business then."

The elegant Cesar Romero, loved & adored by his friends & fans, died of complications from a blood clot on New Year's Day, 1994.