Mark Hamill, renowned for his iconic portrayal of the Joker in animated series such as Batman: The Animated Series, had a brief yet noteworthy live-action stint as the character two decades ago. Although his live-action appearance in the DC universe is not widely recollected, it holds a unique place in the history of the Joker's on-screen adaptations. Hamill's voice has become so synonymous with the Joker that he is often regarded as the definitive voice of the character in animation, with Heath Ledger's live-action portrayal being the gold standard for the role in cinematic history.

The gap between Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman and Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance in Christopher Nolan's 2008 The Dark Knight was a period where Mark Hamill's animated Joker was the dominant interpretation of the character. This era was punctuated by a rare live-action appearance of the Joker in a now-obscure TV series that has since faded from collective memory.

The short-lived DC series Birds of Prey, which aired from October 2002 to February 2003, featured a team-up of Helena Kyle/Huntress, Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Oracle, and Dinah Redmond/Black Canary, along with their allies Alfred Pennyworth and Detective Jesse Reese, in a Gotham City abandoned by Batman. The series saw Harley Quinn as the main antagonist, with the Joker making a minimal appearance. In a flashback, the Joker, voiced by Hamill but physically portrayed by Roger Stoneburner, is shown paralyzing Barbara Gordon. His sole line, delivered with Hamill's signature Joker cackle, was a chilling reminder of the character's presence.

Despite Stoneburner's physical portrayal, it was Hamill's voice that was dubbed over, a decision that Hamill himself found "unfair" as he was the only one credited for the role. The choice to use Hamill's voice was likely due to his strong association with the character at the time, despite being around 50 years old, which may have been considered too old for the physical demands of the role. Stoneburner, on the other hand, was likely seen as a better physical match for the Joker's appearance.

Hamill's live-action work as the Trickster in CW's The Flash is often seen as his Joker without the makeup. At 73, the likelihood of him reprising the Joker role in a future live-action DC film is slim, especially following his retirement from the role after the death of his co-star, Kevin Conroy. However, should a future DC project call for an older Joker, the demand for Hamill to take on the role would undoubtedly be significant.