Joaquin Phoenix
Phoenix first came to prominence in the movie Space Camp as a child actor, going by the name Leaf. For his role in the epic Gladiator, he was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award, following it up a few years later with a nomination in the Best Actor category for his performance as Johnny Cash, opposite Reese Witherspoon's June, in the biopic hit Walk The Line.
For his role in Joker, Phoenix studied videos of people who laugh pathologically as a symptom of their insanity, and he also went on an intense diet, losing 52 pounds. He won an Academy Award for his performance in 2020.
Phoenix's other films include To Die For, directed by Gus Van Sant, U Turn, Inventing the Abbotts, Clay Pigeons, Quills, Buffalo Soldiers, Signs, Reservation Road, Two Lovers, I'm Still Here (a mockumentary he made with Casey Affleck), The Master, Her, Inherent Vice, and Mary Magdalene.
Robert De Niro
De Niro claims to have based the character of Murray Franklin on his character in The King of Comedy, for which he was awarded a BAFTA Award.
De Niro has frequently collaborated with Martin Scorsese throughout his career. Taxi Driver was his first starring role in a Scorsese film, having appeared in a supporting role in Mean Streets just before. His other Scorsese collaborations include New York, New York, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino, and The Irishman.
He has won two Academy Awards, one for Best Supporting Actor for his work in The Godfather Part II, and another for Best Actor for Raging Bull.
A lifelong New Yorker, De Niro was born in Greenwich Village to the painters Virginia Admiral and Robert De Niro Sr.
Zazie Beetz
Better known as a television actor, Zazie Beetz received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her work on the dramatic comedy series Atlanta. Her other films include Deadpool 2, Geostorm, and Seberg.
Frances Conroy
Julliard graduate Conroy is best known for her award-winning portrayal of Ruth Fisher on the television series Six Feet Under, for which she won a Golden Globe Award and three Screen Actors' Guild Awards. She also earned an Emmy nomination for her work on American Horror Story. Her films include Another Woman, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Scent of a Woman, Sleepless in Seattle, The Neon Bible, Die, Mommie, Die!, Catwoman, The Aviator, Shopgirl, Broken Flowers, and Welcome to Happiness.
Brett Cullen
Soap-opera stalwart Cullen is best known for his role in Falcon Crest. Joker is his second appearance in a Batman film, having appeared in the 2015 movie Dark Knight Rises. His other films include Something to Talk About, The Replacements, Wyatt Earp, The Runaways, and Guilt Trip.
