The actress directly inspired the Batman character who would later be played by Margot Robbie, Kaley Cuoco and Lady Gaga.
Arleen Sorkin, the original voice and inspiration behind Batman villain Harley Quinn, has died at the age of 67, TheWrap has learned. The news broke on social media Saturday, with numerous fans and colleagues sharing their memories of the actress and the character she helped bring to the screen.
Unlike most characters in the world of Batman, Harley Quinn did not make her debut in the DC comic books, but rather in the acclaimed ’90s animated show “Batman: The Animated Series.” Sorkin first played Quinn on the show’s seventh episode “Joker’s Favor,” with the character initially set to only appear in a single episode. But she became a recurring part of the main cast after a rough cut of the episode was met well by the producers.
Prior to “Batman: The Animated Series,” Sorkin was best known for playing dressmaker Calliope Jones on “Days of Our Lives” from 1984-1990. It was one scene from her work on that soap opera that became the inspiration for Harley Quinn.
