TheBatmanuniverse is filled withvarious charactersof different types that share different relations with The Dark Knight himself. Among these characters aren’t just villains or other vigilantes, but sometimes wise confidants or renegade proteges. Commissioner James Gordon is one of those characters that has been by Batman’s side since his creation.
While Commissioner Gordon was not always as involved inBatman’s war on crime in Gotham, his character has been evolved over the years into an imperative member of the Batmanfamily. James Gordon has stood on the streets of Gotham City in multiple mediums including animation, somics, and live-action films. Many actors have donned the grizzled mustache of the GCPD leader, and while each portrayal was unique, some brought more to the table than others.
6Ben McKenzie — Gotham
In the spin-off television seriesGotham,Ben McKenzie was cast as a young, fresh detective James Gordon. The show followed the character as he rose in the ranks in the GCPD while taking on the budding criminal element of Gotham City.
The show took place before the time of Batman’s rise to prominence. Fresh off of the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Gordon took the spotlight in the series, which covered his career all the way to his achieving the rank of commissioner. Ben McKenzie handled the role with great poise; however, for some, the significant disparities of the series compared to the source material were hard to get past.
5J.K Simons — Zack Snyder’s Justice League
J.K Simmons was announced as the portrayer of Commissioner Gordon of the DCEU, and while he only took on the role a single time inZack Snyder’s Justice League, he made a considerable impression as the character. Standing next to Ben Affleck’s Batman, he left fans clamoring for more. The possible future between the two actors could have been one of the most spectacularBatmaniterations of all time.
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J.K Simmons has not been in a DCEU film since, and a different actor was cast in the recently releasedThe Batmanfilm by Matt Reeves, starring Robert Pattinson. However, it is rumored that Simmons will reprise his role inthe upcomingBatgirlmovie.
4Jeffrey Wright — Matt Reeves' The Batman
Jeffrey Wright is the most recent addition to the line of actors to take on the role of Commissioner Gordon. Cast in Matt Reeves’The Batman,which stars Robert Pattinson as the title character,Wright’s version of Commissioner Gordonis portrayed as a more “feet on the ground” rendition of the character, grounded in realism.
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Jeffrey Wright’s talent is top-notch, and he brings his own flair to the character. Having been in a plethora of A-list films, Wright brings a strong presence to the movie. The actor admits he took inspiration from New York’s Mayor, Eric Adams, to give the role a sense of authenticity.
3Neil Hamilton — 1960s Batman
Neil Hamilton was the first man to take on the role of Commissioner Gordon. In the 1960sBatmantelevision show, Hamilton dawned the garb of decorated police commissioner James Gordon alongside Adam West’s Batman. For many fans ofBatmanpre-Dark Knight, Hamilton is the figurehead for the character James Gordon.
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Neil Hamilton was an established member of the Hollywood circuit in the 1920s, appearing in well over 200 films over the years, bringing a fair share of credibility to the show. While his career was very lucrative, for a short period of time, he was unable to work after being blacklisted after an altercation with a movie executive in the 1940s.
2Pat Hingle — Batman ‘89
Pat Hingle took on the role of James Gordon for the first time in Tim Burton’sBatmanin 1989. Known asBatman ‘89, this film was the first live-action rendition of the character and its material in over 25 years. While Hingle’s screen time in the film was minimal,his presence was still very prominent in the movie.
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Pat Hingle would go on to reprise the role in the next threeBatmanmovies over the course of the original trilogy, which all featured different men playing Batman. Hingle has appeared in dozens of films in both supporting and starring roles over the course of his career, such asSplendor in the GrassandHang’Em High.
1Gary Oldman — The Nolan Batman Films
The Nolan trilogy ofBatmanfilms is primarily seen as the most accurate adaptation of theBatmanmythos in live-action. The cast was filled with talented actors and actresses that embodied the characters they were portraying. Gary Oldman’s James Gordon was among the top of that list, being the carbon copy of the character, both in appearance and personality.
Oldman’s performance in all three films, alongsideMichael Caine’s Alfred, were spectacular pillars of theseBatmanstories. Gary Oldman was already a household name prior to co-starring inBatman Begins,having won multiple awards for his previous roles.
