Batman has appeared in numerous TV shows, video games, and movies over the course of his caped crusading years. And with Batman, you tend to also see the commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department, Jim Gordon. This dynamic duo works together in the shadows more often than not because the GCPD is filled with moles for Gotham's crime syndicate.
Throughout the years, between TV shows, movies, and video games, dozens of people have stepped into the role of the police officer looking to stamp out corruption in his own department. Many of the people who have taken on the role have done a fine job, but there are a few that have cemented said role in our brains forever.
Taking a look at everyone who has played Gordon over the years, we've narrowed down a list of the 10 most memorable Commisioner Gordons in history. If you're looking for more Batman lists, check out our rankings of every Batman movie villain or everyone who played Batman on the big screen. Additionally, check out our review of The Batman, which arrives in theaters on March 4.
10. Pat Hingle
Appeared in: Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin
Throughout Tim Burton's and Joel Schumacher's Batman movies, there are only a couple people that appear in all four movies. The first is Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth and the other is Pat Hingle as Jim Gordon. Hingle wasn't given a lot to do during the four movies, but he pops up now and again. One of his most memorable scenes is in Batman & Robin, when he pops up on a video screen in the Batmobile wearing a uniform with way too many medals.
9. JK Simmons
Appeared in: Justice League
Simmons is an iconic actor. Whether it's Vern Schillinger from Oz, J. Jonah Jameson from Spider-Man, or Fletcher from Whiplash, Simmons dives head first into these roles, creating memorable performances. For Justice League, Simmons wasn't given a lot to go on, but he did look the part. In fact, he's probably one of the coolest-looking Jim Gordons in live-action history. Hopefully, he'll get a chance to return to the role with a script with a bit more meat on it for Gordon.
8. Bruce Thomas
Appeared in: Batman: Hush, Son of Batman, Bad Blood
There have been plenty of people who have taken on the role of voicing Gordon throughout the years--especially because there have been a mountain of straight-to-video Batmovies. Thomas is memorable in the fact he's a bit of someone to lean on throughout the three movies he's voiced Gordon in. Thomas is memorable in the fact that he's solid with his voice work and breathes life into Gordon. Additionally, he also played Batman in one episode of the Birds of Prey TV show.
7. Gary Cole
Appeared in: Batman: Under the Red Hood, Death in the Family
Two of the most emotional stories for Batman were the two that Gary Cole voiced. Revolving around Batman's second Robin, Gordon's role isn't huge within these stories, but much like Thomas's work, Cole's version of Gordon is someone for Batman to lean on when very real, human emotions seep through the Caped Crusader's cowl.
6. Christopher Meloni
Appeared in: Harley Quinn
The HBO Max animated series Harley Quinn is hilarious. Meloni's take on Gordon is a man constantly in the middle of a nervous breakdown because Gotham City is infested with supervillains, but at the same time, he's desperate to save the city on his own. It's the funniest and most interesting take on the character as a whole, and Meloni plays him to perfection.
5. Neil Hamilton
Appeared in: Batman (1966)
Everything about the 1966 Batman TV series was tongue-and-cheek and straight up camp, but that's what we love about it. And while Neil Hamilton's portrayal of Commissioner Gordon occasionally got involved in the hijinks, most of the time, he was the only grounded part of that series, calling upon the Batfamily for help. For an older generation, he is Gordon. But regardless of when you were born, Hamilton was the first actor to really give Gordon a voice, which still resonates--in one way or another--with every actor that came after him.
4. Bob Hastings
Appeared in: Batman: The Animated Series, Mask of the Phantasm, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
When you think of the voice of Commissioner Gordon, you probably think of Bob Hastings. He portrayed the character on Bruce Timm's Batman: The Animated Series, and also played him in a few spin-off movies. The character is stoic and a pillar of Batman's animated adventures. For many people, he is Gordon.
3. Jeffrey Wright
Appeared in: The Batman
Thus far, we've only seen the first film starring Jeffrey Wright as Gordon, but he's off to a stellar start. This take on Gordon is quieter and already has an established, if still new, relationship with Batman. He's willing to break the rules to get the Caped Crusader's help and, above all, he's looking out for the best interests of Gotham City. It's going to be exciting watching him–as well as his relationship with Batman–evolve in future movies and TV shows. - Chris E. Hayner
2. Ben McKenzie
Appeared in: Gotham
Ben McKenzie had a fantastic run as Jim Gordon for quite a few reasons. First, he got to portray the character as a beat cop, before he got to dive in as a detective. And secondly, he got to play Gordon for 100 hour-long episodes over the course of years. He got to evolve Gordon and add his own flavor to the character. We got to see this version of Gordon rise in the ranks of the GCPD and take down the corruption in his own department. Additionally, this is the only entry on this list whose TV show/movie primarily focused on Gordon as a character.
1. Gary Oldman
Appeared in: The Dark Knight Trilogy
Appearing in all three of Christopher Nolan's movies, Gary Oldman gave viewers insight into the early relationship between Batman and Gordon, and Gordon having to trust someone outside of the law to be the law. A lot of Oldman's choices for the role were silent, conveying to the audience moments of a man struggling to make tough decisions for the betterment of the city. While Oldman may have been overshadowed in the trilogy by other actors, his portrayal of Gordon is the most memorable out of anyone else who has played the character.
As for the best Batman that's appeared on the big screen, GameSpot wanted to know what you thought. When asked who is the best Batman of all time--out of Adam West, Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, and Christian Bale--readers overwhelmingly selected Bale with 66% of the votes. Over 290,000 people took part in the pole. Make sure to head over to GameSpot's Twitter and Facebook for more polls, memes, videos, and links to rad content.
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