“Knock Knock Puddin’! Say hello to your new and improved Harley Quinn!” - Harley Quinn to Joker
Hollywood, the comic book community, and the world of popular culture has lost a true talent and gem - as screenwriter, actress, comedian, and original Harley Quinn voice actress Arleen Sorkin has sadly passed away at the age of 67. It was truly depressing news delivered by so many news outlets and those close to the entertainer who have known her, and the entire world mourns the loss of one of the brightest and energetic ladies to ever grace the entertainment scene.
Best known for her role as Calliope Jones in the NBC series “Days Of Our Lives”, Sorkin would explode into the critically acclaimed “Batman The Animated Series” by playing the role of The Joker’s female sidekick and girlfriend Harley Quinn - first appearing in the episode “Joker’s Favor”. The character was created by writer Paul Dini - who derived inspiration fron Sorkin herself as both were friends during college and the actress was cast in the role by him and BTAS series creator Bruce Timm. Harley’s role would prove so popular that she would return for many more episodes and appear in the rest of the DC Animated Universe - before being adapted properly in the pages of DC Comics and then appearing in several other forms of media, becoming one of the most prominent modern DC characters ever created and played by other actresses including Tara Strong and Margot Robbie in the DC Extended Universe.
Arleen would also reprise her role as the former psychologist turned anti-hero in the video games Batman: Arkham Asylum and DC Universe Online. She will be greatly missed, and the world would never know Harley Quinn without her as the source of inspiration for the character.
