Following the death of Kevin Conroy, another acclaimed voice actor from the DC Comics universe has passed. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Arleen Sorkin, who voiced Harley Quinn in Batman: The Animated Series, died. Sorkin was 67 years old.
News of her death surfaced yesterday, spurring an outpouring of tributes online. DC Studios co-chairman James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, Superman: Legacy) was one of the first to pay his condolences. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn posted on Instagram, “Rest in Peace, Arleen Sorkin, the incredibly talented original voice of Harley Quinn, who helped to create the character so many of us love. Love to her family and friends.”
Born in 1955, Sorkin began her career as a stage performer, according to THR. She was a member of a comedy troupe as well as a cabaret performer. Then in 1984, she joined the cast of Days of Our Lives in the role of Calliope Jones. She portrayed Jones until 1990 and would reappear in the series in 1992, 2002, 2006, and 2010.
For most millennials, she is best known as the original voice of Harleen Quizel aka Harley Quinn, the Arkham Asylum psychologist coerced into becoming the Joker’s violent henchwoman and girlfriend in DC’s animated Batman series. According to THR, she was cast in the role by friend and series writer Paul Dini (Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker). He was inspired after watching Sorkin play a similar character in a dream sequence in Days.
According to THR, Quinn was only supposed to be a one-episode character after debuting in “Joker’s Favor” alongside voice actor Mark Hamill (Star Wars: A New Hope) as Batman’s archnemesis. However, Sorkin as Quinn was such a hit, that she went on and appeared in eight more episodes. She would later voice the role in various films, series, and video game projects throughout the years.
In a 2016 THR interview, Sorkin described how she would transfix herself into the character prior to recording.
“I would sing in the car on the way to work — ‘Adelaide’s Lament’ from Guys and Dolls. And when I got there, I was ready. Adelaide from Guys and Dolls is someone I always wanted to play. So it was very easy for me to find Harley’s voice. But I made her even more extreme.”
According to THR, Hamill tweeted a heartfelt message to his longtime costar saying, “Devastated to learn we’ve lost the brilliant Arleen Sorkin. Not just a wonderful talent, but a truly wonderful person. I’m grateful not only to have worked with her, but to have been her friend. Sending my heartfelt condolences to her family & loved ones.”
Voice actress Tara Strong (Rugrats, The Powerpuff Girls) stated Sorkin was “the inspiration & the heart & soul of this iconic character.” via THR. Strong is just one of many actresses who have voiced Harley in other projects. Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant) plays her in the Max animated series Harley Quinn, and Melissa Rauch voiced the character in the DC animated movie, Batman and Harley Quinn. The character has also been portrayed in live-action by Mia Sara in the short-lived Birds of Prey series, and more recently, by Margot Robbie in Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squad, and Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey.
Sorkin leaves behind her husband, producer Christopher Lloyd (Modern Family, Frasier), and two children.