Arleen Sorkin, original Harley Quinn, dead at 67

Arleen Sorkin, the first actor to play Harley Quinn in Batman: The Animated Series has died. She was 67.

News of her death started to circulate on social media earlier this morning, and was later confirmed by Mark Hamill, who played Joker alongside Sorkin's Quinn.

"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," He wrote.

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. 💔 pic.twitter.com/g1Mb3BWoKn

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) August 27, 2023

DC movie boss James Gunn added 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."

Meanwhile, Darkwing Duck actor Jim Cummings wrote: "RIP Arleen Sorkin, the original voice of Harley Quinn. You paved the way for an entire generation and I'll never forget our time working together."

Sorkin rose to prominence in the hit US soap Days Of Our Lives back in the 80s as Calliope Jones. Sorkin was originally hired by college friend Paul Dini, one of the co-creators of Batman: The Animated Series, to play one of Joker's goons. Harley Quinn would go on to become so popular that she crossed over into other Batman media, and is now one of the biggest and most popular characters in the DC universe. As others have pointed out, none of this would have happened without Sorkin's stunning performance and monumental contribution to the Batman mythos.

"There is no Harley Quinn without Arleen Sorkin," writer Jeff Harris added on Twitter. "She was literally the inspiration for the character's creation & brought her to life. Harley could have been nothing but a generic moll of the Joker, but today, Harley Quinn is one of the pillars of DC Comics. Thank you, Arleen."