Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon made his comic book debut in 1939, which establishes him as the first supporting character introduced in the Batman universe, per Comic Book Resources. It’s fitting that Batman’s first supporting character therefore becomes one of his most trusted allies. Since the character’s live-action television debut with Batman and Robin in 1949, Jim Gordon has been a constant presence in Batman adaptations for both TV and film. Without superpowers, Gordon is a good person who tries to help others and do the right thing, both on his own, and in his partnership with Batman. Through many movies and actors playing Batman, Commissioner Gordon remains both his ally, and a reminder that people are still good. Let’s rank all the live-action performances of the character.

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7 Neil Hamilton (Batman - 1966-1968)

     20th Television

Neil Hamilton played Jim Gordon in the Batman TV series from 1966 to 1968. The series is more focused on the fun and campy elements of Batman, and Hamilton’s Gordon serves as comic relief. He is often portrayed as a slightly clueless police officer with his own phone line just for Batman (Adam West). Though he calls Batman for help with crime, he doesn’t participate in the action or work directly with him, like other versions of Gordon have done. It’s a more comedic version of the character, but one who still maintains his trust in Batman.

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MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

6 Lyle Talbot (Batman and Robin - 1949)

     Columbia Pictures

Lyle Talbot has the distinction of being the first actor to play the role of Jim Gordon in the 1949 movie serial Batman and Robin. While his performance may not be as gritty or dramatic as what viewers have come to expect from recent Batman adaptations, it does lay the groundwork for most of Gordon’s defining characteristics that are still seen today. He cares about the law and considers Batman (Robert Lowery) an ally as long as he can keep people safe. Talbot plays Gordon as a good man, and this remains true through several iterations of the character.

5 J.K. Simmons (Justice League - 2017)

     Warner Bros. Pictures

J.K. Simmons, a strong actor with a long career, is good as Gordon in Zach Synder’s 2017 Justice League, but is limited by his small role in the movie. Simmons brings a classic, veteran feel to the role, but he doesn’t have a big chance to stand out. Also, though he has implied history with Ben Affleck’s Batman, he lacks the more emotional aspects that other Gordon portrayals have had with him. Simmons is set to reprise his role in the upcoming Batgirl film, and hopefully he’ll have more to do with the character.

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4 Pat Hingle (Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman and Robin, 1989-1997)

     Warner Bros.

Pat Hingle’s Gordon is a stable presence through all four films, which have two different directors (Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher), and three different actors (Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, and George Clooney) as Batman. Hingle’s Gordon doesn’t trust Batman at first, and exemplifies the difference between the police and Batman’s form of justice. While he comes around to see the good in Batman, they don’t have as close a relationship as other adaptations. Hingle’s Gordon is often in the background, but his presence is still felt throughout the action.

3 Ben McKenzie (Gotham - 2014-2019)

     Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution

Ben McKenzie’s version of Gordon stands out for being a younger version of the character. In the Fox series Gotham, he stars as a hopeful rookie cop in Gotham, hoping to make a difference in the city. With Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) as a young teenager for most of the series, much of the show focuses on McKenzie’s Gordon solving crimes and learning of the extreme corruption in the police department. Through it all, he remains determined to help people and do what he can, creating a strong backstory for who Gordon will eventually become.

2 Jeffrey Wright (The Batman - 2022)

Jeffrey Wright’s portrayal in Matt Reeves’ The Batman is a highlight of the film. His version of Gordon has full trust in Batman (Robert Pattinson), even in the face of opposition from the entire police department. He is also much more than a supporting character, and we see him fully engage in the detective aspects of crime-fighting with Batman – and the two make a great team, with strong chemistry. Wright’s performance is steady and logical, and even brings some humor to the character. With a sequel on the horizon, Wright’s performance has the chance to get even better.

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1 Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Trilogy - 2005-2012)

It may be an obvious choice, but Gary Oldman has given many excellent performances in his career, and his role as Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is no exception. Nolan had originally intended a villain role for Oldman, but Oldman was tired of villain roles, and instead became the “straight as an arrow Jim Gordon.” It’s now difficult to imagine anyone else as Gordon in the trilogy. Oldman develops the character over three films, going from Officer to Commissioner, and actively working with Batman (Christian Bale) as both an inside source and a friend. Additionally, his Gordon comforts young Bruce after his parents are killed in Batman Begins. In this sense, he is with Bruce from the start of his journey as Batman, and is the Gordon with the strongest emotional connection to him, which Oldman effectively brings to life. Their relationship is one of the lighter parts of the trilogy, and proves that goodness does exist in Gotham.