Arleen Sorkin played fan favorite Calliope Jones on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” and her personality was the inspiration behind the popular Batman villain Harley Quinn; she was also the first actress to voice the role.
- Died: August 24, 2023 (Who else died on August 24?)
- Details of death: Died of multiple sclerosis at the age of 67.
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Arleen Sorkin’s legacy
Sorkin’s career in entertainment began in cabaret and comedy, which would influence her work for the rest of her life. Her first major live action role came in 1984, when she joined the cast of the long-running daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” Sorkin played Calliope Jones, an offbeat, funny character who brought a sense of humor to the otherwise serious show. She proved so popular that she remained a main cast member until 1990, then continued to make return appearances until 2010. All told, she appeared in 427 episodes.
Sorkin’s best-known character, however, was an animated one – the DC supervillain and sometimes antihero Harley Quinn. Her friend, Paul Dini, was a writer and producer for the show “Batman: The Animated Series.” After seeing Sorkin’s portrayal of a harlequin in a “Days of our Lives” dream sequence, he decided to create a henchwoman for the Joker, Batman’s primary villain, based on Sorkin’s demeanor and personality. Sorkin not only provided Harley Quinn’s voice, but she also helped shape the character, effectively serving as Harley Quinn’s co-creator.
Initially intended to be a one-time appearance, Harley Quinn became a sensation and appeared in more episodes. Sorkin also voiced her for video games, movies, and other DC animated series. Harley Quinn is now one of the most recognizable comic book characters in pop culture. She’s been portrayed by Margo Robbie in films, she’s among the most popular cosplay characters in the world, and she’s become one of Batman’s most iconic adversaries.
In addition to portraying Calliope Jones and Harley Quinn, Sorkin appeared on “Duet,” “Frasier,” and others. She was a writer for the hit animated show “Tiny Toon Adventures” and co-wrote the 1997 Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy, “Picture Perfect.”
Tributes to Arleen Sorkin
Full obituary: Entertainment Weekly
