What illness does Joaquin Phoenix Joker have?

In the movie “Joker”, Joaquin Phoenix’s character, Arthur Fleck, is depicted as having some kind of severe mental illness. The character’s uncontrollable laughter is based on an actual disorder called Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA).

While the movie never names what specific illnesses Fleck has been diagnosed with, his fits of uncontrollable laughter are a symptom of PBA.

Joaquin Phoenix started his career in the early 1980s and some of his first major film roles were in SpaceCamp (1986) and Parenthood (1989). Phoenix starred in the satirical film Buffalo Soldiers as a U.S. Army soldier.

Joaquin Phoenix portrayed the title role in the historical drama Napoleon (2023). Phoenix received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Commodus in the historical drama Gladiator (2000).

Joaquin Phoenix made his acting debut alongside his brother in the television series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in the 1982 episode “Christmas Song”.

Joaquin Phoenix starred in the psychological drama The Master (2012), winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and earning his third Academy Award nomination.