Penny Fleck

Penny Fleck is the mother of Arthur Fleck in the 2019 film Joker. She is portrayed by Frances Conroy.

Biography
In 1981, Penny lived an impoverished life with her son, Joker in Gotham City. As she was mentally and physically ill, Arthur cared for Penny while working as a clown-for-hire. After a series of incidents that began to degrade his mental facilities, Arthur finds a letter that Penny writes to Thomas Wayne. In the letter, Penny asserts that Arthur is Thomas' illegitimate son.

Arthur confronts Penny with this news, berating her for keeping the truth from him. Penny reveals that she had previously been a housekeeper for the Wayne household and had an affair with Thomas. Shortly after, two Gotham City Police Department detectives investigating the murders of three Wayne Enterprises on a subway train arrive to question Arthur. Penny suffers a stroke and is taken to hospital.

Arthur confronts Thomas Wayne about his parentage. Thomas denies any involvement with Penny, and reveals that she is not even Arthur's biological mother. After breaking into Arkham State Hospital, Arthur finds Penny's case files which show that she adopted Arthur and was abusive to him, and even allowed her boyfriend to abuse him. Arriving at the hospital, Arthur smothers Penny with a pillow.