Actor Kevin Conroy, best known as the voice of Batman in the seminal Batman: The Animated Series, has sadly passed away at the age of 66. The tragic news has been confirmed by multiple sources, though a cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Kevin Conroy will always be remembered by many as the unrivaled voice of the DC icon Bruce Wayne aka Batman. Conroy provided the vocals for the character throughout the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, which ran from 1992 to 1995. Able to make slight changes to his vocalizations for both Wayne and his alter ego without ever over-exaggerating, and possessing the deep, dark, dominating voice perfect for The Dark Knight, Conroy’s is undoubtedly the voice that many a comic book fan still hears when reading anything Batman related.
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Conroy continued to voice Batman across numerous animated spinoff projects in the DC Animated Universe, including the TV shows The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999), and Batman Beyond (1999–2001, the latter of which finds Conroy playing an older, retired version of the character. Conroy’s Batman has joined forces with the likes of Superman and Wonder Woman in the likes of Justice League (2001–2004) and Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006) and has also featured in several direct-to-video outings including Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman.
One of Conroy’s best performances as Batman though is in the theatrical animated outing Batman: Mask of the Phantasm back in 1993. The animated feature finds the troubled yet heroic Batman pitted against a mysterious figure who is rubbing out Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, and who many believe is the caped crusader himself. All the while, Batman’s alter ego, Bruce Wayne, has fallen in love with the equally mysterious Andrea Beaumont, who wants to help him recover from his need to avenge his parents’ murder. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is still considered by many to be the definitive Batman movie.
Conroy has provided the voice for Batman across multiple platforms, including the Batman: Arkham Asylum video game franchise, and even appeared as Bruce Wayne in live during the recent Arrowverse crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths. His other credits outside of Batman include Yoga Hosers, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, and The Venture Bros., among others.
Tributes Are Now Being Paid to the Late, Great Kevin Conroy
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Tributes have now begun to pour in for Kevin Conroy, with Batman: The Animated Series writer and producer sharing a haunting image of Batman looking off into the sky.
Conroy’s co-star Diana Pershing, who provided the voice of Poison Ivy in Batman: The Animated Series, has also taken to social media to honor the actor. As has the Peter Mayhew Foundation.
Kevin Conroy was due to voice Thomas Wayne in the Batman: Caped Crusader series for HBO Max. It is unknown whether this went ahead, or what his final appearance will be. He will be sorely missed, but will be fondly remembered by many thanks to his legacy as Batman.
