Iconic Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy, who has portrayed Bruce Wayne a.k.a. the Dark Knight since the 1990s in Batman: The Animated Series, has died at the age of 66. One of the DC icons that has lived outside the world of comics for decades is Batman, whether through live-action movies, video games, or animated projects. While several talented voice actors have brought the Caped Crusader to life in various animated TV shows and movies, Conroy has held the title of having portrayed Batman the longest, for 30 years, ever since he starred in Batman: The Animated Series.
However, the world has now lost a legend, as Conroy has tragically passed away at the age of 66. Diane Pershing, who voiced the DC villainess Poison Ivy in Batman: The Animated Series, confirmed on her Facebook page that the actor died on November 10 and had been ill for quite some time. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has also confirmed Conroy’s death, with the following statements from voice casting director Andrea Romano and long-time friend/co-star Mark Hamill, who voiced The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, as well as producer Paul Dini:
ANDREA ROMANO: Kevin was far more than an actor whom I had the pleasure of casting and directing – he was a dear friend for 30+ years whose kindness and generous spirit knew no boundaries.
MARK HAMILL: Kevin’s warm heart, delightfully deep laugh and pure love of life will be with me forever. Kevin was perfection. He was one of my favorite people on the planet, and I loved him like a brother. He truly cared for the people around him – his decency shone through everything he did. Every time I saw him or spoke with him, my spirits were elevated. Kevin was a brilliant actor. For several generations, he has been the definitive Batman. It was one of those perfect scenarios where they got the exact right guy for the exact right part, and the world was better for it. His rhythms and subtleties, tones and delivery – that all also helped inform my performance. He was the ideal partner – it was such a complementary, creative experience. I couldn’t have done it without him. He will always be my Batman.
PAUL DINI: Kevin brought a light with him everywhere, whether in the recording booth giving it his all, or feeding first responders during 9/11, or making sure every fan who ever waited for him had a moment with their Batman. A hero in every sense of the word. Irreplaceable. Eternal.
Kevin Conroy’s Impact on Batman Explained
For three decades, Conroy was regarded as the definitive voice of Batman, with his show being watched all over the world. Ever since Batman: The Animated Series, Conroy’s performance has been universally beloved, with his work as both Bruce and Batman living up to how people hear the character in their heads whenever reading a comic book with the Dark Knight. Whether it was bringing the broodiness and fear of Batman, or the deeper humanity of Bruce, Conroy has played the DC icon longer than any other actor, even those who have portrayed Batman in live-action.
Conroy’s legacy as Batman goes beyond the animated series from the 1990s. Throughout his career, he would lend his voice to the Gotham City crime fighter in numerous DC projects, including Batman: Mask of Phantasm, Batman Beyond, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Batman: Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, Justice League: Doom, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, and many more. In the world of video games, Conroy allowed players worldwide to play as his character in Rocksteady Games’ critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham trilogy, including Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, and Batman: Arkham Knight.
Even though Conroy’s legacy is heavily based on his voice work, the actor actually did get a chance to play Batman in live-action. During Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event, Conroy made a special appearance as an older Batman from Earth-99 while donning the infamous skeleton suit from Kingdom Come. With so much of his content available through home release as well as on streaming, Conroy’s audience will only grow as more people all over the world discover his legacy. From Batman: The Animated Series to his final projects in 2022, Conroy will be missed by millions as the world mourns a voice-acting legend who was a once-in-a-generation type of talent.
