How did Kevin Conroy, the voice of Batman, die?
From Batman: The Animated Series, to a host of DC content and even video games, Conroy was a master of his craft and also a kind and loving human being.
Known to generations as the voice of the Dark Knight himself, following a longstanding role as the Batman in the Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League cartoons, not to mention a whole host of video games, Kevin Conroy has passed away at the age of 66.
Voice actor Kevin Conroy has passed away
According to reports, Kevin Conroy, the voice actor best known for his flawless version of Batman’s voice, has passed away following a brief battle with cancer. The news was in fact first reported by Diane Pershing, who played Poison Ivy opposite Conroy in the legendary Batman: The Animated Series, before being confirmed by Warner Bros. Animation. It wasn’t long before others expressed their grief and condolences such as casting director 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,” Romano said in a press release provided by Warner Bros. “Kevin’s warm heart, delightfully deep laugh and pure love of life will be with me forever.”
There was also Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame, who voiced the iconic Joker opposite Conroy’s Batman. “Kevin was perfection,” Hamill said. “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.”
Who was Kevin Conroy?
Conroy’s career as an actor began with a role on the soap opera Another World before he took to the stage during a stint in the theater during the early 1980s. As a queer man, Conroy’s acting career was significantly impacted by the AIDs epidemic, which in fact was a subject that he wrote about in this year’s DC Comics Pride issue. Following regular roles on TV in shows such as Dynasty and Tour of Duty, Conroy would eventually come to the attention of fans worldwide as a voice actor, when he landed the prestigious role of Bruce Wayne and Batman in Batman: The Animated Series which was launched in 1992.
It was in his role as the playboy billionaire by day and caped crusader by night, that Conroy’s ability really shone through. To date, his is considered perhaps the greatest interpretation of the tragically tortured character that is Batman. Of course, he would also lend his talents to a number of other animated series including The New Adventures of Batman, Batman Beyond, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Yet, that’s not the end of it. Conroy’s immense vocal talents were also witnessed in video games, with him reprising his role as Gotham’s avenger in the Batman: Arkham trilogy, the Injustice fighting games and many more. Believe it or not
Kevin Conroy in his own words
“A mask of confidence to the world, and a private one racked by conflict and wounds.” Conroy wrote of the duality of Batman, and his identity as an out gay man, in his DC Comics Pride story Finding Batman, “Could I relate to that, they asked? Was I my public face, or my private face? Had I made too many compromises? My heart pulsed, I felt my face flush, my breath grew deeper, I began to speak, and a voice I didn’t recognize came out. It was a throaty, husky, rumbling sound that shook my body.”