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News has broken over social media that Kevin Conroy, the iconic, and beloved actor who played Batman for over 30 years across animation, videogames, and live action, has passed away at the age of 66 following a short battle with cancer.
The heartbreaking news was first posted by actress, Diane Pershing, who posted the following on her official Facebook page:
Pershing had worked closely with Kevin Conroy for many years as she was the voice of fan favourite Gotham sometimes supervillain, sometimes anti-hero, Doctor Pamela Isley aka Poison Ivy.
And since her post, an outpouring of tributes have been posted across social media mourning the Conroy’s passing and celebrating the positive legacy that he leaves both through his iconic body of work playing Batman across 30 years and the legacy of who he was as a person.
There are countless stories, and sure to be many more in the coming days of Conroy selflessly giving his time to fans young and old, hearing their stories of how his work had touched and enriched their lives.
And if I may, I would like to give a personal story of my own. As, just before my niece was born in 2016, my best friend, a fellow lifelong DC Comics and Kevin Conroy fan, sent a message to Kevin Conroy on social media explaining that his daughter was due soon and asking if he could please have a message from him to show her when she was older.
And Kevin Conroy, incredible and selfless man that he was, took the time to record record and send a personal audio message for my best friend and my niece. A message that my best friend would then play to my niece when she was born as the voice that welcomed her to the world.
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A graduate of the world renowned The Juliard School in New York City. Conroy famously roomed with fellow Juliard student, Robin Williams, who himself was a close friend of fellow Juliard student and future ‘Superman’ icon, Christopher Reeve.
Upon leaving Juliard, Conroy moved to San Diego, California, where he would become associated with the Old Globe Theatre due to his starring performance in several of Shakespeare’s plays, including ‘Hamlet’, and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
In Conroy’s own words, his performances in and love of Shakespeare’s plays would serve him well when he went for the audition that would change his life and career forever.
As while many had auditioned for the roles of Bruce Wayne and Batman in a new animated project that Warner Bros were developing based on the success of director Tim Burton’s blockbuster 1989 movie, ‘Batman’.
Only Conroy approached the audition as two separate performances, one as Bruce Wayne, one as Batman. Because, in his own words, he saw Batman as the most Shakespearean of all the DC Comics heroes due to the tragedy of losing his parents that defines him.
With the release of ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ in 1992, Kevin Conroy, or more specifically his voice, became an overnight star, instantly recognisable for its baritone and warmth.
Following the success of the series, he would go on to play Batman in the animated feature length movie spin-off of the series ‘Batman: Mask of the Phantasm’. In addition to reprising the role for the videogames based on the animated series and further spin-off animated feature length movies’.
He would also appear in the BTAS sequel animated series ‘Batman Beyond’ and its spin-off feature length animated movie ‘Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker’. Along with guest starring in ‘Superman: The Animated Series’ before appearing in ‘Justice League’ and ‘Justice League Unlimited’.
If you go through Conroy’s filmography on IMDB, there are over 50 different projects across 30 years in which he stars as Batman, Bruce Wayne, or a member of the Wayne family such as Thomas Wayne.
In recent years, many fans will know him best from his performances as Bruce Wayne and Batman in developer Rocksteady Studios‘ seminal ‘Arkham’ Trilogy of videogames: ‘Batman: Arkham Asylum’, ‘Batman: Arkham City’, and ‘Batman: Arkham Knight’.
While his final performance as Batman can be heard right now in the ‘Multiversus’ videogame. While his final ever performance appears to be still yet to come. As he is set to play Bruce Wayne’s father, Thomas, in the upcoming ‘Batman: The Caped Crusader’ animated series.
With his passing, the world feels lonelier and colder today, and it will be all too easy to get lost in those feelings, not unlike a young Bruce Wayne that fateful night in “Crime Alley”.
But, that’s not what Kevin Conroy would’ve wanted for any of us as he was a joyous man who sought to make the world a better place than he found it and I can think of no better way to honour his life, his legacy, and his memory, than by re-watching your favourite Batman episodes, animated movies, and/or playing your favourite Batman video games.
And, should you ever feel lonely or sad thinking of him. Please, remember two things. 1. You are not alone, as there are countless numbers of us around the world who share your love of Kevin Conroy. And, 2. this was his last every social media post and I can’t think of a more perfect final post:
Goodbye Mr Conroy, from myself, and all of the VideoGamer team whose lives you’ve enriched, and thank you so much from us all for a lifetime of happy memories.
Kevin Conroy FAQ
Why is Batman’s voice so raspy?
Kevin Conroy has explained in interviews that he felt that Bruce Wayne would disguise his voice when speaking as Batman, saying “it comes from a lower things he drops down into, a place he has to reach to become a quasi-vigilante.“
How long did Kevin Conroy voice Batman?
Kevin Conroy has voiced Batman for 30 years beginning with ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ in 1992.
How many times has Kevin Conroy voiced Batman?
Kevin Conroy has 51 performances listed in his IMDB profile for playing Batman across animations, videogames, TV, and movies.
