Kevin Conroy was the iconic voice of Batman in the DC Animated Universe. |
A man who is a legend among DC fans has passed away from cancer. Voice actor Kevin Conroy has passed away at the age of 66. There were many voices who donned the legendary superhero Batman, Kevin was the OG... the best and perhaps the iconic voice of The Dark Knight.
Kevin voice the superhero in Batman The Animated Series, the New Batman Adventures, Superman The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited and several DC Animated and DC Movie Universe cannons.
He became the quintessential voice of the superhero in almost 60 different productions and video games, including 15 films, highlighted by "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm."
Mark Hamill, who is best known for Luke Skywalker also was an iconic voice in the DC Universe. He was the voice of The Joker.
Hamill also a progressive activist along with fellow actors mourned the loss of Conroy.
Thank you. 🦇❤️ pic.twitter.com/hB4XUy8Gw1
— Batman (@Batman) November 11, 2022
RIP my partner in crime (fighting.) Thank you, Kevin, for 30 years of laughs. “May the road rise to meet you…May god hold you in the hollow of his hand.” #batman #btas #robin #nightwing https://t.co/PajAwcXsLe
— Loren Lester (@thelorenlester) November 11, 2022
Kevin Conroy, who died at 66, was maybe the greatest performer of Batman ever https://t.co/KPufOoapXt
— Susan Eisenberg (@susaneisenberg1) November 12, 2022
Devastating. Kevin was a remarkable man inside and out. I will truly miss those big hugs and that magical voice. You will always be my batman. Rest in Peace my friend. Flash #kevinconroy #Batman #justiceleague pic.twitter.com/rReMdBaPh3
— Michael Rosenbaum (@michaelrosenbum) November 11, 2022
Stunned by the loss of this brilliant actor. Words can't express my admiration and respect for the man. I loved him like a brother.#RIPKevinConroy 💔 pic.twitter.com/THlaZ2uTSh
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) November 11, 2022
I don’t have the words. Not today. My heart is broken. There will never be another. He IS #Batman. #RIPLEGEND pic.twitter.com/hJcUVEVeWm
— tara strong (@tarastrong) November 11, 2022
So saddened to hear the news of Kevin Conroy passing away. He was as kind as he was talented, and will be sorely missed. I had the pleasure of working with him on #Batman The Animated Series in the 90s. Here we are at NY Comicon in 2019. #Rip💔 pic.twitter.com/jjvQHfLUMx
— Lauren Tom (@LaurenTom9000) November 11, 2022
So sad to hear about Kevin Conroy. What a sweet soul.
— Carlos Alazraqui (@carlosalazraqui) November 11, 2022
💔💔💔#RIPKevinConroy https://t.co/eUEsIUAzN9
— Charlie Adler (@charlie_adler) November 11, 2022
Bruce imagined him, Andrea found him and, once found, Kevin kicked the door open for all of us to bring to you the amazing characters of DCAU.
— Clancy Brown (@RealClancyBrown) November 11, 2022
Kevin, my friend, my colleague, my hero. We will all miss you terribly. You are a singular soul. Thank you. Now rest #Batman #KevinConroy pic.twitter.com/yrNC8Mfjnt
HUMANS!!! What an amazing life Kevin had. Just too short. I will miss him. Let's celebrate the joy he brought to us and send our love to his family. https://t.co/xMcOmYpxzw @RealKevinConroy
— Tim Daly (@TimmyDaly) November 11, 2022
The #TMNT with #batman. We all play superheroes on TV. @RealKevinConroy was the real deal. Flights of Angels, my dear friend. 🙏🏻💔 pic.twitter.com/p4kU30H9Ht
— Rob Paulsen (@yakkopinky) November 11, 2022
My Batty is gone. One of the finest human beings I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. 💔#RIPKevinConroy pic.twitter.com/7ZY6Mh2Kv0
— Grey DeLisle (@GreyDeLisle) November 11, 2022
My heart is so very, very sad today. Kevin Conroy was THE Batman of my childhood…the one I rushed home to watch…the one who made me want to voice cartoons one day.
— Kari Wahlgren (@KariWahlgren) November 11, 2022
The world has truly lost a legend…#RIPKevinConroy 💔 https://t.co/I43XhXvSnc
“He was one of my favorite people on the planet, and I loved him like a brother,” Hamill said. “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.”
Meeting of the minds. |
“Kevin was a brilliant actor,” Hamill added. “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.”
Warner Bros Animation released a statement.
"Warner Bros. Animation is saddened by the loss of our dear friend Kevin Conroy," the studio said in a statement. "His iconic performance of Batman will forever stand among the greatest portrayals of the Dark Knight in any medium. We send our warmest thoughts to his loved ones and join fans around the world in honoring his legacy."
Although he voiced a rugged hero on the small and big screens, outside of work he was known as a gentle and kind soul. Conroy was a fixture on the convention circuit, where he showed as much respect, enthusiasm and gratitude for his army of fans as they showed him.
Before he ended up being the voice of Bruce Wayne and Batman, Conroy was a stage actor and small screen actor. On a recommendation of friend, he went into Warner Bros. Studios and amazed Andrea Romero so much, she immediately casted him as Batman.
“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 the statement of his passing. “Kevin’s warm heart, delightfully deep laugh and pure love of life will be with me forever.”
Tara Strong, Tim Daly, Phil LaMarr, Grey Delisle, Loren Lester, Will Fredie, Clancy Brown, Cree Summer, Susan Eisenberg, Michael Rosenbaum, Arleen Sorkin, Dana Delaney, Richard Moll, Ron Perlman and many others have expressed their condolences.
Conroy was born on Nov. 30, 1955, in Westbury, New York, and raised in Westport, Connecticut. He studied at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City alongside heralded actors like Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams.
He performed theatrically in New York and at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Conroy received praise from critics for his performances in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Public Theater, “Eastern Standard” on Broadway and the title role of Hamlet at the 1984 New York Shakespeare Festival.
Conroy also had guest roles on popular TV series such as “Cheers,” “Murphy Brown” and “Matlock.”
Conroy is survived by his husband Vaughn C. Williams, sister Trisha Conroy, and brother Tom Conroy. Memorial services are pending.
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