Actor Kevin Conroy Dies At Age 66

Batman Voice-Over Actor Kevin Conroy Dies At Age 66

The noted voice actor performed as Batman in a variety of animated movies and TVs and was a favorite on the convention circuit.

Kevin Conroy voiced Bruce Wayne/Batman on 'Batman: The Animated Series.'

Kevin Conroy, a fan-favorite voice actor who became best known for playing Batman in a number of animated TV shows and movies, has died. He was 66.

Born on November 30, 1955, in Westbury, New York, and raised in Westport, Connecticut, Conroy began establishing himself in the acting community while under the tutelage of John Houseman at The Julliard School, where he studied alongside the likes of Christopher Reeve, Frances Conroy, and his roommate, Robin Williams.

Conroy began his career following his love of the theatre, keeping him on stage in both New York and at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. The actor received rave reviews for his starring performances in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at the Public Theater, Eastern Standard on Broadway, Arthur Miller’s ‘The Last Yankee’, and in the title role of Hamlet at the 1984 New York Shakespeare Festival.

He also performed in films and television, most notably in the mid-1980s when he had recurring roles on ‘Dynasty’, ‘Tour of Duty’ and crime drama ‘Ohara’, successful runs on soap operas ‘Search for Tomorrow’’ and Another World’, and guest roles on popular series like ‘Cheers’, ‘Murphy Brown’, ‘Spenser: For Hire’ and ‘Matlock’.

Kevin Conroy starred as Bruce Wayne / Batman on 'Batman: The Animated Series.'

Yet it was as the Caped Crusader that he truly found his calling. He voiced Bruce Wayne/Batman in ‘Batman: The Animated Series’, which launched in 1992. And from there took on the role in multiple Bat-projects including shows such as ‘Batman Beyond’ and ‘Justice League/Justice League Unlimited’, films ranging from ‘Batman: the Killing Joke’ and ‘Batman: Gotham Knight’ to ‘Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero’ and ‘Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman’. And he was also part of the cast for more than two dozen video games. In 2019, he realized a long-held ambition for the character, playing a live-action take on Bruce Wayne in Arrowverse crossover event ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’.

“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,” says casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano. “Kevin’s warm heart, delightfully deep laugh and pure love of life will be with me forever.”

“Kevin was a brilliant actor,” says Mark Hamill, who played the Joker to winning effect opposite Conroy for years. “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.”

And it wasn’t just in the work side of things where Conroy shined, according to Hamill. “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.”

Conroy is survived by his husband Vaughn C. Williams, sister Trisha Conroy, and brother Tom Conroy.