Voice of Batman in animated series, video games
NEW YORK — Kevin Conroy, the prolific voice actor whose gravelly delivery on “Batman: The Animated Series” was for many Batman fans the definitive sound of the Caped Crusader, died Nov. 10. He was 66.
Mr. Conroy died after a battle with cancer, series producer Warner Bros. announced Nov. 11.
Mr. Conroy was the voice of Batman on the acclaimed animated series that ran from 1992-1996, often acting opposite Mark Hamill’s Joker. Mr. Conroy continued on as the almost exclusive animated voice of Batman, including some 15 films, 400 episodes of television and two dozen video games, including the “Batman: Arkham” and “Injustice” franchises.
In the eight-decade history of Batman, no one played the Dark Knight more.
“For several generations, he has been the definitive Batman,” Mr. Hamill in a
statement. “It was one of those perfect scenarios where they got the exact right guy for the right part, and the world was better for it.”
“He will always be my Batman,” Mr. Hamill said.
Mr. Conroy’s popularity with fans made him a sought-after personality on the comic-con circuit. In the often tumultuous world of DC Comics, Mr. Conroy was a mainstay and widely beloved. In a statement, Warner Bros. Animation said Mr. Conroy’s performance “will forever stand among the greatest portrayals of the Dark Knight in any medium.”
“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,” said Paul Dini, producer of the animated show. ”A hero in every sense of the word.”
Born in in Westbury, N.Y., and raised in Westport, Conn., Mr. Conroy started out as well-trained theater actor. He attended Juilliard and roomed with Robin Williams. After graduating, he toured with John Houseman’s acting group, the Acting Company. He performed in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Public Theater and in “Eastern Standard” on Broadway. At the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, he performed in “Hamlet.”
The 1980s production of “Eastern Standard,” in which Mr. Conroy played a TV producer secretly living with AIDS, had particular meaning to him. Mr. Conroy, who was gay, said at the time he was regularly attending funerals for friends who died of AIDS. He poured out his anguish nightly on stage.
In 1980, Mr. Conroy moved to Los Angeles, began acting in soap operas and booked appearances on TV series including “Cheers,” “Tour of Duty” and “Murphy Brown.” In 1991, when casting director Andrea Romano was scouting her lead actor for “Batman: The Animated Series,” she went through hundreds of auditions before Mr. Conroy came in. He was there on a friend’s recommendation — and cast immediately.
Mr. Conroy began the role without any background in comics and as a novice in voice acting. His Batman was husky, brooding and dark.
His Bruce Wayne was light and dashing. His inspiration for the contrasting voices, he said, came from the 1930s film, “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” about an English aristocrat who leads a double life.