Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy dead at 66

Kevin Conroy, a voice actor who played the voice of Batman in multiple animated show has died. He was 66. 

The actor’s publicist says Kevin died Thursday following  a ‘short battle with cancer.’

The news was announced in a statement from the actor’s co-star, Diane Pershing, who provided the voice for Poison Ivy, who wrote ‘Sad news: our beloved voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, died yesterday.’ 

Kevin Conroy who played the voice of Batman has died as age 66

‘He’s been ill for a while but he really put in a lot of time at the cons, to the joy of all of his fans. He will be sorely missed not just by the cast of the series but by his legion of fans all over the world.’

Conroy’s co-stars spoke fondly of their friend in an obituary released by publicist Gary Miereanu. 

Mark Hamill, who played The Joker opposite Conroy’s Batman, honored his friend, saying, ‘Kevin was perfection.’ 

Sad news: The news was announced in a statement from the actor’s co-star, Diane Pershing, who provided the voice for Poison Ivy, who wrote ‘Sad news: our beloved voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, died yesterday’

‘He was one of my favorite people on the planet,’ he continued, ‘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.

The Star Wars star declared his friend was ‘the definitive Batman… the exact right guy for the exact right part,’ adding, ‘He will always be my Batman.’

Kevin Conroy was born in Westbury, New York  November 30, 1955. 

The young actor moved to New York City in 1973, when he began his studies at Julliard, under the tutelage of the legendary John Houseman.

While there he met his roommate, Robin Williams and was in the same group as Kelsey Grammar. 

After touring with his former teacher in The Acting Company, he ventured to Los Angeles, where he landed a job on the daytime drama, Another World.  When not on camera, he remained involved in theater, including the Broadway production of Eastern Standard, portraying TV producer secretly living with AIDS.

Conroy, who was gay, got a groundbreaking role portraying a gay attorney on the Dynasty from 1985-1986. 

The journeyman actor began providing the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman in 1992 in the acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series and continued to play the part in various spinoffs in the DC Universe. 

Conroy continued working to the end. He will next be heard in the animated Relatively Super as Wade Brewster / Eclipse.  The TV movie will examine the lives of the relatives to the world’s greatest superheroes.

He was also cast to provide the voice of Thomas Wayne in the upcoming Batman: The Caped Crusader, which is currently in production.