Kevin Conroy, a defining voice of Batman, dies at 66 - The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Conroy, the prolific dependable histrion whose gravely transportation connected “Batman: The Animated Series” was for galore Batman fans the definitive dependable of the Caped Crusader, has died astatine 66.

Conroy died Thursday aft a conflict with cancer, bid shaper Warner Bros. announced Friday.

Conroy was the dependable of Batman connected the acclaimed animated bid that ran from 1992-1996, often acting other Mark Hamill’s Joker. Conroy continued connected arsenic the astir exclusive animated dependable of Batman, including immoderate 15 films, 400 episodes of tv and 2 twelve video games, including the “Batman: Arkham” and “Injustice” franchises.

In the eight-decade past of Batman, nary 1 played the Dark Knight more.

“For respective generations, helium has been the definitive Batman,” Hamill successful a statement. “It was 1 of those cleanable scenarios wherever they got the nonstop close feline for the close part, and the satellite was amended for it.”

“He volition ever beryllium my Batman,” Hamill said.

Conroy’s popularity with fans made him a sought-after property connected the normal circuit. In the often tumultuous satellite of DC Comics, Conroy was a mainstay and wide beloved. In a statement, Warner Bros. Animation said Conroy’s show “will everlastingly basal among the top portrayals of the Dark Knight successful immoderate medium.”

“Kevin brought a airy with him everywhere, whether successful the signaling booth giving it his each oregon feeding first-responders during 9/11 oregon making definite each instrumentality who ever waited for him had a infinitesimal with their Batman,” said Paul Dini, shaper of the animated show. ”A leader successful each consciousness of the word.”

Born successful in Westbury, New York, and raised successful Westport, Connecticut, Conroy started retired arsenic well-trained theatre actor. He attended Juilliard and roomed with Robin Williams. After graduating, helium toured with John Houseman’s acting group, the Acting Company. He performed successful “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” astatine the Public Theater and successful “Eastern Standard” connected Broadway. At the Old Globe Theatre successful San Diego, California, helium performed successful “Hamlet.”

The 1980s accumulation of “Eastern Standard,” successful which Conroy played a TV shaper secretly surviving with AIDS, had peculiar meaning to him. Conroy, who was gay, said astatine the clip helium was regularly attending funerals for friends who died of AIDS. He poured retired his anguish nightly connected stage.

In 1980, Conroy moved to Los Angeles, began acting successful soap operas and booked appearances connected TV bid including “Cheers,” “Tour of Duty” and “Murphy Brown.” In 1991, erstwhile casting manager Andrea Romano was scouting her pb histrion for “Batman: The Animated Series,” she went done hundreds of auditions earlier Conroy came in. He was determination connected a friend’s proposal — and formed immediately.

Conroy began the relation without immoderate inheritance successful comics and arsenic a novice successful dependable acting. His Batman was husky, brooding and dark. His Bruce Wayne was airy and dashing. His inspiration for the contrasting voices, helium said, came from the 1930s film, “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” astir an English aristocrat who leads a treble life.

“It’s truthful overmuch amusive arsenic an histrion to descend your teeth into,” Conroy told The New York Times successful 2016. “Calling it animation doesn’t bash it justice. It’s much similar mythology.”

As Conroy’s show evolved implicit the years, it sometimes connected to his ain life. Conroy described his ain begetter arsenic an alcoholic and said his household disintegrated portion helium was successful precocious school. He channeled those emotions into the 1993 animated movie “Mask of the Phantasm,” which revolved astir Bruce Wayne’s unsettled issues with his parents.

“Andrea came successful aft the signaling and grabbed maine successful a hug,” Conroy told The Hollywood Reporter successful 2018. “Andrea said, ‘I don’t cognize wherever you went, but it was a beauteous performance.’ She knew I was drafting connected something.”

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

In “Finding Batman,” released earlier this year, Conroy penned a comic astir his improbable travel with the quality and arsenic a cheery antheral successful Hollywood.

“I’ve often marveled arsenic however due it was that I should onshore this role,” helium wrote. “As a cheery lad increasing up successful the 1950s and ’60s successful a devoutly Catholic family, I’d grown adept astatine concealing parts of myself.”

The dependable that emerged from Conroy for Batman, helium said, was 1 helium didn’t admit — a dependable that “seemed to roar from 30 years of frustration, confusion, denial, love, yearning.”

“I felt Batman rising from heavy within.”