Kevin Conroy, longtime voice of animated "Batman," dead at 66 - CBS News

Celebrating 80 years of "Batman"

Celebrating 80 years of "Batman" 02:54

Kevin Conroy, 1 of the iconic voices down the DC superhero Batman, has died astatine 66 years old. 

Conroy's passing was confirmed by his representative, Steven Neibert, and successful a connection from Warner Brothers Discovery, which owns DC. According to the Warner Brothers Discovery statement, Conroy passed aft a "short conflict with cancer." 

The histrion voiced the caped crusader successful "Batman: The Animated Series," which aired 85 episodes from 1992 to 1996 and successful respective DC animated movies and video games. In total, helium brought the quality to beingness successful much than 60 projects. 

Kevin Conroy records an occurrence of "Batman: The Animated Series." Warner Brothers Discovery

In 2019, helium performed a live-action mentation of the relation for the archetypal time, appearing connected the CW's tv event "Crisis connected Infinite Earths" arsenic a aboriginal mentation of Bruce Wayne. Conroy besides often appeared astatine instrumentality conventions, "greeting fans with the aforesaid warmth, respect and enthusiasm they reserved for him," Warner Bros. Discovery said. 

Conroy was the archetypal and lone openly cheery histrion to play Batman. In June 2022, Conroy wrote a comic called "Finding Batman" for DC Pride, wherever helium reflected connected his acquisition voicing the quality portion coming to presumption with his sexuality. In a Twitter video shared soon aft the comic was published, Conroy thanked fans for their "overwhelming" support. 

Thank you pic.twitter.com/qEMK2LfAHQ

— Kevin Conroy (@RealKevinConroy) June 8, 2022

Tributes to the histrion poured aft quality of his decease was made public. Mark Hamill, who voiced Batman nemesis The Joker successful "Batman: The Animated Series" issued a heartfelt connection successful the property merchandise calling Conroy "perfection." 

"He was 1 of my favourite radical connected the planet, and I loved him similar a brother," Hamill said, successful the Warner Brothers Discovery statement. "He genuinely cared for the radical astir him – his decency shone done everything helium did. Every clip I saw him oregon spoke with him, my spirits were elevated."

Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill be Fan Expo Canada successful 2016. Isaiah Trickey

"Kevin was a superb actor," Hamill said. "For respective generations, helium has been the definitive Batman. It was 1 of those cleanable scenarios wherever they got the nonstop close feline for the nonstop close part, and the satellite was amended for it. ... He volition ever beryllium my Batman."

In a connection to CBS News, Warner Bros. Animation said they were "saddened" by the nonaccomplishment of their "dear friend." 

"(Conroy's) iconic show of Batman volition everlastingly basal among the top portrayals of the Dark Knight successful immoderate medium," the institution said. "We nonstop our warmest thoughts to his loved ones and articulation fans astir the satellite successful honoring his legacy." 

Paul Dini, the shaper of "Batman: The Animated Series" called Conroy "irreplaceable" and "eternal." 

"Kevin brought a airy with him everywhere, whether successful the signaling booth giving it his all, oregon feeding archetypal responders during 9/11, oregon making definite each instrumentality who ever waited for him had a infinitesimal with their Batman," Dini said successful the connection provided by Warner Brothers Discovery. "A leader successful each consciousness of the word." 

Tara Strong, who voiced Batgirl successful the DC Animated Universe, shared a moving tribute to the histrion connected societal media. 

"There volition ne'er beryllium another," she wrote connected Twitter, alongside a photograph of herself and Conroy. 

I don’t person the words. Not today. My bosom is broken. There volition ne'er beryllium another. He IS #Batman. #RIPLEGEND pic.twitter.com/hJcUVEVeWm

— tara beardown (@tarastrong) November 11, 2022

Troy Baker, different histrion who has voiced Batman successful immoderate video games, thanked Conroy for being a lifelong inspiration. 

His was the best.
He volition ever beryllium the best.
He was my Batman.
He was my friend.

He’ll ne'er afloat cognize however overmuch helium inspired maine but I’m definite gladsome I told him each accidental I got.

Thank you, Kevin.

To sleep, to sleep, perchance to dream…

— Troy Baker (@TroyBakerVA) November 11, 2022

The authoritative Twitter relationship of New York City's Empire State Building shared an representation that showed the Bat-Signal glowing against the building's iconic facade. 

— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) November 11, 2022

While Batman mightiness person been Conroy's astir recognizable work, it was conscionable 1 of galore roles that helium voiced implicit his decades-long career. According to his iMDB filmography, helium voiced roles successful the "Masters of the Universe" bid and brought his Batman show to different cartoons similar "Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?" Conroy was besides a signifier actor. 

Conroy was calved successful Westbury, N.Y. successful November 1955. He went connected to survey acting astatine The Julliard School successful New York City, alongside different icons similar Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams. He is survived by his husband, Vaughn C. Williams, his sister Trisha Conroy and his member Tom Conroy.