Kevin Conroy, the definitive voice of Batman in animation and gaming, dies at 66 - NBC News

Kevin Conroy, the iconic dependable of Batman, died Thursday soon aft being diagnosed with cancer, according to his representatives.

He was 66.

Conroy’s heavy and raspy dependable changeable him to stardom arsenic the rubric quality successful "Batman: The Animated Series," which ran from 1992 to 1996, according to a connection provided by his spokesperson.

He became the quintessential dependable of the superhero successful astir 60 antithetic productions and video games, including 15 films, highlighted by "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm."

"Warner Bros. Animation is saddened by the nonaccomplishment of our beloved person Kevin Conroy," the workplace said successful a statement. "His iconic show of Batman volition everlastingly basal among the top portrayals of the Dark Knight successful immoderate medium. We nonstop our warmest thoughts to his loved ones and articulation fans astir the satellite successful honoring his legacy."

Although helium voiced a rugged leader connected the tiny and large screens, extracurricular of enactment helium was known arsenic a gentle and benignant soul. Conroy was a fixture connected the normal circuit, wherever helium showed arsenic overmuch respect, enthusiasm and gratitude for his service of fans arsenic they showed him.

Emmy-winning casting and dialog manager Andrea Romano said her relationship with him spanned decades.

“Kevin was acold much than an histrion whom I had the pleasance of casting and directing — helium was a beloved person for 30+ years whose kindness and generous tone knew nary boundaries,” Romano said successful the connection of his passing. “Kevin’s lukewarm heart, delightfully heavy laughter and axenic emotion of beingness volition beryllium with maine forever.”

Mark Hamill, who voiced the Joker other Conroy’s Batman successful aggregate projects, called him “perfection.”

“He was 1 of my favourite radical connected the planet, and I loved him similar a brother,” Hamill said. “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 was a superb actor,” Hamill added. “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. His rhythms and subtleties, tones and transportation — that each besides helped pass my performance. He was the perfect spouse — it was specified a complementary, originative experience."

"I couldn’t person done it without him. He volition ever beryllium my Batman.”

Conroy was calved connected Nov. 30, 1955, successful Westbury, New York, and raised successful Westport, Connecticut. He studied astatine the prestigious Juilliard School successful New York City alongside heralded actors similar Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams.

He performed theatrically successful New York and astatine the Old Globe Theatre successful San Diego. Conroy received praise from critics for his performances successful “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” astatine the Public Theater, “Eastern Standard” connected Broadway and the rubric relation of Hamlet astatine the 1984 New York Shakespeare Festival.

Conroy besides had impermanent roles connected fashionable TV bid specified arsenic “Cheers,” “Murphy Brown” and “Matlock.”

Conroy is survived by his hubby Vaughn C. Williams, sister Trisha Conroy, and member Tom Conroy. Memorial services are pending.