Kevin Conroy, the renowned voice actor who voiced Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. the Dark Knight, in Batman: The Animated Series, has passed away at the age of 66. Whether it be through live-action films, video games, or animated projects, Batman is one of the DC icons who has existed outside of the world of comics for decades. Conroy has held the distinction of having portrayed Batman the longest for 30 years ever since he appeared in Batman: The Animated Series, despite the fact that a number of talented voice actors have brought the Caped Crusader to life in numerous animated TV shows and films.
Conroy, however, tragically passed away at the age of 66, and the world has lost a legend. Batman: The Animated Series villain Poison Ivy’s voice actress, Diane Pershing, confirmed on her Social media page that the actor passed away on November 10 after a protracted illness. Conroy’s passing has also been confirmed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, which issued the following statements from producer Paul Dini, longtime friend and co-star Mark Hamill, who provided the voice of The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, and casting director Andrea Romano:
ANDREA ROMANO: “Kevin was far more than an actor whom I had the pleasure of casting and directing – he was a dear friend for 30+ years whose kindness and generous spirit knew no boundaries.”
MARK HAMILL: “Kevin’s warm heart, delightfully deep laugh and pure love of life will be with me forever. Kevin was perfection. He was one of my favorite people on the planet, 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. Kevin was a brilliant actor. For several generations, he has been the definitive Batman. It was one of those perfect scenarios where they got the exact right guy for the exact right part, and the world was better for it. His rhythms and subtleties, tones and delivery – that all also helped inform my performance. He was the ideal partner – it was such a complementary, creative experience. I couldn’t have done it without him. He will always be my Batman.”
PAUL DINI: “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. A hero in every sense of the word. Irreplaceable. Eternal.”
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Source: Diane Pershing/Warner Bros.