Kevin Conroy

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Distinguish Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Kevin Conroy (November 30, 1955 – November 10, 2022) was an American actor. He appeared in a variety of stage performances, television series, and television films. Conroy earned fame for voicing the DC Comics superhero Batman in various animated media, beginning with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Conroy went on to voice the character for dozens of animated television series, feature films, and video games over the next three decades.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Early life

Kevin Conroy was born on November 30, 1955, in Westbury, New York,<ref name="Voice">Template:Cite web</ref> into an Irish Catholic family. He moved to Westport, Connecticut, when he was about 11 years old. He had three older siblings.<ref name="nyt-conroy">Template:Cite news</ref> Conroy held dual American and Irish citizenship.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>

Due to the tumultuous environment in his home, Conroy lived with a family friend during his last year of high school. Conroy's father was an alcoholic and once attempted suicide while Conroy was in high school.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In adulthood, Conroy was estranged from his father for many years but they reconciled shortly before his death. He was at both his mother's side and his father's side when they died.<ref name=Rosenbaum>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Primary source inline

Conroy moved to New York City in 1973 when he earned a full scholarship to attend the Juilliard School's drama division, studying under actor/director John Houseman. While there, he roomed with Robin Williams, who was in the same group as both Conroy and Kelsey Grammer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After graduating from Juilliard in 1978, he toured with Houseman's performing group The Acting Company, and the following year he went on the national tour of Ira Levin's Deathtrap.<ref name="Murphy">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nyt-conroy"/> Conroy and his co-star Brian Bedford did not get along, and got into an on-stage brawl during the opening night performance of Deathtrap at the Kennedy Center.<ref name=Rosenbaum />

Career

Theatre

In 1980, after playing the role of Jerry Grove in the New York City-based daytime soap opera Another World, Conroy moved out to California to pursue further work in television. Conroy became associated with the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, where he performed in productions of Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream. From 1980 to 1985, he acted in a variety of contemporary and classic theatre pieces, including the Broadway productions of Edward Albee's adaptation of Lolita and Eastern Standard. He told The New York Times that, as a gay man living in New York City in the time of the AIDS epidemic, he "went to so many funerals that [he] felt such a sense of obligation" to portray the character of a TV producer secretly living with AIDS in Eastern Standard.<ref name="nyt-conroy"/>

Film and television

Conroy returned to television in the 1985 TV film Covenant and had a role on another daytime soap drama, Search for Tomorrow. Conroy played gay lawyer Bart Fallmont on Dynasty from 1985 to 1986.<ref name="PT Closet 273">Template:Cite book</ref> He was a series regular on Ohara in 1987, and as the company commander on Tour of Duty from 1987 to 1988, before starring in a series of television films. Though initially cast as one of the show's main characters, his role on the show was reduced while it filmed in Hawaii and he ended up spending much of his time making portraits of tourists on the Honolulu boardwalk. Conroy also guest starred on shows such as Cheers, Search for Tomorrow, Matlock and Murphy Brown.<ref name="der" />

Voice acting

File:Kevin Conroy by Gage Skidmore.jpg

Conroy speaking at the 2017 Phoenix Comicon

As a voice actor, Conroy is known for his starring role in Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="greatestcartoons">Template:Cite web</ref> He was notably the first voice actor to alter his voice tone between portraying Batman and Bruce Wayne, which Michael Keaton had previously done in Tim Burton's live-action Batman films.<ref name="Murphy"/> However, Conroy based his dual-voice performance on Leslie Howard in the 1934 film The Scarlet Pimpernel.<ref name="HR25">Template:Cite magazine</ref> He continued to voice Batman in various animated spin-off productions, which collectively took place in what is known as the DC Animated Universe (DCAU). These spin-offs include the TV shows The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999), Batman Beyond (1999–2001, in which he portrays an elderly Bruce Wayne retired from crimefighting), Justice League (2001–2004), and Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006), as well as the theatrical film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the direct-to-video films Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998), Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000), and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003). He also voiced the DCAU Batman for guest appearances in Superman: The Animated Series, Static Shock and The Zeta Project.<ref name="btva"/>

Conroy went on to voice Batman in the direct-to-video DC Universe Animated Original Movies: Batman: Gotham Knight (2008), Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009), Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010), Justice League: Doom (2012), Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013), Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014), Batman: The Killing Joke (2016), Batman and Harley Quinn (2017), and Justice League vs. the Fatal Five (2019).<ref name="der">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He later returned to voicing Batman on TV for the animated series Justice League Action (2016–2018),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> along with guest appearances on Teen Titans Go! and Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?. In a tally of the actor's performances that include his every episode and film portrayal of Batman, Conroy portrayed the character longer than any other actor in live-action and animation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The previous record-holder was Olan Soule, who voiced Batman in various animated works between the late 1960s and early 1980s (including Super Friends).

After the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City, Conroy participated in relief efforts by volunteering to cook for people. During an audio commentary on Batman: Gotham Knight, Conroy expressed his surprise at the reaction of the emergency service workers to his presence. At the behest of another cook, Conroy called out from the kitchen to the dining area in his "Batman voice", reciting the iconic line, "I am vengeance! I am the night! I am Batman!" (from the BTAS episode "Nothing to Fear"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>). This was greeted by cheers and applause from emergency service personnel, many of whom had been fans of Batman: The Animated Series during its airing in the 1990s. Conroy confessed to being humbled and deeply flattered by the reaction.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

File:5.19.19BatmanPanelByLuigiNovi22.jpg

Conroy, at right, did a table read with the voice cast and crew of Batman: The Animated Series at the 2019 East Coast Comicon in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Conroy also voiced Batman for multiple video games, including the Batman: Arkham series. Following the release of Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) and Batman: Arkham City (2011), he stated at the 2013 Dallas Comic Con that he had been working on "the next Arkham", leading to rampant speculation that he would reprise his role in Batman: Arkham Origins. In June 2013, however, it was confirmed that Conroy would not be involved in Arkham Origins (Batman was instead voiced by Roger Craig Smith in that game), meaning Conroy may have been referring to a yet-unannounced game from the Arkham series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He would ultimately reprise the role for the fourth game in the series, titled Batman: Arkham Knight (2015).<ref name="Dyer">Template:Cite web</ref>

In October 2013, Conroy appeared on Tim Daly's web series The Daly Show,<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> parodying his role as Batman, with Daly reprising the role of Superman from Superman: The Animated Series.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

Conroy portrayed Bruce Wayne of Earth-99 in live-action in the Arrowverse crossover "Crisis on Infinite Earths". This was his only live-action portrayal of the character.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mark Hamill, Conroy's frequent voice actor co-star as the Joker, spoke highly of working with him. Regarding his willingness to be involved in a Batman-related project, Hamill said, "When they offer me roles now, I say, 'Is Kevin doing it?' ... I don't even have to read the script, if Kevin's doing it, I'll do it."<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> In 2023, following Conroy's death, Hamill stated he would no longer voice the Joker, citing his Joker quote "Without Batman, crime has no punchline".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2024, his final time voicing the character were in the spin-off title to the Arkham series, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and a brief cameo in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three.<ref name="IGN">Template:Cite web</ref> The following year, Conroy was revealed to have a posthumous role in the Devil May Cry anime series as Vice President William Baines.<ref name="Cast">Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

In a 2016 interview with The New York Times promoting the animated adaptation of Batman: The Killing Joke, Kevin Conroy revealed that he was gay.<ref name="nyt-conroy"/> As part of DC Comics' 2022 Pride anthology, Conroy wrote "Finding Batman", a story that recounted his life and experiences as a gay man. It received critical acclaim upon release,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and posthumously won Conroy the 2023 Eisner Award for Best Short Story.

He was married to Vaughn C. Williams at the time of his death.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Conroy made an effort to conceal his homosexuality throughout most of his career. He spoke in "Finding Batman" about the discrimination he faced once potential collaborators and employers discovered his homosexuality. Conroy said that on multiple occasions he had been removed from consideration for acting jobs due to his sexual orientation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Conroy made frequent appearances at comic book conventions; his last convention was in Connecticut in July 2022.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>

Death

Conroy died at Mount Sinai Hospital<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in New York City on November 10, 2022, at age 66, of intestinal cancer.<ref name="NYT-Obit">Template:Cite news</ref> Upon news of his death, DC Comics gave free online access to "Finding Batman" as a way to honor Conroy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Finding Batman" went on to win the 2023 Eisner Award for Best Short Story.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His co-stars, including Mark Hamill,<ref name="Collider">Template:Cite web</ref> Tim Daly,<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> Tara Strong,<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> and numerous other figures paid tribute to Conroy on social media.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	Chain of Desire	Joe	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1993	Batman: Mask of the Phantasm	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Voice<ref name="btva"/>
1998	Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero		Voice, direct-to-video<ref name="btva"/>
2000	Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
2003	Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
2005	The Complete Robin Storyboard Sequence
2008	Batman: Gotham Knight
2009	Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
2010	Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
2012	Justice League: Doom
2013	Jay & Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie!	The Mayor of Red Bank	Voice<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref>
	Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Voice, direct-to-video<ref name="btva"/>
	Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics	Himself<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Documentary
	I Know That Voice
2014	Russian Yeti: The Killer Lives	Narrator	Voice, documentary<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Alfred	Alfred	Short film
	Batman: Assault on Arkham	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Voice, direct-to-video<ref name="btva"/>
2015	Batman vs. Robin	Thomas Wayne	Voice, direct-to-video<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2016	Batman: The Killing Joke	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Voice, limited theatrical release<ref name="btva"/>
	Yoga Hosers	Canadian Bat, Man!	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2017	Batman and Harley Quinn	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Voice, direct-to-video<ref name="btva"/>
2019	Justice League vs. the Fatal Five
2024	Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three	Bruce Wayne / Batman (Earth 12)	Voice, direct-to-video; Posthumous release; dedicated in memory

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1978	How to Pick Up Girls!	Bartender	Television film<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1980	Another World	Jerry Grove	Recurring role<ref name="auto3">Template:Cite web</ref>
1982	Born Beautiful	Stan<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Television film
	A Midsummer Night's Dream	Lysander<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1983	A Fine Romance	Phil<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Kennedy	Ted Kennedy	Miniseries<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1984	George Washington	John Laurens	1 episode<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1984–1985	Search for Tomorrow	Chase Kendall	79 episodes<ref name="auto3"/>
1985	Covenant	Stephen	Television film<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1985–1986	Dynasty	Bart Fallmont	Recurring role; season 6<ref name="auto1"/>
1986	Matlock	Clark Harrison	Episode: "The Affair"<ref name="auto1"/>
	Kay O'Brien	David	Episode: "Princess of the City"
	Spenser: For Hire	Gallagher	Episode: "Shadowsight"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1987	Ohara	Captain Lloyd Hamilton	Main role; season 1<ref name="auto1"/>
1987–1988	Tour of Duty	Captain Rusty Wallace	Recurring role; season 1<ref name="auto1"/>
1988	Killer Instinct	Dr. Steven Nelson	Television film<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1990	So Proudly We Hail	Francis Crosby	Television film<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1989–1990	Cheers	Darryl Mead	2 episodes<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>
1990	The Face of Fear	Frank Dwight Bollinger	Television film<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite web</ref>
	WIOU	Lenny Lubinsky	Episode: "Pilot"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1991	Murphy Brown	Roger Harris	Episode: "Terror on the 17th Floor"<ref name="auto"/>
	Hi Honey – I'm Dead	Brad Stadler	Television film<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1992	Rachel Gunn, R.N.	Dr. David Dunkle	Main role<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	The Secret Passion of Robert Clayton	Hunter Roy Evans	Television film<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
	Battle in the Erogenous Zone	Mondo Ray	Television short<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1992–1995	Batman: The Animated Series	Bruce Wayne / Batman, additional voices	Main voice role<ref name="btva">Template:Cite web</ref>
1994	Island City	Colonel Tom Valdoon	Television film<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1994	The New Adventures of Captain Planet	Army Corps of Engineers Official	Voice, episode: "Jail House Flock"<ref name="auto"/>
1995	The Office	Steve Gilman	Main role<ref name="auto2"/>
1996	The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest	Hardman	Voice, episode: "Manhattan Maneater"<ref name="auto"/>
1997–1999	The New Batman Adventures	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Main voice role<ref name="btva"/>
	Superman: The Animated Series		Voice, recurring role<ref name="btva"/>
1999–2001	Batman Beyond	Bruce Wayne / Batman, Stage Batman	Main voice role<ref name="btva"/>
2001	The Zeta Project	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Voice, episode: "Shadows"<ref name="btva"/>
2001–2004	Justice League	Bruce Wayne / Batman, additional voices	Voice, main role<ref name="btva"/>
2002–2004	Static Shock	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Voice, 5 episodes<ref name="btva"/>
2004–2006	Justice League Unlimited	Bruce Wayne / Batman, Joe Chill	Main voice role<ref name="btva"/>
2006	The Batman	John Grayson	Voice, episode: "A Matter of Family"<ref name="btva"/>
2008	Ben 10: Alien Force	Bellicus	Voice, episode: "X = Ben + 2"<ref name="btva"/>
2009, 2013	The Venture Bros.	Captain Sunshine	Voice, 2 episodes<ref name="auto"/>
2010	Batman: The Brave and the Bold	Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, Phantom Stranger	Voice, 2 episodes<ref name="btva"/>
2013	DC Nation Shorts: Tales of Metropolis	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Voice, episode: "Lois Lane"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2014	DC Nation Shorts: Batman Beyond		Voice, television short<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	DC Nation Shorts: Batman: Strange Days		Voice, television short<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	DC Nation Shorts: Shazam!	Zeus	Voice, episode: "Wisdom"<ref name="btva" />
2015	Turbo Fast	Stinger	Voice, episode: "The Sting of Injustice"<ref name="btva"/>
2016–2018	Justice League Action	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Main voice role<ref name="btva"/>
2018	Teen Titans Go!		Voice, episode: "Real Orangins"<ref name="btva"/>
2019	Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?		Voice, episode: "What a Night, For a Dark Knight!"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Welcome to the Wayne	Prismal	Voice, 7 episodes<ref name="btva"/>
	Batwoman	Bruce Wayne (Earth-99)	Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two";<ref name="Batwoman">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Final on-screen role
	Crisis Aftermath	Himself	Guest;<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Final appearance
2021	Masters of the Universe: Revelation	Mer-Man	Voice, episode: "The Most Dangerous Man in Eternia"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2022	He-Man and the Masters of the Universe	Hordak	Voice, episode: "The End of the Beginning (Part 2)"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025	Devil May Cry	VP William Baines, Various voices	Voice; posthumous release<ref name="Cast"/><ref name="btva"/>

Video games

Year	Title	Voice role	Notes
1994	The Adventures of Batman & Robin	Bruce Wayne / Batman	Sega CD version<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1999	Crusaders of Might and Magic	Drake	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2001	Batman: Vengeance	Bruce Wayne / Batman	<ref name="btva"/>
	Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy	Fisherman	<ref name="btva"/>
2003	Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne	Lord Jack, Cleaner, Commando	<ref name="auto1"/>
	Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu	Bruce Wayne / Batman	<ref name="btva"/>
	Lords of EverQuest	Lord Palasa	<ref name="auto1"/>
2009	Batman: Arkham Asylum	Bruce Wayne / Batman, Thomas Wayne	<ref name="btva"/>
2011	DC Universe Online	Bruce Wayne / Batman	<ref name="btva"/>
	Batman: Arkham City	Bruce Wayne / Batman, Thomas Elliot / Hush	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Batman: Arkham City Lockdown	Bruce Wayne / Batman	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013	Injustice: Gods Among Us		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2015	Infinite Crisis		<ref>Template:Cite video game</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Batman: Arkham Knight	Bruce Wayne / Batman, Thomas Elliot / Hush	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2016	Batman: Arkham Underworld	Bruce Wayne / Batman	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	View-Master Batman Animated VR		<ref name="btva"/>
	Batman: Arkham VR	Bruce Wayne / Batman, Thomas Wayne	<ref name="btva"/>
2017	Injustice 2	Bruce Wayne / Batman	<ref name="btva"/>
2018	Lego DC Super-Villains		<ref name="btva"/>
2022	Hard West II	'Old Man' Bill	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2022	MultiVersus	Bruce Wayne / Batman	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2024	Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League		Posthumous release; dedicated in memory<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Web

Year	Title	Role	Notes
Template:TableTBA	Ollie & Scoops	The Creature (voice)	Posthumous release

Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1980	Hamlet	Performer	Old Globe Theatre<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1981	Lolita		Broadway<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1982	A Midsummer Night's Dream		Old Globe Theatre<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1989	Eastern Standard	Peter Kidde	Broadway<ref name="NYT-Obit" />

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Template:Abbr
2001	Annie Award	Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Television Production	Batman Beyond, "Out of the Past"	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2012	Behind the Voice Actors Awards	Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game	Batman Arkham City	Template:Won	<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
2013		Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short	Justice League: Doom	Template:Won
		Best Male Vocal Performance in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short		Template:Won
2014		Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game	Injustice: Gods Among Us	Template:Won
2015		Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short	Batman: Assault on Arkham	Template:Won
	Play Legit's Best	Best Actor	Batman: Arkham Knight	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2017	Behind the Voice Actors Awards	Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short	Batman: The Killing Joke	Template:Won	<ref name=":0" />
2018	Behind the Voice Actors Awards	Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series	Justice League Action	Template:Nom
		Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short	Batman and Harley Quinn	Template:Nom
2023	Eisner Awards	Eisner Award for Best Short Story	DC Pride, "Finding Batman"	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

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