Till next time, Master Wayne
It has been devastating news to learn that Kevin Conroy passed away at age 66 on November 10. Conroy has earned legendary status among comic book fans for voicing Batman/Bruce Wayne in multiple animated shows, movies, and video games. His career began with the ’90s cult classic TV show Batman: The Animated Series.
Kevin Conroy: Death and Legacy
News of Kevin Conroy spread on Facebook initially after Diane Pershing, a voice actor in Batman: The Animated Series, shared a tribute, saying an emotional farewell to the best voice actor that the Dark Knight received. Pershing added that Conroy has been ill for a while, but he still made time to attend numerous conventions to please the fans. DC soon confirmed the news in an official obituary.
It was thanks to Kevin Conroy that the mythos of Batman became even more popular. The animated series is still one of the best pieces of Batman fans have received, and continues to be dearly remembered. Conroy went on to voice him in 1993’s Batman: Mask of the Phantasm to 2019’s Justice League vs. the Fatal Five. He was also present to voice the older Bruce Wayne in the spiritual successor of Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond.
Conroy was also the voice for Batman in the hugely-successful Batman: Arkham video game franchise by Rocksteady, as well as the Injustice fighting games by NetherRealm Studios. The Arkham games are considered the greatest comic book games ever made. Conroy even appeared as a live-action Bruce Wayne in CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths.
End of an Era
It will be hard to imagine Batman without the voice of Kevin Conroy, especially for those who grew up watching the animated show and playing the games. It can be hard to dissociate an actor from the character, and Conroy was that for Batman. He will be sorely missed.