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Same here. He was my first Batman. Whenever I read the comic books, I (usually) hear his voice.
My favorite Batman film...
I have the Arkham Knight Steel Book, I recently bought Arkham Origins on STEAM alas Kevin did not voice that game. I have heard just moments ago he was fighting cancer for some time, very sad loss.
RIP Caped Crusader & say hello to mr West :(
RIP
Timeless, TAS had some incredibly profound episodes.
Kevin Conroy has an incredible legacy to be celebrated.
He was a uniquely beautiful soul. This is too soon, guys. I'm not taking this very well.
Here are some words from Mark Hamill:
"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."
Kevin Conroy has been omnipresent for 30 years of our lives its totally understandable I cried earlier, his take on Batman helped me through some difficult times and I will always be grateful.
I suffered a dark period in my life in the mid 2010's. It is no surprise that I rewatched TAS three times in a row and listened to Kevin Smith's Fatman On Batman podcast continuously. Conroy's Batman had always had a soothing, inspiring, encouraging effect on me, but then specifically, his words fueled me with hope and gave me the energy to push through. I literally wouldn't now be married to a beautiful, kind and caring wife who has just given me a lovely son if I hadn't found the will to fight when everything in life seemed to be turning against me. It was Kevin Conroy, both as a wonderful human being and an amazing Batman, who showed me the light. He means more to me than words can describe. Therefore, when we had the chance to talk, I said thank you to this great man.
Good people have a positive effect on us, its very difficult to come to terms with when they pass. I am still in shock myself though I always think celebrate the life and really appreciate the strong messages.
I listened to Fatman on Batman from the start, I tried to find the early podcasts to set up a link to Kevin Conroy's first interview #11 though you need membership to listen now. I recall Conroy saying he studied at Juilliard with Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams.
Everything works here. Timm's and Dini's writing and designs; Hamill, Zimbalist Jr. and Conroy; Shirley Walker... Suck an amazing Batman film! One of the very best.
Every time I watch this film I am overwhelmed, its honest and it resonates on a deep emotional level for me.
TAS has some incredible episodes Heart of Ice for example though Mask of the Phantasm is my favorite Batman film bar none including live action.
I have a distinct love for Mad Love, but I can certainly agree with everything you say. Although I think I rate THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS adaptation as high as MOTP.
The Dark Knight Returns parts one and two is incredible, I think nostalgia and emotional resonance puts MOTP above it for me.
-Arkham Asylum (he’s great in all the Arkham games, but this one, along with Hamill, I felt was their best and most energetic game performances)
-Mask of the Phantasm (he was also great in all his movies, but this is the biggest highlight, with some terrific dramatic beats along with the usual cool stuff)
-Batman Beyond: Out of the Past (Conroy’s older Bruce in Batman Beyond is fantastic, and I’d single out this episode as his most epic performance, particularly when he angrily calls out the Lazarus Pit as a “cheat”)
-BTAS ROUND:
1. Nothing to Fear (if nothing else than for the famous “I am the night” monologue. But also a great showcase of his deep rooted fears, guilt, inner turmoil)
2. The Forgotten (really unique episode where Conroy has to do a lot of different things, and he excels at them all, including a great miniature Joker performance even!)
3. Heart of Ice (obviously Mr. Freeze and his story is the main event, but how Bruce learns and takes it all in is key and adds to the dramatic flavor, especially his epic embittered line to Boyle “goodnight… humanitarian”)
4. Beware the Gray Ghost (posted a clip above, seeing Bruce having had his own hero like Batman is really cool. His initial disappointment with meeting his hero through reconciliation and teamwork is so emotional and cool)
5. Perchance to Dream (would be remiss to omit this lovely dramatic piece. Bruce’s confusion and anger is beautifully channeled through Conroy throughout, and because the Mad Hatter is one of my all time favorite villains, it’s just especially delightful to see all the interactions)
6. If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich? (maybe a bit of an oddball inclusion, but I just particularly love how Conroy is as Batman in all the Riddler episodes, most of all the Riddler’s debut. He plays off the green-suited baddie and Robin well in them)
7. I Am the Night (speaks for itself really. The devastation, brokenness, but ultimate redemption and heroism make this one unforgettable)
Could include more for sure, but just right now from memory and glancing at his material, these stand out most to me!
If I'm not mistaken, Christopher Reeve attended Julliard at around the same time and befriended Williams. So Robin Williams was friends with both Batman and Superman. Sadly, all three are now no longer with us.
That's true I mentioned it earlier. Quite a trinity of talent from that era. The greatest Batman and Superman.
I haven’t been this gutted since the deaths of Rik Mayall, Sean Connery, Robin Williams and Lemmy Kilmister.
He was vengeance, he was the night, he was Batman.
Troy Baker, who’s voiced both Batman and Joker in recent years, said the following on Instagram.
"The kindest. Gentlest. He wasn’t just the voice. He embodied it. He walked it on screen and off. His laugh was infectious. He was warm and engaging. Humble. He was a story teller and I never passed an opportunity to listen. It’s what I will miss most. I can watch episodes and play games. But what saddens me is knowing I can’t just talk to him. Share a moment in the green room with him. Bug him with questions. Trade recommendations of favourite places to travel. I’m so grateful for you, Kevin. For your inspiration, for the indelible fingerprint on this iconic character. The shadow you cast will long remain."
😭
Maybe that's foe the controversial thread, but I think he's the only one who did Batman voice just right.
It says a lot about a man, and the quality of his work, that when he dies people from all backgrounds, races, life experiences and creeds can come together and share about how he gave them hope, allowed them to deal with grief, encouraged them to find their purpose, and simply inspired them to be better than they were yesterday. Kevin Conroy was that to millions, and will remain as such long after his death.
It's not ridiculous to say that Kevin's voice wasn't just the voice of Batman, it was the voice of my childhood, as it was for millions of other kids in their nascent days. It was his incarnation of Batman that got me hooked on the character more than anything else, and that still stands today as not just my favorite version, but the one that feels the most complete and perfect out of any I've ever seen regardless of medium. His Batman had it all: the dark and brooding presence, the unrelenting and steadfast determination to bring justice, the impossibly brilliant mind that always had a solution, the broken and tormented man that never truly grew up, and most important of all, the big heart hiding underneath all that shadow. It was a joy to grow up watching the animated series, then Superman and Batman Beyond, then Justice League and onward, as Kevin continued to shine as a character he felt destined to play.
It was a real treat that, even as a growing teenager, I was able to once again experience the majesty of Kevin’s Batman in video game form through the many Batman Arkham games he worked on that most notably reunited him with the equally brilliant Mark Hamill, who suited his role of the Joker in the same manner that Conroy did the Dark Knight. While it was enough of a thrill to watch Kevin play Batman in his shows and movies, being able to truly become Batman as he voiced the character was a feeling unlike any I could have expected. It was as if he was sharing all the magic of his Batman performance with me, allowing me to take control of the figure he’d given such life to throughout his career. He and I felt like a crime fighting team, standing together to dole out justice. All my memories of watching his work as a child flooded back as I played the games, and collided with the reality of who I was as a growing teenager. It seemed like no matter how old I got or how much time had passed, Kevin always found a way to enrich my life with his talent and give me something to be passionate and excited about.
It was inspiring to watch Kevin's incarnation of Batman throughout my life, as there were always lessons for me to learn from his work as the character no matter where I found myself. As a kid, I witnessed how pain could be used to inspire and uplift others, that you didn't have to wallow in darkness and use that negativity to harness endless positives. I learned that you didn't have to have powers to be extraordinary, or to help people in meaningful ways. Despite being just a man, Kevin's Batman always shined even amongst gods like Superman or Wonder Woman because he exemplified the lengths to which humanity can be pushed, even past the limits of our own personal conception of boundaries. As an adult now, it’s impossible to deny that his Batman also serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder to not become so focused on your career and your life goals, your "mission," that you isolate yourself and lose contact with the people that give life its meaning. At the end of his life, Kevin's Batman is largely alone, but in that tragedy is the truth of what he achieved: justice in his own time and a legacy that is unshakable. It was special that Kevin could exemplify all the greatness that made Batman admirable, but could also embody his less attractive and destructive traits that made him as flawed as all of us. These elements together not just made him fully formed and utterly dimensional, but also made him feel more human than even any live action incarnation of Batman has ever been. For all those reasons and more, it was easy to grow attached to him.
It was the ultimate synchronization in time that the best writers for Batman and the best voice for him all collided at the perfect time, to give us an unforgettable portrayal of this character that spanned decades and that will continue to stand the test of time. Call it the perfect storm, a stroke of luck, lightning in a bottle…call it whatever you please, but Kevin Conroy as Batman was whatever that intangible magic is. As I look back and reflect on the prolific work he did as this character in every form of entertainment imaginable, it is impossible to deny the insane level of impact he was able to have, and I think that is in no small part to how he was always able to ground the character in relatable circumstances. His Batman was raw, human, tragically fallible. One of us. It was also due to how incredibly unique his tenure as the character was, as he had an opportunity no other performer has gotten before or since.
Unlike any other Batman, we got to see Kevin's Batman grow up from boy to old man, and face every kind of challenge imaginable. Because of this, and because of Kevin's talent, his Bruce felt like an old friend, as we were treated to such an intimate and personal view into his life and mind. The character truly leapt off the screen, propelled by that unmistakable voice. It was Kevin's ability to be everything Batman needs to be that makes him the best to ever do it, the voice to end all voices. He could be menacing and terrifying, but in a second he could also be the most compassionate and humanizing figure, a shoulder to lean on. He portrayed the war of personalities that is Bruce Wayne better than any before or since, because as an old school actor of the theater he understood the duality of the man, and how he needed to be different things to different people. As Bruce, he had to be what everyone thought he was: an aloof, easy going playboy. And as Batman, he needed to be whatever Gotham required: the selfless, determined and unflinching man you wouldn't expect the city's elite prince to be. It was no wonder he excelled so well in the role, because he so fundamentally understood the nature of the character and what made him tick. His voice, a tone that seemed to ring for miles due to its firm and commanding presence, as if it was made up of matter itself, was just the cherry on top of the cake.
For three decades Kevin left his mark as the Caped Crusader, in shows, movies and even video games. His work as Batman adapted to the way the world was changing, and in every new decade and era of entertainment, for all that changed his talent never did, as he remained the Batman to end all Batmans no matter the circumstances. It's rare to find an actor that so fully encompasses a character that you can barely stand to see anyone else play them, but Kevin was that for Batman. And sure enough, just like it felt James Bond had died once Sean Connery had passed, in this moment it feels as if Batman has died alongside Kevin. Whenever I'd hear a new actor voicing Batman no matter the medium, without fail and without any intended disrespect to the performer, I couldn't help but think, "why couldn't they have just gotten Kevin to do this?" He simply was the best, and Batman didn’t feel himself without his voice booming beyond the cowl. I haven't fully come to terms with the reality that I can't say this anymore, and that I won't ever hear Kevin play Batman ever again in a new project. My greatest comfort is knowing that all his magnificent work is easily accessible everywhere, never far away. And thank the heavens for it.
However, for all his iconic talent, I don't want who Kevin was as a man to be cast in the literal shadow of the Bat. Because for all his amazing capabilities as an actor, he was also one of the most beloved and well-spoken of men in his sphere. Everyone everywhere, from his own collaborators on his many projects to his colleagues in the acting world loved the man and made note of his enthusiasm for his work, his love of his fans and his big heart. Like Batman himself, underneath that gruff and stoic exterior, he was a compassionate and giving man, always willing to share a touching insight or word of encouragement.
I don't know how long he'd suffered from cancer, but it was clear that his personal problems and health concerns didn't stop Kevin from doing what he's always done, working to give fans more content to enjoy and making appearances at every manner of convention where he could meet his fans and be reminded of all the lives he'd touched. I only hope that in passing, he knew even a shred of the love and admiration he'd garnered from around the world, and understood the gratitude and love we all have for his work and how it touched our lives. Knowing what I do of him, I have little reason to doubt that, which also gives me comfort. As for how we can all deal with his death, I'll just leave it to the man himself to explain...
Here's to you, Kevin, and thank you for everything. You won't be forgotten.