Rest In Peace, show your respects to those who have passed away.

Dwayne

An outstanding write-up and tribute @0BradyM0Bondfanatic7.

Being an "on and off" fan of the Batman character over the decades I really learned alot from your write-up and it made me want to revisit this anew.
Thanks.

Some_Kind_Of_Hero

Aw geez. He hadn't looked in the best of health, but I didn't know he had cancer. Kevin Conroy was indeed the definitive voice of Batman. Many actors contributed to making BTAS as special as it was, but Conroy was the heart and soul of that show. None of it would have worked without him.

I was just thinking of embarking on a long journey through favorites of BTAS (of which I have many). I'm sure many of these episodes will have a different kind of resonance this time.

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

@Some_Kind_Of_Hero, on the Batman thread we have here I just posted some of my highlights from his career playing the character. Moments that I feel made him the exceptional Batman performer he was. Might be worth checking out if you want to go down memory lane and experience just how phenomenal his work was.

Some_Kind_Of_Hero

Thanks @0BradyM0Bondfanatic7, I'll check out your post. The writers gave Conroy a lot of great material to work with, many human moments as both Bruce and Batman, and he did justice to it all.

Fire_and_Ice_Returns

@0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 great post, its remarkable the out pouring from people due to Kevin's passing, it's a true testament to the man and the positive effect he had on many people.

SIS_HQ

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote: »

I don't get to post much these days, and when I do return, I tend to just drop in and drop out... But on this kind of occasion, I felt the need to leave a post and say something, because how couldn't I?


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.

I couldn't write as great as yours!

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

I was particularly moved reading what Mark Hamill had to say, in tribute to his greatest collaborator and brother:

"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."

The ending really got me. For as beloved as Mark is as the Joker, as definitive in that role as Kevin was for Batman, he still gives so much of that credit to the man that played the stoic hero to his villain of chaos. Just a class act. I will continue to pinch myself at how lucky I was to grow up watching these two perform together at the top of their game in so many different shows, films and games. It's crazy for imagine that they have been playing off of each other for three decades, and were still as good as ever. For a Batman fan, any time Kevin and Mark worked together they created a new golden age.

DarthDimi

Yes, I posted Hamill's words two days ago. It's the most touching thing I've read in a long time.

Gerard

In addition to Kevin Conroy, the world of comics has suffered another major blow : Artist Carlos Pacheco has passed away from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on november 9th, aged 60.

https://www.cbr.com/carlos-pacheco-obituary-marvel-dc-passes-away-60/

And we also lost Keith Levine, founder of the Clash, because of liver cancer, aged 65 :

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/12/keith-levene-founding-member-of-the-clash-dies-at-65-public-image-ltd

Here's a song that should be familiar to Bond fans :

MajorDSmythe

RIP Kevin Conroy. I am of the age that Batman: The Animated series, was part of my after school 'ritual'. Watching the show as an adult, having not seen it since the early 90's, it surprised me how the show is 'grown up' for want of a better phrase, for an animated show.

Some_Kind_Of_Hero

I didn't experience BTAS until I was an adult. I decided to try a few episodes on a whim after reading something about it and was taken completely by surprise by the quality of the storytelling and the depth of some episodes. You instantly think of a certain thing when you hear Saturday morning cartoon, but BTAS doesn't belong in that category at all. It's as much a "cartoon" as adult-oriented anime like Cowboy Bebop or Ghost in the Shell. It seems everybody working on the project, from the composers like Shirley Walker (also gone before her time) to Conroy and the rest of the voice cast, knew that too.

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

@Some_Kind_Of_Hero, that is certainly one of the core things that gave BTAS such a timeless appeal. It was a show that a parent could watch with their kids and not be bored by it or have it feel like an obligation, because the people behind it kept an older audience in mind. And really, it's hard to make a good Batman show without letting that adult sensibility influence it, because he is such a more mature character compared to a lot of other comic book figures. His origin is brutal, his world is depraved and riddled with poverty, and his major villains signify/represent very overt psychological conditions and concepts.

I got the whole series on Blu-ray a while back and look forward to jumping back into it and revisiting episodes I haven't seen in a long, long time. I'm fascinated to see how I experience that content as a nearly 30 year old man now, and not as a child. It will certainly be a bittersweet experience now, however.

MaxCasino

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote: »

@Some_Kind_Of_Hero, that is certainly one of the core things that gave BTAS such a timeless appeal. It was a show that a parent could watch with their kids and not be bored by it or have it feel like an obligation, because the people behind it kept an older audience in mind. And really, it's hard to make a good Batman show without letting that adult sensibility influence it, because he is such a more mature character compared to a lot of other comic book figures. His origin is brutal, his world is depraved and riddled with poverty, and his major villains signify/represent very overt psychological conditions and concepts.

I got the whole series on Blu-ray a while back and look forward to jumping back into it and revisiting episodes I haven't seen in a long, long time. I'm fascinated to see how I experience that content as a nearly 30 year old man now, and not as a child. It will certainly be a bittersweet experience now, however.

Great retrospectives of Batman TAS, everyone. I’m really thankful that the show is remembered as well as it has 30 years later. The right talents got together and made something as honorable for a character as beloved as Batman. From IMDb: [Talking about the fights he and the staff of Batman: The Animated Series (1992) had with censors]: "We were just like 'Look, we're not trying to destroy the boys of America, we just want to make a good show'". -Bruce Timm, producer of Batman TAS through various DC shows today.

And so you did, all talent involved. Thank you. In particular, Kevin Conroy.

MaxCasino

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/robert-clary-dead-hogans-heroes-1235263555/

RichardTheBruce

An incredible and good long life lived.

Ludovico

RIP Jean Lapointe, his death is so fresh it's not even on his Wikipedia page: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Lapointe

SIS_HQ

Ludovico wrote: »

RIP Jean Lapointe, his death is so fresh it's not even on his Wikipedia page: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Lapointe

It's now there.

DarthDimi

My sincere condolences to the families and friends of the people who were gunned down at a gay club in Colorado. This is what you get when hate speeches and oblique interpretations of the "second amendment" reach the wrong people. Another sad day for America.

Gerard

Fans of the Power Rangers franchise are in mourning : Jason David Frank, the original Green Ranger, has passed away, aged 49 :

https://www.cbr.com/jason-david-frank-power-rangers-obit/

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

My childhood is taking a real beating this month. Damn.

As a 90s kid, Batman and Power Rangers were things that I was obsessive about, and Jason especially because he was the star of the Power Rangers show for so much of the early run and became so many different Rangers throughout the series and kept popping up now and again in guest appearances or cameos. His character Tommy is about as close as that show got to having a defining legacy character, or a Ranger character having a continued, long form story arc/development that spanned decades. So for many that grew up around the 90s and early 2000s, Jason was a special guy, because he was always around and it was easy to grow attached to his character because of how much he had seen and done. He truly was a legendary, mythical character for those in his universe and the younger Rangers working with him would often remark about his reputation and accomplished career. And by all accounts Jason was also a great ambassador for the series/franchise, giving kids of many generations a hero to look up to, and that's the real loss here.

I definitely owe the man a lot, for giving me so many fond memories that I still look back on today, of my childhood years watching Power Rangers VCR tapes to ruin, collecting all the action figures and recreating scenes or making up my own adventures, watching all the movies when they came out, and enjoying the journey his character went on for so long. Definitely feels like losing an old friend, much like Kevin Conroy.

Creasy47

Sad to hear that James Winburn, the stuntman doubling as The Shape in the original Halloween, has passed away at the age of 85:

https://deadline.com/2022/11/james-winburn-dead-halloween-stuntman-was-85-1235179401/

MaxCasino

JFK, 59 years ago today.

j_w_pepper

JFK, 59 years ago today.

I'm one of probably very few here who still remember that (I even remember the Cuba Missile Crisis, not saying I comprehended all the circumstances). It came all over the radio here in Germany as well (we did not have a TV until more than two years later) and was in the newspapers. And yes, I knew how to read those when I was in first grade. All that stuff with Lee Harvey Oswald being shot by Jack Ruby, LBJ taking the oath of office on Air Force One, grieving Jackie and the two kids left quite an impression which is still sort of alive.

peter

RIP to the King, Borje Salming.... The man took more violence to his body that any other hockey player, before, or since.

Tracy

Todd Fulkerson died , he was a legendary autograph collector that helped fans get autographs for yrs and yrs , decades.....he met a ton of celebs , incl David Graf from Police Academy , Grafs autograph is VERY rare as he died early. Todd also had to take care of his mother and being ill on top of this. RIP (and St Peter better give you cred up there for all you did for fans and your mother !) :(

Gerard

Damn ! Just heard that actress/singer Irene Cara has just passed away, aged 65 :

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/irene-cara-death-age-cause-b2233480.html

The two songs she's most famous for are too upbeat for that kind of news, so I'm posting one that's more appropriate :

SIS_HQ

Gerard wrote: »

Damn ! Just heard that actress/singer Irene Cara has just passed away, aged 65 :

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/irene-cara-death-age-cause-b2233480.html

The two songs she's most famous for are too upbeat for that kind of news, so I'm posting one that's more appropriate :

Oh my! I really liked What A Feeling!

Gerard

I've heard of two deaths today. First, Scots rugby player Doddie Weir, who passed away, aged 52 :

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/26/sport/doddie-weir-rugby-union-obituary-spt-intl/index.html

And then, B-Movie director Albert Pyun (The Sword and the Sorcerer, who passed away, aged 69 :

https://www.cbr.com/albert-pyun-captain-america-nemesis-cyborg-director-dies-69/

Gerard

I learned today that Clarence Glyard (Trivette in Walker Texas Ranger has passed away, aged 66 :

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/29/entertainment/clarence-gilyard-jr-die-hard-dead-intl-scli/index.html

No Chuck Norris jokes, please.

Creasy47

He also played the legendary computer hacker Theo from Die Hard. That's what I'll always remember him from. He gave a balanced yet campy sort of performance in that one that stands out with every single viewing I have of it. RIP.