Kevin Conroy — the 1973 Staples High School graduate and former Staples Players star whose voice was the definitive Batman — died yesterday. He was 66 years old, and had battled cancer.
Conroy was Batman’s voice on the animated television series from 1992 to ’96. He continued with the character through 15 films, 400 TV episodes and 2 dozen video games.
“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,” said Paul Dini, producer of the animated show. ”A hero in every sense of the word.”
AP says:
Conroy) attended Juilliard and roomed with Robin Williams. After graduating, he toured with John Houseman’s acting group, the Acting Company. He performed in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Public Theater and in “Eastern Standard” on Broadway. At the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, he performed in “Hamlet.”
The 1980s production of “Eastern Standard,” in which Conroy played a TV producer secretly living with AIDS, had particular meaning to him. Conroy, who was gay, said at the time he was regularly attending funerals for friends who died of AIDS. He poured out his anguish nightly on stage.
In 1980, Conroy moved to Los Angeles, began acting in soap operas and booked appearances on TV series including “Cheers,” “Tour of Duty” and “Murphy Brown.” In 1991, when casting director Andrea Romano was scouting her lead actor for “Batman: The Animated Series,” she went through hundreds of auditions before Conroy came in. He was there on a friend’s recommendation — and cast immediately.
Click here for the full AP obituary.
Kevin Conroy, in 2019.
In 2016 — when the New York Times profiled Conroy — “06880” posted this story:
In the eight-decade history of Batman, no one played the Dark Knight more.
For over 20 years, the 1973 Staples High School graduate has lent his “deeply charming, yet virile voice” to 9 Batman TV series, 12 animated movies and 7 video games. No other actor has played Batman for so long, or been as closely identified with him.
Today, the New York Times finally took notice.
Kevin Conroy (Photo/Ben Esner for NY Times)
The Arts section features a full-length story on Conroy — who, it should be noted, is hardly a 1-trick Batman. The Juilliard alum also toured nationally with “Deathtrap,” appeared on the soap opera “Another World,” played Laertes in the New York Shakespeare Festival, acted on Broadway, and was a regular on “Ohara” and “Tour of Duty.”
But it’s as Batman he’s best known, and that’s the Times hook. Jeff Muskus writes:
He has logged the most screen time of anyone in the comic-book vigilante’s 77-year history — without ever showing his face onscreen for the role. Still, his voice, deep and resonant, has defined the character for fans who grew up with his shows, and again for those devouring his three Arkham video games.
“It’s so much fun as an actor to sink your teeth into,” Mr. Conroy, 60, said over lunch in New York’s theater district. “Calling it animation doesn’t do it justice. It’s more like mythology.”
The story notes that “school plays” — aka Staples Players — provided Conroy with a home, away from his dysfunctional family (he lived some of the time with friends).
Muskus concludes:
Unlike Batman, Mr. Conroy has managed to resolve much of his childhood trauma. First, he sought a modicum of financial stability….He saved during his stage and Los Angeles days, flipping houses on both coasts, and supported and made peace with his parents in their final years. “I was able to speak for my father at his funeral and sing for my mother at hers,” he said.
Mr. Conroy said he’s grateful for his long-running second act. “I’ve been really fortunate to have gotten Batman, because he’s a character that’s just evolved,” he said. “It’s just been a character where you can ride that wave for 24 years. Keeping him alive, keeping him from getting just dark and boring and broody, is the challenge.”
Click here to read the full New York Times story. Click here for the Times’ selection of Conroy’s standout Batman performances.
The brilliant Al Pia used to send his students into the junior high schools to work with them. Kevin came to Long Lots when I was in 8th grade and worked with us on technique, my first exposure to Stanislavsky. He was great, and by the time we got to Staples, we were already bought into Pia’s program. So sorry to hear that he’s gone…and grateful for his commitment to the craft.
Kevin was a great friend when we were very young in Staples Players and I, for one, knew nothing about anything. I’ll never forget that gorgeous voice of his. Rest is Peace Kevin
I rediscovered comics when my middle-school daughter found a trove of marked-downs at the last Mom & Pop variety store near where she lived in Arlington, Mass. I had a “never-got-to-read-enough-of-these” experience. Bought them all eventually. ALL DC. Then got into the “new” late 1980s stuff; it became an energized focus to a father-daughter relationship, something the we of us could talk about, schlock and art.
Then she called while at NYU (having taken a comics script course from a then-Marvel writer as part of her major) and said, “There’s this great new Batman series, Dad! You have to see it!” I did. And when the theatrical release of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm opened, we saw it as soon as we could. The big screen did justice to the Paul Dini script and the overall design was superb. The voices, of course, made it. Kevin created a definitive voice. It will be copied for as long as Batman audio scripts are created. The Fans immediately recognized quality. Similarily, Mark Hamill as The Joker is seen as definitive. And, yet another of course, little did I know ….
Dan, maybe it’s time to ditch the “six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon” game and go with “the three degrees of separation from Westport.”
RMG, Staples 1966
Here’s one that will astound you, Robert.
I was the “soccer consultant” and acted as the referee in the movie “Manny’s Orphans,” directed by Westporter Sean Cunningham (also filmed in Westport). Also in the cast: 12-year-old Ari Lehman.
Ari went on to act in “Friday the 13th.” Kevin Bacon was in it too.
So … I have one degree of separation from Kevin Bacon!
Hi Dan,
Could you pull up and post photos of Kevin Conroy ca. 1973? He was a star in the 1973 Staples performance of Guys and Dolls and other drama dept performances.
Thanks! Diane
I don’t have any photos, Diane. But if any readers do, I’m happy to post them.
So sorry to hear this. What an incredible voice!
I remember the Cheers episodes Kevin was in. He was from Westport and Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger) was from Bridgeport, and attended Sacred Heart University.
I was in Players class of 74. I remember Kevin as a great actor for our productions. I wasn’t at all surprised that he went off to Juilliard to go professional. I’m sad to hear of this news. Ted Neiman.
Actually, Kevin Cunningham joined the Marines with my cousin, and another friend of mine from Bauer Place, and went to Vietnam together.I’m going to guess and say this was 1966 or 1967. I was good friends with the three Cunningham brothers. The Cunninghams were an outstanding Westport family. We used to shoot pool together in the 1960s. Sean helped me with my creative writing class when I was a college freshman. I really miss those guys.
Kevin enlisted in the Marines in 1966. He was never stationed in Vietnam, CA behind a keyboard his entire tour. He joined up with Matt McVane, infamous QB at Staples, who would see some nasty action and end up in the CIA. Chris Reeves was Williams’ roommie at Julliard.
Referred to as a “Remington Raider.” MacVane , Kevin and two others joined together.
Remembering Kevin as a classmate at Staples, and doing Romeo and Juliet in 1972 Staples Players, he was genuinely sweet, sincere, kind and incredibly talented person, someone you never forget.
About four years ago, my wife and I were in Westport for two days, and we briefly stopped into the Westport Library and we bumped into Kevin Cunningham in the library. We talked and swapped stories about the past. I’ve known him since 1961. I’d think it’d be interesting if Dan did a posting on the three brothers. There’s an interesting story there. In response to Linda’s comment, I’m 75 and Kevin is older than I am, so my guess is he graduated in the class of 1964.
I made a mistake. It’s the other Kevin Linda was referring to. The one that’s actually the focus of this posting!
I’m Always asked about him ; has made for some interesting conversations Kevin Conroy class off ‘88
I reached out classmate Kevin Conroy ‘88 about the passing of his namesake. Then Kevin shared his stories about mixups in HS because the older and more famous had the same name and indeed graduated Staples. This article was shared with me and I’m just blown away. Love to see the longevity of artists! Kudos Dan nice .