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Batman has hung up his cowl.
Kevin Conroy, a talented voice actor known for his longtime portrayal of Bruce Wayne and Batman in too many DC projects to count, sadly passed away on November 10 after a fight with intestinal cancer.
Immediately, tributes to the late, great actor and gay icon started pouring in.
"Whether in voice or in person, putting on the suit is a great responsibility. Kevin Conroy inspired and delighted Batman fans... I am sorry to hear that he is gone," said Lynda Carter, who famously played Wonder Woman in the '80s live-action show.
\u201cWhether in voice or in person, putting on the suit is a great responsibility. Kevin Conroy inspired and delighted Batman fans... I am sorry to hear that he is gone.\u201d— Lynda Carter (@Lynda Carter) 1668216250
"It is with great sorrow we mourn the loss of Kevin Conroy, the gravelly voice behind the animated Batman," added Star Trek actor George Takei. "For three decades, Conroy served as a beacon for justice and inspiration to many. Tonight Gotham and the world at large keep the Bat-Signal lit for you."
\u201cIt is with great sorrow we mourn the loss of Kevin Conroy, the gravelly voice behind the animated Batman. For three decades, Conroy served as a beacon for justice and inspiration to many. Tonight Gotham and the world at large keep the Bat-Signal lit for you.\u201d— George Takei (@George Takei) 1668208975
Conroy's most famous voice acting role was that of Bruce Wayne and Batman across many animated projects including Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, movies like Batman: Gotham Knight, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Batman: The Killing Joke, and video games like the Batman: Arkham series.
\u201cIn the 80s, Kevin Conroy was on the verge of getting the lead in a buddy-cop show, until the producer found out he was gay. He called Kevin the f-word and said no one would ever hire him.\n\nThis week, the Empire State Building was lit up in his honor.\u201d— Ryan Arey \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Ryan Arey \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1668349768
Conroy was gay and wrote a comic about his experiences as a gay man in the industry as a part of a recent DC Comics Pride anthology. In the comic, he revealed that he used the homophobia he had faced to shape his legendary portrayal of The Dark Knight.
In his honor, DC has made the entire DC Pride 2022 #1 anthology free to read online so everyone can enjoy his story.
\u201cEvery hero has an origin story, this is his.\n\nAs a tribute to the incredible Kevin Conroy, we've made his personal FINDING BATMAN story from DC PRIDE 2022 free-to-read on #DCUNIVERSEINFINITE: https://t.co/wz7WBdJCOl\u201d— DC (@DC) 1668202202
Conroy was universally beloved in the voice-acting community and is considered by many to be the definitive voice of Batman. He's the first out gay actor to ever play the superhero and one of the first out actors to play any superhero.
\u201cAlso, I just want to say how much I love that THE definitive voice of Batman, the ultimate portrait of masculinity, belonging to Kevin Conroy, an out and proud gay man, forces everyone to check their preconceived bullshit at the door.\u201d— Filup Molina (@Filup Molina) 1668290835
Conroy passed away at the age of 66 and is survived by his husband Vaughn C. Williams. Tributes to him will likely not stop any time soon.
\u201ckevin conroy using his experiences with loss + yearning to live freely as a gay man to craft one of the most stand-out performances of our time means the world to me and countless others. i am both devastated that he is gone and overjoyed that he was even here. immeasurable man\u201d— wes (THEY SPEAK) (@wes (THEY SPEAK)) 1668197399
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Mey Rude
Mey Rude is a journalist and cultural critic who has been covering queer news for a decade. The transgender, Latina lesbian lives in Los Angeles with her fiancée.
Mey Rude is a journalist and cultural critic who has been covering queer news for a decade. The transgender, Latina lesbian lives in Los Angeles with her fiancée.