There’s no denying that Kevin Conroy left an indelible mark on superhero media.
As the definitive voice of DC Comics’ Batman/Bruce Wayne in most animated iterations, films and shows included, and video games, his absence continues to be mourned. Not only was he deemed the ultimate Batman actor, but his perspective on the character showcased the nuance with which the Batman: The Animated Series alum depicted him.
What best exemplified how he tackled the role was a reply he gave in an interview once during the 2018 New York Comic Con.
With this one response, the late actor revealed his understanding of the masked vigilante, showcasing the complexity inherent to the moniker. This didn’t merely help in highlighting what makes the character so distinct and timeless, but also proved that nobody quite deciphered the duality of who ‘Batman’ is and who ‘Bruce Wayne’ is, better than Conroy.
Kevin Conroy Best Understood The Nuance To Batman/Bruce Wayne
Kevin Conroy, the late star of Batman: The Animated Series, is notable for once having said (via Great Big Story), “Any episode that dealt with [the] psychology that makes up Batman, I love.” The legendary voice actor affirmed this in reference to one of the episodes (Perchance to Dream, to be precise) of the beloved 1992-95 animated series.
His understanding of the character may have originated from this innate yearning to comprehend Batman/Bruce Wayne’s complexities.
As you all might already know, Conroy’s two-voice duality in depicting Bruce Wayne and Batman, to highlight how they function as two separate entities in the body of one man, became the most striking feature of his legacy-enduring stint. But this wasn’t the by-product of a fluky decision.
It was because Kevin Conroy understood why highlighting this psychological dichotomy was vital; it was inherent to The Dark Knight. In creating these two different personas, the Batman: Arkham alum proved why he was (and continues to be) often bestowed the title of being the definitive Batman actor.
Of course, if there are still people yet to accept that, his response to how he kept these distinct entities separate during an interview with Geek Prime at the 2018 NYCC may help in knowing why that’s the majority consensus:
“…Reminding myself all the time that Bruce was the performance. That ‘Batman’ is what happened after his parents were killed. That’s where he settled. That was how he dealt with the horror of watching his parents get gunned down. It’s almost like ‘Bruce Wayne’ died when he was a child.”
Continuing, he affirmed:
“He compensated for it by becoming this ‘thing.’ And then, when he has to go to work, he puts on a suit. And he puts on the ‘Bruce Wayne’ mask. And he faces the world—like we all do. That way, the Batman voice never sounded like I was putting it on.”
And this is why, amid a swathe of professionals who have interpreted the DC superhero before, the above statement shows why Kevin Conroy triumphed over them all.
Portraying the distinction between Bruce Wayne and Batman has always taken paramount significance in all iterations, live-action or animated. That’s beside the point. However, Conroy’s acute observation of the masked vigilante’s psyche ensures that his portrayal is closest to the essence of what The Dark Knight represents.
How Kevin Conroy Was Hired On Spot For Batman: The Animated Series
The late actor, who unfortunately passed away in 2022, once revealed how his journey as the voice of Batman began. Appearing on the Inside Of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast, Kevin Conroy talked about how his prior knowledge of the character was limited to Adam West’s classic iteration. And what do you know, his eyes weren’t even immediately set on the DC superhero. He wanted to audition for the role of Detective Harvey Bullock!
While reflecting on how he landed the gig to voice act in Batman: The Animated Series, the legendary figure prefaced:
“What was the likelihood of a New York actor, who primarily did classics … what were the odds of the first animated audition he’s invited to do is the animation of Batman?”
When co-creator and producer Bruce W. Timm explained the Batman iteration Conroy was slated to audition for, the late actor then learned that this would be a departure from the character he was previously acquainted with through Adam West’s 1960s Batman. As he was made to understand the tragedy behind the role, he channeled the powers of his imagination and improvised his way through finding ‘Batman.’
This was what proved monumental in his casting.
The star remarked:
“They essentially hired me on the spot! They [had] seen over 500 people.”
In a meant-to-be-moment, that’s how Kevin Conroy’s legendary stint commenced.
Today, fans and enthusiasts of the superhero who grew up with Conroy’s Batman through the animations or the Batman: Arkham video games reflect on his career fondly, knowing that his unrivaled brilliance will never be transcended or easily triumphed.
