Kevin Conroy has portrayed Batman more often than anyone else, appearing in a variety of animated films, TV series, and, of course, video games. Part of what made the late actor so iconic was his distinctive way of delivering the richness of dynamic dialogue that became essential to the Batman character.
The actor has the ability to turn any line from the Caped Crusader into gold, even lines delivered by other Batman actors. On that note, back in 2017, Conroy spoke with Rob Paulsen on Nerdist’s Talkin’ Toons podcast and skillfully narrated Christian Bale’s epic speech from The Dark Knight’s climactic scene.
Conroy and Paulsen (voicing Commissioner Gordon) delivered their lines in a single take, approaching the sequence as though it were a radio play.
Even though it is obvious that the scene lacked the polished feel of Conroy’s work on shows like Batman: The Animated Series or the Batman: Arkham series, it is still impressive that he delivered the speech flawlessly in one sitting.
The Dark Knight: Kevin Conroy’s Batman Speech is Still Winning Hearts in 2024
Fans of Christian Bale may argue that his portrayal of Batman in The Dark Knight trilogy is iconic and unforgettable. The actor was, after all, unquestionably among the best actors to don the cape and cowl. However, after listening to Kevin Conroy deliver Bale’s epic speech from one of the scenes of The Dark Knight, it’s hard to argue that the former is not the definitive Batman for many fans.
In a 2017 appearance on Talkin’ Toons (via ComicBook), Conroy expertly provided Bale’s climactic speech in one take, dubbing the audio over the original cut of the scene from Christopher Nolan’s 2008 flick. The result is a spine-tingling rendition that shows Conroy’s incredible talent for bringing other actor’s Caped Crusader lines to life.
It fits the grim, tragic material of The Dark Knight quite well, and hearing Conroy intone the following concluding line is nothing short of surreal:
You’ll hunt me. You’ll condemn me, set the dogs on me. Because that’s what needs to happen. Because sometimes… the truth isn’t good enough. Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.
In just a few short minutes, Conroy managed to capture the essence of Bale’s portrayal of the Dark Knight, leaving fans speechless and absolutely intrigued by his performance. It’s not just the former’s ability to mimic Bale’s voice that impressed fans, but the way he brought a sense of gravitas and emotion to the speech that truly sets him apart.
Let’s have a look at fans’ comments via X:
Nice to know the King was involved with The Dark Knight Trilogy. He also voiced Batman in the film that was influenced from The Dark Knight Trilogy. Which I thought made the film iconic.
— Billy Moore (@MooreWm251019) May 21, 2024
Goosebumps! God bless Kevin conroy pic.twitter.com/ElEfwerPVf
— Daniel Wilson (@wilsondan31) May 22, 2024
Close your eyes, and you will find yourself visualizing every word. The music playing in the background will give you goosebumps, making you wish that scene had been made exactly as you visualized.
— Fei334 (@Fei3342) May 21, 2024
Just holy shit man goosebumps listening to that he was just so so good it’s insane
— Audrey (@yelloaudrey) May 22, 2024
Really whenever I read the comics Kevin's voice is how Batman/Bruce sounds. No other actor I think will ever reach that level.
— JB (@JB_III) May 22, 2024
Since the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series premiered in 1992, Conroy had frequently taken on the role of Batman in one form or another.
Remembering Kevin Conroy: The Legacy of the Iconic Batman Voice Actor
Kevin Conroy, who was most known for providing the voice of Dark Knight in Warner Bros.’ enduring television series Batman: The Animated Series, passed away following a battle with cancer in 2022 (via THR).
The run of Eric Radomski & Bruce W. Timm’s series ran on Fox Kids for 85 episodes from 1992 to 1995. For many comic book fans and critics alike, Conroy’s gravelly, deep voice as Batman was the definitive version of the character. Not to be forgotten was Mark Hamill’s iconic portrayal of the Joker in the series. Following Conroy’s demise, Hamill stated the following statement (per Deadline):
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.
Due to Conroy’s immense popularity as the voice of Batman, he was asked to reprise the role in a number of other DC projects, such as the video game franchises: Injustice and Batman: Arkham. In a 2014 interview, Conroy told DC:
He’s such an iconic character. He’s such a part of the American cultural landscape. It’s an amazing thing to be a part of and to have contributed to.
In the live-action realm, Conroy debuted as an actor in the romantic drama Chain of Desire, which Temístocles López wrote and directed in 1992. In addition, he made appearances in episodes of beloved television shows like Dallas, Murphy Brown, and Cheers.
Well, while Christian Bale may have been a fan-favorite Batman on the big screen, Kevin Conroy’s Batman has a special place in DC. The latter’s ability to capture the essence of the character and evoke such powerful emotions in fans is beyond amazing!
The Dark Knight is streaming on Max.
