Kevin Conroy
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Kevin Conroy (born November 30, 1955) is an American actor of stage, screen, and voice, perhaps best known for his portrayal of DC Comics superhero Batman in numerous animated series and features that comprised the DC animated universe.
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[edit] Biography
Born in Westbury, New York, Kevin moved to Westport, Connecticut when he was about 11 years old. In 1973, at the age of seventeen, he moved to New York when he earned a full scholarship to attend Juilliard's famous drama division, where he studied under actor John Houseman. In 1978, after graduating from Juilliard, he toured with "The Acting Company," Houseman's acting group, and, in 1979, he went on the national tour of "Deathtrap."
In 1980, he decided to try his hand in television, and moved out to California. He landed a role in the daytime soap opera Another World. However, he soon missed the theatre, and so he became associated with the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, where he performed in productions Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream. From 1980 to 1985, he acted in a variety of contemporary and classic theatre pieces, including the Broadway production of "Eastern Standard" and "Lolita." He is very respected in theatre circles for his interpretation of Shakespearean characters, and, in 1984, he played the title role in "Hamlet" in the New York Shakespeare Festival. Kevin returned to television in the 1985 TV movie Covenant, and had a role on another daytime soap drama, Search For Tomorrow. He was a series regular on Ohara in 1987, and on Tour of Duty from 1987 to 1988, before starring in a series of television movies. He has also guest starred on shows such as Cheers, Dynasty, Search For Tomorrow, and Matlock.
He is best known as the voice behind Batman in Batman: The Animated Series, which began airing in 1992. Kevin has now voiced the character for 14 years in the series The New Batman Adventures, Batman Beyond, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. He's also voiced the character in guest appearances on Superman: The Animated Series, Static Shock and The Zeta Project, as well as starred in the feature-length movies Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman. He has received an exceptional amount of praise for his work in the role from fans and critics. In a tally of performances, including every episode, movie, and guest appearance he made, he has played Batman more times than Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christian Bale combined. In the season four premier of The Batman, Conroy played Dick Grayson's father, John.
He also voiced Batman in 2001 revamp of Batman Adventure - The Ride, located at the Warner Bros. Movie World theme park in Queensland, Australia.
Like the rest of the main cast from Justice League /Justice League Unlimited, Conroy will not be involved with Bruce Timm's upcoming Justice League: The New Frontier, though Timm has said it's likely Conroy will return as Batman in future DCAU productions.[citation needed]
His hobbies include traveling, running, cycling, and painting. In his spare time, he also does work with foster kids. He has two brothers and one sister, as well as a chocolate labrador named Bear.
[edit] Filmography
- The Batman (TV series) (2006) - John Grayson (guest star; episode: "A Matter of Family")
- Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003) - Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (2003; video game) - Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Lords of EverQuest (2003; video game) - Lord Palasa
- Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003; video game) - Lord Jack/Cleaner/Commando
- Justice League / Justice League Unlimited (2001-2005; TV series) - Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (2001; video game) - Fisherman
- Batman: Vengeance (2001; video game) - Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) - Bruce Wayne/Batman
- Batman Beyond (1999-2001; TV series) - Bruce Wayne
- Crusaders of Magic and Light (1999; video game) - ?
- Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero - (1998) - Batman/Bruce Wayne
- The New Batman Adventures (1997-1999; TV series) - Batman/Bruce Wayne
- The Office (1995; TV series) - Steve Gillman
- Island City (1994; TV movie) - Col. Tom Valdoon
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - (1993) - Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995; TV series) - Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Rachel Gunn, R.N. (1992; TV series) - Dr. David Dunkle
- Chain of Desire (1992) - Joe
- The Secret Passion of Robert Clayton (1992; TV movie) - Hunter Roy Evans
- Battle in the Errogenous Zone (1992; TV movie) - Mondo Ray
- Hi, Honey - I'm Dead (1991; TV Movie) - Brad Stadler
- The Face of Fear (1990; TV movie) - Frank Dwight Bollinger
- So Proudly We Hail (1990; TV movie) - Francis Crosby
- Killer Instinct (1988; TV movie) - Dr. Steven Nelson
- Tour of Duty (1987-1988; TV series) - Capt. Rusty Wallace
- O'hara (1987; TV series) - Capt. Lloyd Hamilton
- Dynasty (1985-1986; TV series) - Bart Fallmont
- Covenant (1985; TV movie) - Stephen
- Search For Tomorrow (1984-1985; TV series) - Chase Kendall
- George Washington (1984; TV mini-series) - John Laurens
- Kennedy (1983; TV mini-series) - Ted Kennedy
- Born Beautiful (1982; TV movie) - Stan
- Another World (1980-1981; TV series) - Jerry Grove #2
- How To Pick Up Girls! (1978; TV movie) - Bartender
[edit] Stage plays
| Stage Play | Character played | Location performed | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounts | ? | Hudson Guild | ? | |
| Come Back Little Sheba | ? | Roundabout Theatre | ? | |
| Deathtrap | ? | (on Broadway) | 1979 | |
| Eastern Standard | ? | Golden Theatre (Broadway) | 1989 | |
| The Greeks | ? | Hartford Stage | ? | |
| Hamlet | Hamlet | New York Shapespeare Festival | 1984 | |
| Hamlet | Hamlet | Old Globe Theatre, San Diego | ? | |
| King Lear | ? | San Diego Shakespeare Festival | ? | |
| The Last Yankee | Lenny Hamilton | Signature Theatre | 12/30/97 - 2/8/98 | |
| Lolita | ? | (on Broadway) | ? | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Lysander | New York Shakespeare Festival | 1984 | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Lysander | Old Globe Theater, San Diego | 1982 | |
| Mother Courage | ? | ? | ? | |
| Much Ado About Nothing | ? | San Diego Shakespeare Festival | ? |
[edit] Trivia
- Has pursued a writing career in recent years.
- Took part in the California AIDS ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
- Was roommates with Robin Williams for the year that Williams was at Juilliard.
- Dated actress Debra Rush, who starred opposite him in the stage production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
- Was roommates with Christopher Reeve at Juilliard Drama School.
- Favorite script of Batman: The Animated Series is "Perchance to Dream".
- Aunt was famed Broadway actress Susan Conroy.
- Q&A in January/February 2001 issue of FHM: For Him Magazine.
- Shares the same birthday (November 30) as Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. who voices Alfred on Batman: The Animated Series.
- Featured (with Loren Lester) in issue #10 of Scarlet Street: The Magazine of Mystery and Horror.
- Spoke at the 1995 Screen Actors Guild Awards during a tribute to voice actors. (unconfirmed)
- While at Juilliard, shared the same class with Robin Williams, Kelsey Grammer, and Christine Baranski.
- In issue #19 of Batman Adventures (the B:TAS-inspired comic book series), panels 1-3 on page 18 show a movie theater marquee that reads "Now Playing: Hamlet, starring K. Conroy."
- In "Perchance to Dream," Kevin read the voice of Batman, Bruce Wayne, Bruce's father, and the evil Batman in real time, alternating between all four characters without having to pause recording.
- Almost landed the part of Joe Hackett on the NBC sitcom Wings, but lost out to Tim Daly (who coincidentaly later voiced Superman for the WB animated series).
- TV commercials for Gatorade. (voice only; year(s) unknown)
- Voiced Batman in several promotional spots for Kids WB!.
- Recorded a QVC radio promo as Batman, with Mark Hamill as the Joker.
- Voiced Batman for two programs of Tiger Electronics' 2-XL educational children's toy: "Carnival of Crime" (#7-258-4) and "Sizzling Schemes" (#7-258-3).
- In the Batman Beyond episode "Out of the Past," provided the singing voice for the actor playing Batman in a stage musical that Bruce Wayne and Terry McGinnis went to see; Also sang (as Batman) in the Justice League Unlimited episode "This Little Piggy".
- The Face of Fear aired on September 30, 1990... Kevin's 35th birthday.
- While living in Hawaii during the shooting of Tour of Duty, he became so bored from the fact he was rarely needed (and worked only briefly when he was) that he took a second job in Honolulu sketching portraits for tourists. His character was ultimately killed off of the show due to the fact the writers wound up not using him as much as they thought they would.
[edit] Quotes
- (On Batman): "People fantasize about being a hero and helping someone in trouble. Batman is that fantasy realized--not just for Bruce Wayne, but for the audience. Inwardly, Bruce Wayne is still an adolescent watching his parents being murdered. That will never leave him. And people really relate to that."
- (On Batman): "I love doing the voice of Batman because of the quality of the animation. The music is particularly incredible. Another bonus is getting the opportunity to work with some very respected actors who do not usually do voice work."
- (On Batman): "To me, Batman is definitely Bruce Wayne's darker side. The challenge is playing it as two separate aspects of the same person. I have to create the illusion of a Dark Knight, who's mysterious and strong."
- (On Batman): "He [Bruce Wayne] is Batman. He became Batman the instant his parents were murdered. Batman needs Bruce, however hollow that identity feels to him from time to time. Bruce keeps Batman human."
- (On Michael Keaton): "His absorbed, psychoanalytic approach to Bruce Wayne was fantastic, and the way he did a 180 degree role reversal in portraying a strong, silent force as Batman was even better. These movies are truly the highlight of Keaton's acting career."
- (On Val Kilmer): "To be fair, I must give credit where credit is due. Although Kilmer is clearly no Michael Keaton - except for a few corny lines, which are mainly the writers' fault, and a slight lacking when it comes to the portrayal of a dark side - he did a much better job than I expected."
[edit] External links
| Batman in popular media | |
|---|---|
| Actors: | Lewis Wilson • Robert Lowery • Adam West • Olan Soule • Michael Keaton • Kevin Conroy • Val Kilmer • George Clooney • Rino Romano • Christian Bale • Casts |
| Live-action television: | Batman • Legends of the Superheroes • Birds of Prey • Return to the Batcave |
| Film: | Batman (1943) • Batman and Robin (1949) • Batman (1966) • Batman (1989) • Batman Returns • Batman Forever • Batman & Robin • Batman Begins • The Dark Knight |
| Animation: | Batman/Superman Hour • New Adventures of Batman • Batman: The Animated Series/New Batman Adventures • Mask of the Phantasm • SubZero • Batman Beyond • Return of the Joker • Mystery of the Batwoman • The Batman • The Batman vs. Dracula |
