Kevin Conroy was an American actor who was best known for voicing the character of “Batman” across the DC Comics Universe (DCU). He was born on November 30, 1955, in Westbury, New York, before moving to Westport, Connecticut when he was around ten years old. Conroy had an unstable childhood and was forced to live with friends during his last years in high school. In 1973, he earned a full scholarship at Juilliard School and became roommates with Robin Williams and Kelsey Grammer.
After graduating from school, Conroy pursued a career in television and theater. During the 1980s he was employed in various theater companies and participated in productions such as “Hamlet” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Conroy was also involved in the Broadway productions of “Lolita” and “Eastern Standard.” When it came to his television pursuits, Conroy bagged recurring roles in multiple series such as “Search for Tomorrow,” “Dynasty,” and “Ohara.” He also was a guest star on many popular shows such as “Cheers,” “Matlock,” and “Murphy Brown.”
During the 1990s, Conroy auditioned for the voice acting role of Batman in the “Batman: The Animated Series.” His portrayal of the superhero was especially notable because of his dual-voice techniques for both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Since taking on the role, Conroy went on to voice the character for at least three decades including films, video games, and various spin-offs. Conroy also often worked alongside Mark Hamill who voiced the Joker and was known for his role in the “Star Wars” franchise. When Conroy passed away, Hamill retired from voicing the supervillain as well. According to the actor: “Without Batman, crime has no punchline.”
Conroy lived a relatively private life, but even he wasn’t immune to speculations. Due to his role as Batman, fans were extremely curious to know the details about his relationships. There were also constant talks regarding his true sexuality. So, was Kevin Conroy gay? Let’s clarify the rumors once and for all with this feature below.
VOTE: What was Kevin Conroy’s Sexuality?
Kevin Conroy’s Sexuality
Even before his coming out, there were already speculations regarding Conroy’s sexuality. During his theater days, he was known for playing gay characters on stage. For example, Conroy portrayed a gay TV producer with AIDS during the production of “Eastern Standard.” He also took on the role of a gay lawyer while he was on “Dynasty.” But despite his choice in projects, Conroy never commented about his sexuality in public.
This all changed in 2016 during an interview with The New York Times. While promoting the animated series, “The Killing Joke,” Conroy revealed that he was gay. This caused a frenzy among fans, garnering both positive and negative commentary. Nevertheless, the public’s opinion didn’t sway the voice actor who also shared that he was married to Vaughn C. Williams. The couple stayed married until Conroy’s death.
According to Conroy, he hid his sexuality for years because it might affect his career. In fact, the voice actor stated that he had been removed from acting jobs or projects because of his sexual orientation. This was especially true during the 1980s and 1990s when homophobia was still rampant. It wasn’t until later on that he felt comfortable enough to share his true self with the world.
Kevin Conroy On Finding Batman
In 2022, Conroy wrote “Finding Batman,” an autobiographical comic series which he contributed to DC Comics’ Pride anthology. Through the series, Conroy talked about his past and how he overcame challenges as a gay man. The piece was an instant hit and eventually won the 2023 Eisner Award for Best Short Story. Although Conroy didn’t live long enough to enjoy the recognition, his family and co-stars all paid tribute to his work and legacy.
I often marveled at how appropriate it was that I should land this role. As a gay boy growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s in a devoutly Catholic family, I’d grown adept at concealing parts of myself. Of putting aspects of myself in a separate box and locking it away.”
Kevin Conroy, Finding Batman, 2022
Kevin Conroy’s Legacy
Conroy created a remarkable career playing the role of Batman. In fact, he portrayed the role the longest when compared to other voice actors. He also voiced some of the character’s most iconic lines including, “I am vengeance! I am the night! I am Batman!” Conroy’s final performance as the superhero was in the video game, “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.”
When they offer me roles now, I say, ‘Is Kevin doing it?’ … I don’t even have to read the script, if Kevin’s doing it I’ll do it.”
Mark Hamill, Rotten Tomatoes, 2019
On November 10, 2022, a few weeks before his 67th birthday, Conroy passed away at Mount Sinai Hospital after a long battle with cancer. The news of his death was tragic and fans around the world mourned his passing. However, it’s undeniable that Conroy left a legacy that would live on forever.
Was Kevin Conroy Gay?
Yes, Kevin Conroy was gay. For the longest time, the voice actor hid his sexuality from the public out of fear that he would be without a career. He officially came out in 2016 during an interview with The New York Times. Conroy also published an autobiographical comic series detailing his life as a gay man. He was married to Vaughn Williams until his passing. With these facts on hand, it’s safe to assume that Conroy identified as a homosexual.
Featured Image: “Kevin Conroy”, by Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED