Kevin Conroy, the legend behind the voice of Batman in many animated features over the years, has passed away at the age of 66 after a short battle with cancer.
Conroy, who was arguably the most beloved voice of the character in its animated history, shot to fame when he first voiced the Caped Crusader in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992.
Since then, he had been the voice of the character in over 60 theatrical and television productions.
In recent years, Conroy had been a regular fixture at various Cons, ready to give and receive love for the role he had so reverently voiced all these years.
Related: The longest superhero movies of all time
Fans, celebrities and colleagues of the legend have been expressing their grief at this news.
Star Wars legend Mark Hamill, who played the Joker alongside Conroy’s Batman, said in a statement: “Kevin was perfection. He was one of my favourite 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,” he added.
“Kevin was a brilliant actor,” Hamill continued, “For several generations, he has been the definitive Batman.
“It was one of those perfect scenarios where they got the exact right guy for the exact right part, and the world was better for it. His rhythms and subtleties, tones and delivery – that all also helped inform my performance.
Related: How to watch the entire DCEU in the right order
“He was the ideal partner – it was such a complementary, creative experience. I couldn’t have done it without him. He will always be my Batman,” he concluded.
“Kevin brought a light with him everywhere,” said Paul Dini, producer of Batman: The Animated Series.
“Whether in the recording booth giving it his all, or feeding first responders during 9/11, or making sure every fan who ever waited for him had a moment with their Batman. A hero in every sense of the word. Irreplaceable. Eternal,” he added.
Kevin Conroy is survived by his husband Vaughn C. Williams, sister Trisha Conroy, and brother Tom Conroy.
