The Gay Actor Who Brought Batman to Life: Remembering Kevin Conroy
One actor has inhabited the role of Batman more iconically than any other — Kevin Conroy, the voice actor who holds the record for having played Batman for longer than any other performer, starting with Batman the Animated Series in the early 90s. There was a reason Kevin could relate to Batman like no one else: because for decades, he too lived a double life. Just like Bruce Wayne and the Caped Crusader, Kevin spent years split between worlds, hiding a secret identity of his own.
Full interviews with Tara Strong and Amanda Wyatt are free to watch here: https://vimeo.com/mattbaume/taraandamanda
Bonus videos on Patreon: http://patreon.com/mattbaume
Stream Batman: The Animated Series here: https://amzn.to/3YfRQFU
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Action Strike by Rafael Krux
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5300-action-strike
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist website: https://www.orchestralis.net/
@yourlocalultimatelifeform
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
ive been reading batman comics since circa 2016 and i had no idea that Conroy was gay until now. Its sad because i feel like it would help me a lot with my own acceptence, rip Kevin
@NomadicArtist-p2q
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Wonderful!
@BigWheel67
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I don’t think it matters that he’s gay.
Unless you’re trying to prop up some sort of social agenda..what’s his sexuality have to do with voice acting?
@SlamBolts
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I never saw The Animated Series. But he was still my favorite Batman through the Arkham series. Truly the role and performances of a lifetime.
@salvatorecaravella365
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Matt. Thank you for doing this episode. Kevin is truly THE VOICE of Batman. It goes to show you that heroes wear many capes and masks. I love how all of these actors, musicians and athletes of extreme sports are being themselves regardless of their sexual orientation. Honestly it breaks the stereotypes and I respect it.
@atliszilla445
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Chat, i still miss him.
@syphon_filter84
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Nobody cared he was gay bruh. Textbook clickbait
@tristanmccann6838
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
27:41
@sandracedillo8088
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Follow up: Kevin Conroy is such an amazing actor. A legend of the industry who will not be forgotten ❤
@sandracedillo8088
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
For me, Kevin Conroy will always be Batman. In every comic movie show I hear Kevin conroy. I tell everyone I’m a Batman girlie love the comics but my favorite Batman is Kevin Conroy’s. And Mark Hamil’s Joker. The perfect pairing. They both agreed
@xilverknight155
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
24:20
This is a very honest, but also not entirely correct take about Batman as a whole. It's not that I'm saying Conroy is incorrect in this assessment at the time of recording that, as I don't know how his stance was post that interview, but I know it's a very popular blanket opinion about the character that I, and even the showrunners of Batman The Animated Series don't agree with entirely.
This is very true for a young Bruce Wayne, similar to how it was true for Conroy when he was young. But Batman/Bruce doesn't stay in his early 20s forever. He grows up, and comes to learn more about himself, who he is, and what he really wants to become/do.
Neither is a mask. They're both part of him, and both parts he's using to do good. Whether it's public works projects, charity fundraisers, volunteer hours at community centers and retirement homes, or when he's out solving mysteries and trying to stop the crime syndicate from continuing to make Gotham a shithole.
Bruce Wayne cares about Gotham. Batman cares about Gotham. They're two sides of the same coin.
@FrancisL4D
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
My favorite gay person
@renathesiren5260
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Batman was my childhood. Especially the arkham games and the animated series and batman beyond. Kevin Conroy shaped my childhood. My dad always showed me everything about batman. I came out as bi to my dad when I was 12. I'm now 16. My dad is no longer with us.the only thing my dad said was i dont care who you date just as long as you dont bring anyone ugly home.This is the first time I found out kevin Conroy was gay. The first thing I thought was TWINSIES
@TaylaDrago
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Kevin Conroy will always be our voice of Batman. As well as a friend/uncle of a voice actor supporter, well to be on those last 2. lol Im glad I saw him 2 times and 3 autographs on my end, I hope a lot more on you guys too; because I always thought of him being closer like a friend/family to be over my 1990's childhood growing up.
@Socksydeeryenaboi
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Rest In Peace Kevin Conroy, you are a legend
@WholesomeSkullMan-tl6xx
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Oh man I sobbed. I love life stories and I wish everyone’s was known, but that isn’t feasible, and our personal moments can be so easily lost to time because we’re all little Blips. I’m just a boy, starting work soon, and growing up it seemed like I was always constantly having to make and learn from new and stupid mistakes. I am an undecided and scatter-brained as to who I am, and I used to rip myself to pieces because I didn’t feel adequate, but I learned that what I want more than anything is to make a positive impact on the people around me and the world just as Kevin had. I’m so grateful I got to hear his story, and I love that man to death even though I was just another blip who only knew his performances. I appreciate them so much now. I know the world misses him.
@peterpaul9644
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Batman Forever was sort of my gay awakening 😂
@giles852002
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
When I was a kid I had real trouble reading due to my Dyspraxia so reading comics wasn’t possible for me. Then the early 90s Batman show came on & it changed my life. I finally learned all the Batman villains & their origins, I learned more about Batman. Kevin Conroy, Arleen Sorkin, Mark Hamill & everyone brought it all to life for me & others who fell in love with the show. I was so saddened to hear Kevin passed, as he is Batman for me, forever more. RIP Kevin & thank you.
@mikemaples3289
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
rip batman
@Nocturnalights
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
WHY DOES IT MATTER YOU HAVE TO PUT GAY INTHERE DONT RUIN KEVINS NAME
@tnate6004
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I only knew of Kevin from his playing attorney Jerry Grove on the soap Another World in the early 80s. It was only after he died that I learned he was gay and of his life-changing role as Batman. Must have been destiny – what a compelling life and career, the ultimate symbiotic relationship between actor and character and finally finding peace. Well done as usual, Matt.
@barghest94
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Kevin Conroy was THE goat, RIP
@BatmanFanNumberOne
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Alfred x Superman 😭
@alexmaur7074
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
He was si iconic in Batman 🦇🦇⚖️🌙⭐
@heliopeia
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
this was a beautiful video, thank u for making this and sharing this!
@Tracy-xe9zu
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I'm sad to have only learned this much about Kevin after he'd already passed away… I grew up with BTAS, TNBA, Justice League, etc. For me, Kevin Conroy is my Batman, and the definitive Batman.
@roryaddison5458
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Wow, this was an astonishingly brilliant video – much like all of your other videos though! My husband and I watch the animated series endlessly on repeat, and we will watch with an even greater appreciation for it now. What a brilliant man, it is so touching to see his co-stars and friends talk about him with such fondness. Thank you for sharing his story
@Crøws_Territory
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
😀
@jeffreyreed8714
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Matt, thanks for this powerful story …and message of inspiration for us all! Life is short and we all have the power to do good in the world while we still have life on this earth. Second guessing only holds us back!
@letsplaysmr8621
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Never watched any animated Batman, but I loved Kevin Conroy as Jerry Grove on Another World. They replaced him with Paul Tinder, but it was never the same.
@Starxoulla
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I could listen to you talk all day about paint drying
@MetAlcboy
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I used to be a homophobic religious kid and my favorite Batman was a gay man. How ironic is that when I look back? Lol
@deathwishtommy9773
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
RIP 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡
@StevieRagg
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
A truly awesome batman rip Mr conroy. 🦇
@spokenwordari
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I didn't know all this about Kevin Conroy. I knew his name and that he voiced Batman. I'm almost in tears now. I watched the BTAS show at a very difficult time in my teens when I wasn't going to school and couldn't get out of bed. Similar to Kevin, I had epilepsy due to stress. I was undiagnosed and had OCD and other conditions I had been suppressing throughout my life up until the breaking point in high school. I could only read comics and watch DC shows as it was all I could digest then. RIP Kevin Conroy. You helped many people and will live on as a hero. Thank you Matt for this video.
@markrandle4368
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 pm
the best ever.
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