Matt, Kevin was my best friend for 55 years. We met in Joyce Wilke's English class, we moved to NY together at 17, and remained inseparable our entire lives. What you have done here has me in tears, and tears of joy, as you TOLD Kevin's story. I wanted him to write a book - I Am Batman - I am Gay kind of idea. But he didn't live to do it. But, as much as possible, you did it for him. Thank you and thank. you to all of his fans. He loved his fans more than words can ever say!
Mark Hamill recently said he was retiring from the being the Joker and one of his reasons was Kevin’s death because “the joker dosnt exist without Batman” breaks my heart. I didn’t watch to much DC stuff but I did watch Justice League a lot and Batman: the animated series at times and he’s always amazing. Rip Batman
Years ago Mark Hamill said he was semi-retired from being the Joker and would only accept the role if Kevin Conroy was Batman. As soon as I heard Kevin Conroy died I knew there would be no more Mark Hamill Joker.
There isn't any good Batman vs Joker story to tell anymore so it's the best move to retire. If there is at least we have Troy Baker closest we'll ever get to young Mark
@@ShamanMcLamieyeah.... I am sure MultiVersus was Hamill's final go as the Clown Prince of Crime (he was actually going to be the next character to be added before the beta closed. Perhaps Joker will be the first when the game returns)
As a straight guy and also a huge fan of Batman, I really appreciate the respect, love, and continued life the Gay community brings forth to their Gay artists. It is truly a wonderful thing to witness. I did not know any of this about Kevin Conroy, thank you for sharing and cementing it for all of us in history This was a pleasure to watch. Thank you
Maybe cause nobody cared who you bang as long as you’re a good person and productive member of society. The fact that his sexuality is forefront of his remembrance is comical….
@@bennett4789 Yes I forgot we live in a suppressive regime that does not allow gay people to speak, think, or talk without an ally handy. I see your programming is working really well 🤨
I dare say no one understood Batman as well as Kevin Conroy. It's no wonder he was able to play him so well. He will always be Batman, him and Michael Keaton for me.
Kevin took his pain and channeled it into a character born from it, a character who dedicated his life to easing the suffering of others. As Kevin said in his autobiographical comic: "Yes, this is ground I know."
"You will never find the lead role again" and proceeds to call him a homophobic slur. Then Kevin becomes Batman, the greatest one of them all. Kevin wasn't just Batman, he IS the night. He IS vengeance. And the world will miss him.
Please don't bring this to batman. We have gay men playing straight roles we have straight men playing gay roles it's just that some people do not want to be involved with the politics. Kevin Conroy was amazing and always will be in our minds whether we're straight or gay or any other listing you may add to it. Can't we just celebrate "ACTORS" ? I DONT CARE WHAT SOURCE THAT VOICE CAME FROM! IT'S GONNA BE A PILL TO SWALLOW TO FIND A CONSISTENT REPRESENTATION OF ONE OF OUR CHILDHOOD/ADULTHOOD ICONS.
His voice was absolutely perfect for Batman. He was soft-spoken and charming, yet strong and intimidating at the same time and he didn't even have to try to change his voice to jump between these things, they were just always present in the performance simultaneously.
@@stellviahohenheim Voice acting and acting are completely different things. Christian Bale was a good physical Bruce Wayne and Batman, and his voice was good for Bruce, but the scratchy, “bat growl” was hard to take seriously
@@stellviahohenheim what is the need for this comment? ? ? ? theyre praising kevin, theyre not bringing down other batman actors/voice actors... get a grip and read the room
Didn’t knew he was gay. Met him at Comic Con, thought he was toughest, most wholesome man I’ve ever met, and I still do. Goodbye uncle Kevin, thank you for being so wonderful! 🫶🙏
@@AO-qj2zu they're probably one of the people from Twitter that reads into a sentence so deeply that they would assume the person who put out a compliment was actually insulting and not complimenting 😭
This guy who probably thought of himself as a failed actor for much of his life became absolutely an icon of joy and heroism for entire generations of people. "Nobody gets out of here without getting the shit kicked out of them" Damn straight. You can't live like it never will. You can't live like it never *has*. I literally cried during this. If I live my life half as well as this man, by God I will have *won*.
I believe Comic Tropes did a video on this, but the very first comic where those characters cross over from way back in the 50s involved them rooming together which is delightful!
@its really complicated being nice to straight men Almost nobody cares that Kevin was gay. They don’t care if you’re gay. You’re not using the word “Karen” correctly. No, they do not cry if DC characters are rewritten as gay. Complaining is not the same thing as crying. You’re projecting.
@@evanlinden4410 Almost nobody. Your side cares far more about that than our side ever has. Kevin Conroy is the best Batman ever. Yes, I am a straight male. Yes, I am a moderate conservative Republican. No, I don’t care that Kevin was gay. I’m happy that he was happy with his husband. I send my condolences to his family, including his husband.
As a Batman fan and a straight guy I gotta say if Kevin Conroy was public about his homosexuality us real fans would have still supported him and made sure he still kept getting Batman roles
@@sipiocthats pretty healthy but sadly, most public figures just dont admit it because theres a lot of people who would react in a bad way, so even if they want they cant
It’s a strange feeling to grieve over someone you never met. Yet my heart still hurts over the loss of Kevin Conroy. I only really got into his work (BTAS and TNBA in particular) in late 2021, yet it still feels like I lost an old friend. Thanks for the video, Matt. Rest peacefully, Kevin ❤
Eh...I've already had this feeling 3 times in my life. Once with a professional wrestler named Eddie Guerrero, once with Leonard Nimoy, and finally with Kevin Conroy.
@@jeremiahbristow7609 Yeah losing Eddie sucked. I met him once . Great guy. Met Benoit to, I know what he did was horrible. I try to remember the guy who shook my hand that day and thanked me for telling him how much I enjoyed the match he had with William Regal that night.
This us hoe people felt when Gandolfini died.....just someone you loved watching or hearing taken away feels like a small piece of u is gone for all of us.
Honestly I didn't like batman, but I always knew batman woth Kevin being the voice in everything. Including my favorite bits usually crossovers with superman. Now tho. Batty might be my new favorite, because he has no superpowers apart from money Also batman is officially gay.
You respect someone more based on their sexual orientation? A bit interesting and odd. Couldn’t be me and I’m bisexual. I don’t respect people based off of whom their attracted to but. I do have respect for Kevin nonthless
@@Daddyvader7 it’s recognizing he went through struggles that very few people knew about while pushing on and focusing on his art and how he knew it was adding goodness into the lives of children.
@@Daddyvader7 Well stated .. Conroy will always BE Batman for me. Couldn't care less who he cuddled up with and not sure throwing it out there as some kind of "well there" (I think) is a bit of a disservice to someone so talented.
Ah damnit, now I’m crying over Batman. Update: looked up when Conroy was born and saw that he was close to my dad’s age, who also went to high school in Westport. Turns out the two of them played the trumpet together. Small world. Double update: turns out the younger brother played trumpet with my dad. Kevin Conroy was in my uncle’s grade and they were in plays together.
I had no idea Kevin was gay before I saw this. Just makes me love him as a person even more. He lived through so much pain and had to closet himself to others or he feared to be blacklisted. And he still was such a sweet and loving person to everyone he worked with or met. We truly lost a hero when we lost Kevin. RIP Kevin, we all love and miss you.
@@robfragale Didn´t know either and frankly i don´t care now that i found out. So he was gay so what, i didn´t like his version of Batman because the actor playing him was gay. I liked it because it was well acted and the voice fitted Batman and he made Bruce Wayne sound like a different person. Unless the actor is either involved in some weird shit and/or highly illegal stuff or that he/she directly attacks the fans online, then it doesn´t matter what they do in their personal life or who they like to sleep with, that´s not my concern. My sole concern when i either hear their voice in a game or cartoon or watch them like action, is can they deliver a satisfying performance and is the story any good. In Kevins case he delivered a good performance as Batman and Bruce Wayne and the stories and games he was in ranged from mediocre at worst to REALLY excellent at best. Well except for one episode... where he played a psychotic bruce wayne in a batwoman episode... that episode was REALLY bad. Sue he might have given it his all... but... no even his acting couldn´t save that episode..
@@Erikjust Batman's character is all about duality and hiding a part of yourself from the world while putting on a front. Very much like Conroy having to hide his sexuality in both his personal and professional life. He expressed that when playing Batman he drew from his own experiences of putting on a "presentable" front to the world or else he'd have lost jobs or family. He writes about it in a comic he wrote for DC a few years ago for Pride that talks about his early life, career and how he got the role of Batman. It's a very good read. He took his own experiences in life and applied them to his acting and made arguably the best portayal of Batman come to life as a result.
@@caldw615 Good for him. But it still doesn´t change the fact that i didn´t know any of this when i first heard his version of Batman. in fact it wasn´t before his death that i even knew he was gay. Didn´t care then don´t care know. The personal lives of the various actors are just that their personal lives. and a "consumer" so to speak of his "products"/the roles he played. All i really care about is does the product live up to the standards that i have set for a good product. and i would say when it comes to his version of batman yes they do. and as long as they did i didn´t care much about his social life and still do not.
I did some research about Kevin and I had no idea he was gay until just before he passed away. That didn’t change my view of him, it actually made me respect and appreciate him even more. He overcame so much in his life to become a hero to so many of us. I even read about the story of when he volunteered to cook meals for the first responders after 9/11. Kevin shouted in his “Batman voice” from the kitchen his iconic line and everyone cheered and applauded. Kevin was not led by money or greed, he just wanted to make people happy with his work as Batman. He was a hero to so many of us and I’m very thankful to have grown up with his work. Thank you Kevin for not being the hero we deserved, but the hero we needed. You will forever be our Batman. Rest in peace. ❤
I met Kevin in March 2022, at a convention. I had very limited time, so I made the best of it. I shared with him his impact in my life, personal and professional, and that his work, and he as a person, meant so much to me. And I thanked him for getting me through all the rough times in my life, to which he just smiled and said, "Hey... Hang in there." and that was the greatest piece of advice I had ever received.
Can't lie, I thought your comment about crying was just silly over a celebrity, even as great a person as Kevin was, but then it got me half way through and I've got tears too. R.I.P Kevin Conroy. I love hearing him speak, but I find it a bit too hard as well now he's gone. Wish I could've met him.
This made me tear up. with all the suffering that Kevin went through he still helped others. Thank you for making this, Kevin is truly a hero of the people and inspires me to be better.
I grew up on Batman: the Animated Series, and I'm glad I grew up when I did. It (along with Gargoyles, and one or two others) showed that animation directed at children and teenagers didn't need to be wacky and pandering. This wasn't ONLY because of Kevin Conroy, but the voice actors were a huge part, maybe none more than Mr. Conroy.
I'm not a gay man but was definitely uptight and "in knots" when I was younger, like Kevin says. And his story about getting cast in the school play and stepping out on stage feeling like all his worries melted a way really speaks to me. Exact same scenario for me. Music classes definitely helped along the way but when I was cast in a play... everything made sense all of a sudden. I miss this man dearly.
Kevin is proof of just how important a teacher is for kids. If it wasn't for a teacher taking notice of Kevin with the play and how well he got the story behind the play and getting him into the classes and acting then we would have never had Batman.
It actually sucks that he died. I know he was in his 60s, but he very much still had the Batman voice and it's clear that he still had so much to give to the world. The definitive Batman and a great man overall.
60s is still young . He should have been with us for at least another 10 years. It's not fair that he and so many other good people such as Carrie Fisher and Stephen Hillenburg died prematurely and yet scum like Joe Biden and Kathleen Kennedy still live.
Hands down, my favorite tribute to Kevin Conroy. Kevin was my batman. I grew up in the 90s and love all forms of Batman but the cartoon hit a certain chord within me. Growing up in an awful, abusive household, it was a welcome respite most days. Kevin got me through a lot in those days and I returned to Batman: The Animated Series again and again whenever I was feeling down or having a rough time. When he passed, I cried harder than I cried for Bowie (and that's saying something). Thank you for this incredible video, Matt.
This was my favourite show as a kid, I used to have lots of anxiety about going to school and fear of getting bullied, this show definitely made me feel better watching it before I went to school and helped me calm down some, the stories where so good that you almost forgot everything else for a moment. Great to gear it has been a support for others too.
I had absolutely no idea about Kevin's back story. I've always loved Batman TAS and was always impressed by how good it was. This level of quality acting absolutely had to play a big reason as to why it was so damn good. And again - I knew nothing of this. Thank you so much for sharing this story.
Kevin Conroy’s Batman wasn’t just a voice. It was an Image. It defined the character forever. He changed Batman’s perception in comics, movies, shows, games, etc.
I wish Kevin could’ve seen this video, I bet he would have loved it. I remember a couple of years ago when I was discovering my own sexuality I found out that Kevin was gay, my favourite Batman, the voice of my childhood hero, and it gave me such comfort and confidence in coming out myself. I realised that if THE Batman could be a gay man then I should have nothing to fear. RIP Kevin, we all loved you.
Matt, I felt compelled to respond... Not only was I a fan, but I was also fortunate enough to be able to call Kevin Conroy a personal friend for the last several years... He and my late best friend both called Westport, Connecticut home and, ironically, attended the same high school -- albeit some 18 or so years apart... I am grateful for his portrayals of my favorite superhero, but I will also treasure the personal friendship I had with him for the last several years of his life. Having lost my best friend to cancer in 2019, Kevin's passing hit me particularly hard, but, while he may have left this metaphorical stage, the amazing thing about actors is that their performances survive them, and for that, I will be eternally grateful.
This made me cry ugly tears, I'm gonna miss him so goddamn much. You did a good job incorporating interview from Kevin and the people that worked with him.
I met him only months before his tragic passing at a CON and I’m SOOO glad i had the chance to thank him for all the memories and the dignity he brought to the part and the profession. He will be missed.
What a beautiful tribute. Thank you for this. I was also raised on Kevin's Batman. I had no idea about his backstory. His complete embodiment of this role makes so much more sense.
I'm sitting here sobbing as I watch this. Kevin's life is so incredibly inspiring. He started with such a tortured childhood and evolved into a confident man who took charge of his destiny. An absolutely amazing role model.
The fact that he was able to turn his pain and struggles into something that has brought so much joy to so many people is truly inspiring. He was one of the best of us. He will always be my Batman.
I've lost count the number of times Kevin Conroy brought me to tears as Batman. The main one that comes to mind is when he's speaking to his parents' graves in Mask of the Phantasm. I just wanted to give Bruce a hug in that moment and tell him that his parents would want him to be happy and if that means marrying the love of his life instead of becoming Batman, then so be it! The fact that his performance, without the audience ever seeing his face, could be so moving is just extraordinary. I never watched any of the DC shows except for when he appeared as Batman. It was the culmination of his entire body of work to finally see him in live action and I'm so happy we got that. What a legacy and what a beautiful tribute! Thank you
I didn’t know Kevin was gay. I don’t know why I didn’t know, but I didn’t. I am delighted to know that he was, because I always love knowing someone was a part of the community, BUT it breaks my heart that he spent so long hiding who he was. I am glad he found love later in life, and that he died with that love. I just wish he could have lived longer with it. Kevin, you were an icon. That ending made me cry 😭
I didn’t know ether, but now knowing makes me loves Kevin all the more as Batman. Maybe subconsciously I came to love Batman cause I felt a link to another member of the LBGTQ like I am. Thank you Kevin bringing joy to a bisexual kid who still dreams of superheroes ❤
I found out Kevin was gay a year or two ago, but I didn’t know what he went through throughout his life. This makes me respect and appreciate him a lot more not just as Batman, but as a person too. As a gay man myself who struggles being closeted with my family, and trying to find my place in the world, learning all this helps me feel less alone. Especially from someone who was part of my childhood. I just wish I had a chance to meet him.
This was a man driven by love. He embodied the role of harnessing the darkness to find the light. The love you left behind will ripple for generations. Thank you for being you.
I grew up gay in a hateful Mormon home and community and Batman the animated series was my escape. I had no idea so many other people also found refuge there too, and didn’t know who Kevin was until all of this tribute at the event of his death and I am just crying. Thanks Kevin, and everyone responsible for BTAS.
In the days after his passing, many people shared the Cameos that Kevin had recorded for them. Each one was full of kindness and warmth and encouragement.
Wow, almost my story. Born in 55 to an alcoholic father who died when I was 21. My father always worked and separated from my mother when I was 20. He then died about a year later. My father was funny straight and pretty angry drunk. I understood that he loved me. I never understood that of my mother. I grew up in a family of five boys and one sister. Incest with brothers started at six. I grew up straight but incredibly confused. I still have not found my great talent like Matt. I have learned to cope enough to not drink and to have a wife and three amazing kids. I am glad you worked it out Kevin. It ain't a simple life but there are moments of bliss. Rest in peace brother.
Considering his young life, he could have gone in an extremely different direction in life. That teacher put him in the right direction. I’m glad she was there for him.
Teachers have such a big impact on the lives of their students. And this country treats them like second class workers. It’s fucking disgusting. Thank a teacher if you can, it means the world to them.
There's something so vidicating about learning that he was gay. I'm literally just finding out as I watch this video- and the little scared black gay nerdy child in me is squealing with rejoice. This man that I looked up to for all these years for reasons soley based on the merits of his career, turned out to also be gay. This means the world.
I'm just *now* watching this video. The small scared nerdy trans girl in me is rejoicing too, for finding this, and all of you in the comments here. My eyes are misting over with grief and remembrance, but with relief and release as well. Stay safe, 'kay?
I've realised I've been asexual if not aroace since I was 13. The shy nerdy gal in me feels so valid too! My mum always thinks I'm a failure because I never did what other girls (and she did) growing up.
His performance in Arkham Knight is truly incredible. The amount of pain and torture in that performance, barely disguised after years of doing it. You feel it with every line. And then the way his voice wavers when he gives the password for Knightfall, as he knows his mission is over... "Martha." It sticks with me and gives me chills whenever I think about it. It's the REAL Martha moment that everyone should be talking about.
@@nadussias I’m currently replaying Arkham Knight on the highest settings with Nvidia GameWorks. And, my god, it still looks fucking gorgeous to this day. I’m going to miss Kevin Conroy’s Batman till the day I pass. Coming back home after school to watch both the Animated series and JLA were awesome.
Whelp, I thought I was done crying over Kevin’s passing but apparently not. This was a beautiful tribute to him and crushed me all over again to know he’s gone.
I got to meet Kevin at a con in 2016. I haven't watched the show, but the fact that the con had 2 actors who played Batman (the other being Adam West), I thought why not. I even drew Kevin a simple Batman drawing as a thank you. He appreciated my dawing, and I asked him what his favorite Batman line was. He did "I am Batman" line which made me happy. Years later, I finally watched the animated series and was beyond amazed. I wasn't able to properly tell him that after watching the show, that I absolutely admire him for his performance. As for the DC Pride Comic, it's emotional to read about his life and how his connections to Batman wasn't just a role for him. I still admire him for his bravery and hope that he was at peace with himself when he left. His death really shook me up, and I couldn't stop crying that morning I found out. Anyway, this was a wonderful video! And thank you, Kevin, for everything.
His voice is the voice i always hear when I think of batman, play a game, read a comic or book. His voice was the voice I Heard since I was 7 years old watching batman the animated series, superman adventures, justice league. It's the one I will always hear. I hope he's resting easy now. You are missed Kevin.
I was already an adult and expectant father when Batman the animated series premiered. Even so, I had been waiting for a truly exceptional Batman TV series for a long long time, and it miraculously appeared the week before my son was born. Kevin Conroy defined the role for multiple generations, and I share my love for his performances with my adult children to this very day.
This was such a beautiful tribute to Kevin Conroy. It covers a lot about his personal life, his professional life and how he eventually landed the role of Batman. Batman: The Animated Series was my first exposure to the character and I watched the DCAU series a lot back in the day. Kevin's voice for Batman is iconic. It captures both his gruff dark knight tone, as well as his compassion underneath it all. He has so many iconic moments throughout his role. Kevin Conroy sounded like such a warm and loving person. He seemed to enjoy interacting with fans and those stories about him trying to make everyone in the studio comfortable were really sweet too. His story for DC Pride was so raw and intense. I'm glad that he was able to share his story. That video where he thanks people for their support and that their support means the world to him still makes me cry. I truly hope that he knew how much fans love him and that provided him more comfort. I hope that he felt love from his friends and family too. I hope that Kevin Conroy is at peace and his family and friends will be okay.
Thank you so much for this. It must have been a ton of work to put together but this man meant so much to so many of us. It was wonderful to see him get his due and have his story told.
" Restes the Greek hero, driven to mad vengeance by the death of his father" "Edgar a wealthy man that goes into hiding and adopts a disguise" "Achilles a seemingly invincible hero who hides a secret vulnerability" Okay... All these characters are just Batman with a different name lol. He was already playing batman before he did batman lol.
Dear Matt, Don't know if you'll read this, but I wanted to salute you for so beautifully giving justice to the story of this incredible hero. Between the loss of Kevin and Jason David Frank, it was an extremely rough November. Your review brought back a LOT of memories and inspiration from Mr. Conroy, his performance, and his message, on how to be a hero and positively impact the world in your own way, and leave it better than how you found it. For all of us who are still grieving him, that message does bring comfort. Thank you, Matt. This is the first video I've watched on your channel, but I've become an instant fan. All the best.
Thank you for this video. Kevin Conroy is the voice in my head when i read Batman comics. To think that he applied his duality to voicing Batman was incredible. I would have liked to meet him, and tell him how influentail his work was on me and that i was proud of him for coming out. I've gone back to Batman and showed it to my wife and kids and they enjoyed it.
this was so beautiful man, i never knew one of the greatest voices of Batman was Gay and that's what makes Kevin's story so beautiful and tragic but in all of the dark corners of the world there is light to be found and to us that was Kevin's performance as Batman and to Kevin it was the fans who showed so much love and support. Rest in Peace Kevin Conroy, You'll never be forgotten ever.
I am barely 5 minutes in and Good Lord, I had no idea about Kevin's upbringing. I can tell this is already quality, so I'm going to shut up and finish the video. EDIT: Fantastic work Matt. A wonderful tribute to a good man.
I knew I was going to get emotional watching this, didn’t think I’d cry in the first 5 minutes. Kevin had such an impact on my life, & I always wish I was able to meet him and thank him for everything he’s done. Reading his Pride story tore out my heart. Hearing in someone else words about that mask that we put on for the rest of the world. The pain of saying goodbye to your chosen family as they pass from aides (tho thankfully not as common, I went through something with a dear friend with cancer). The more I learn about the man the more I feel connected to him, & the more I view him as a true hero
To say I'm glad this video exists is a huge understatement. It is superbly researched & it made me learn a lot more about this cherished icon who’s voice acting career will forever immortalise him.
I never knew he was gay OR how he was the guy that made me realize I was gay. I just found out he was in a movie called Chain of Desires 1992 and not only was it the movie that made me finally accept that i was gay he played the role that gave me the realization. It played this exhibitionist in a window getting off to a guy watching him. It was the most sexually charged thing i had ever seen and is still of the top 5 scenes for me. I had no idea until a few minutes ago that he was the actor. I was ten and he got me to figure myself out. I loved Batman as well and that they were one and same blows my mind and makes me wonder if I had known that if things might not have been so isolating being a gay kid in the south in 90's. Thank you for this, and thank you Kevin for saving me from the denial bullshit so many of my peers dealt with and the fallout from it.
Wow…. I never knew any of this about Kevin. The struggles, the pain, the fears that he went through throughout his life. I mean that’s just heartbreaking to hear. Hearing that he totally relates to Batman before actually becoming the character… is just unbelievable. This is why Kevin will forever be my Batman. RIP Kevin Conroy.
Your videos are always great, but this one was more eye-opening to me than I had any way to expect. I regret to say I was totally unaware of Kevin Conroy until this very minute. Not being a New Yorker, I'd no occasion to regularly frequent theater there, and I stopped watching commercial television in the mid 1970s, so never caught any of his work in those venues. The man really pulled himself up by his bootstraps to lead a wonderfully productive life that gave countless people such joy. This is a wonderful tribute. I salute you!
Batman the animated series was one of many animated superhero shows out around that time that got me into comicbooks. The loss of Kevin hit hard, everytime i read a dc comic or batfamily book i hear his voice
@@stopwatchstudios9622 Use your head. If nobody minded, why did Kevin Conroy have to hide his homosexuality for such a long time? This isn't about you and your feelings.
@@stopwatchstudios9622but like, kevin isn't the gay person we see today, he's the gay person who had to fight for gay rights, which eventually happened in 2015
Kevin Conroy was not The Batman we deserved, but he was The Batman we needed. I was already in college when Batman:TAS started airing, but as a Batman fan I watched it regularly even though it was a "kids show". Conroy's Batman and Hamill's Joker will forever be the voices I hear in my head now when I read the comics. His death hit me harder than I thought it would. From the little I know of him, I believe the world is worse off without him in it and it saddens me that we will never hear his voice again in any new projects.
What an amazing tribute. I grew up with Kevin Conroy and loved his voice acting, but still didn't realize how fundamental he was to the role of Batman. This video does a great job at an exploring how the turmoil in his life shaped him and his performance, but also the good he made from it and how he was able to spread positivity, kindness, and joy despite it. Makes me appreciate him even more as both a person and in the role. Similar to the lesson his father taught him, I hope everyone can live a life true to themselves and leave something behind in the process. Cheers!
Yep, that was a tough one to watch. I dont normally get effected by celeb deaths, but the moment I heard the news I just tried to keep from crying until I got off work. I think Kevin will be remembered as being THE Batman for a very very long time.
I didn't know much about Kevin Conroy prior to his passing. I knew about Batman TAS and I remember you mentioning something about him in your Dynasty video, but I didn't know much beyond that. Since his passing, I have learned so much about this incredible man from the multitude of humans singing his deserved praises. As a queer individual with family trauma pursuing acting, I now want to be like Kevin Conroy. I want to be able to so authentically use my experiences to amplify my performance in a way that touches others. Incredible video as always. Thank you for all the research you do.
I never knew was gay, but like you know that strange voice in the back of your head letting you know theyre one of you was always there. Im so glad i got to see Kevin as Batman in so many things. A toast to Kevin and a toast to The Batman.
I cried throughout the video... I never expected to be so moved. I grew up, as many others, with BTAS. It was one of my favorite shows and to this day hands down my favorite version of Batman. I was thinking about how did Kevin's passing could hit me like this. We grew up loving his potrayal of Batman, only to grow up and find the origin of his nuanced performance and with it all too familiar elements that hit close for most if not all of us: a double life, concealing and even hatred of the self, maybe even some parental neglect or loss. Yes, we all didn't have it exactly the same, yet some elements definitely repeat themselves. There is kinship, a very special one, and Kevin Conroy embodies it... Those wounds informed this beloved portrayal of Batman of all superheroes, and we do identify with some or all of those wounds. He found strength in portraying Batman and finding something to do with love. He healed through Batman, through Art and through doing something he loved doing. That is inspiring. Thanks Conroy, our Dark Knight. May he rest in peace.
Batman: The Animated Series is my all-time favorite tv show. Batman is my absolute favorite character of all-time, and Kevin Conroy is my favorite Batman of all time. I met him once at Salt Lake City FanX. He was super nice, and wonderful. However, I never knew he was gay. It doesn’t matter at all, I just found it interesting that I never knew that detail of someone I admired so much. Out of all the celebrity deaths, his hit me the hardest. Everyone says he was such a wonderful person, and he not only gave my favorite character his most iconic voice, but he gave him a soul. When I met him, he said to me (in the Batman voice) “Nick, I need your help…Gotham needs you.” I legitimately teared up when he said that…I was talking to Batman. Kevin, you may be gone…but you’ll never be forgotten. Your legacy as The Dark Knight will live on.
I think Kevin's story about his life shows how you can reach fulfillment even when you've gone through the darkest of times. It really feels like he was born to play Batman. Thank you Kevin for being the definitive Batman of our lives!
RIP Mr. Conroy, never knew you were gay and wouldn’t have cared either way. Whenever I think of Batman or see anything that reminds me of Batman I will hear your voice and smile fondly
One of the Greatest American Voice Actor next to Mel Blanc. He gave us all an amazing male model that a generation needed (same as Peter Colleen did in the 80s with Optimus Prime). I am glad to have enjoyed both of them in my life. Thank you for giving us more insight into a great person that has impacted millions.
I am 75 years old and never knew of Kevin Conroy. Throughout the video I was very emotional, not because how good he was at his craft and not that he was a gay man with a tragic childhood, but rather of the exceptional human being he has been throughout his life. He fought all odds to be remembered as a good person, one he always been since his childhood. When I finally heard that he has died I felt being thrown in a black hole only to realise that he is still alive in his legacy he has left behind for all of us. Thank you for your passion in telling us this remarkable Life.
Kevin’s death is one of the only “celebrity” deaths that just felt like a punch in the gut upon hearing the news. I felt sick for days after finding out. Kevin’s voice had been such a huge part of my childhood that when I found out about his passing it was like losing an old friend. As a kid I watched BTAS, JL and JLU, Batman Beyond, and played the Arkham and Injustice games. Batman is still my favorite superhero character to this day.
I had no idea Kevin Conroy was gay before seeing this video, and no idea how much he'd struggled during his life. The fact that he took all the pain and fear and uncertainty he'd experienced and didn't succumb to it, but used it to create a character beloved by generations of fans - and beyond that, to make the lives of his friends and coworkers just that much better by treating them with love and kindness - is the work of a true hero. He will always be "my" Batman, just as he is for so many others. Thank you for making this video and sharing his story with us.
1992 Texas, a little blind gay boy hides from a mentally unstable mother and a drunkin stepfather. From the dark came a voice of comfort. 30 years later I find out that voice shared my pain.
BTAS is very special to me always has been. Now me and my son watch it non stop he LOVES it. Kevin is the GOAT and will be missed, still can’t believe he’s gone.
OMG he was Gay?! I'm a Gay man who was brought up Catholic as well!!! I never knew my favorite superhero was voiced to perfection by another Gay man of similar circumstances!!! So proud of him, and I grieved his loss before, but the grief is renewed after knowing this!!
I had no idea that Kevin Conroy’s own childhood was so eerily close to that of Bruce Wayne in a vague sense. And the fact that everyone who plays batman after the fact emulates him so closely is so amazing to me. Batman was a goofy character before Conroy, and now he’s the brooding damaged man that everyone knows him for. I may not have been the greatest batman fan, but seeing his work now makes me so happy. Thank you for your efforts sir, may you rest in peace
I am in tears. This is a beautiful tribute. You are missed, Mister Conroy. You are MY Batman. The one who made me love this character since my childhood.
Matt, You are an amazing story teller. The ways in which you tell these peoples lives from joyous occasions, or heart wrenching disaster is just breathtaking. Thank you for all you do to add the human element that's behind the scenes, you bring out so much nuance in every story you tell. I just looked up and realized I wasn't subscribed and watched to slap myself. You are an icon!
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Matt, Kevin was my best friend for 55 years. We met in Joyce Wilke's English class, we moved to NY together at 17, and remained inseparable our entire lives. What you have done here has me in tears, and tears of joy, as you TOLD Kevin's story. I wanted him to write a book - I Am Batman - I am Gay kind of idea. But he didn't live to do it. But, as much as possible, you did it for him. Thank you and thank. you to all of his fans. He loved his fans more than words can ever say!
And we loved him. We still do.
We will love him always. His Batman overruns my CD collection! I have him in many more films too, just didn't know it! Rewatching this week to see!
So your saying you met Kevin conroy when he was 11
@@lostmediadetective2590They prolly met in Middle School
Yeah,I’m just sating the obvious
Mark Hamill recently said he was retiring from the being the Joker and one of his reasons was Kevin’s death because “the joker dosnt exist without Batman” breaks my heart. I didn’t watch to much DC stuff but I did watch Justice League a lot and Batman: the animated series at times and he’s always amazing. Rip Batman
"Without Batman, crime has no punchline."
Years ago Mark Hamill said he was semi-retired from being the Joker and would only accept the role if Kevin Conroy was Batman. As soon as I heard Kevin Conroy died I knew there would be no more Mark Hamill Joker.
There isn't any good Batman vs Joker story to tell anymore so it's the best move to retire. If there is at least we have Troy Baker closest we'll ever get to young Mark
@@NinjapowerMS And we have Roger Craig Smith to carry on Kevin's mantle as Batman.
@@ShamanMcLamieyeah....
I am sure MultiVersus was Hamill's final go as the Clown Prince of Crime (he was actually going to be the next character to be added before the beta closed. Perhaps Joker will be the first when the game returns)
As a straight guy and also a huge fan of Batman, I really appreciate the respect, love, and continued life the Gay community brings forth to their Gay artists. It is truly a wonderful thing to witness. I did not know any of this about Kevin Conroy, thank you for sharing and cementing it for all of us in history
This was a pleasure to watch. Thank you
Maybe cause nobody cared who you bang as long as you’re a good person and productive member of society. The fact that his sexuality is forefront of his remembrance is comical….
No need to capitalize. It’s a normal adjective.
@@kitgusto2390they are clearly trying to be an ally, give them a break
@@bennett4789 Yes I forgot we live in a suppressive regime that does not allow gay people to speak, think, or talk without an ally handy. I see your programming is working really well 🤨
@@schoolofdank5736 what are you even on about? so cynical jesus
I dare say no one understood Batman as well as Kevin Conroy. It's no wonder he was able to play him so well. He will always be Batman, him and Michael Keaton for me.
Same here
Kevin took his pain and channeled it into a character born from it, a character who dedicated his life to easing the suffering of others. As Kevin said in his autobiographical comic: "Yes, this is ground I know."
Uh, yea, Frank Miller understood Batman better than Kevin Conroy...In fact, the creators also understood him better as well.
@@umjammerlammy9993yes he's the best Batman/Bruce Wayne ever
Rip Kevin Conroy
@@bud389 debatable.
RIP Mr. Conroy. You were vengeance. You were the night. You were Batman.
Yes and I loved that the Arkham games modeled Bruce's face after Kevin's (especially his 1982 Promo photo shown in this video)
He always will be 😢
and he was gay, disgusting
HE IS
No, He IS Vengeance. he IS the knight. he. IS...
BATMAN
"You will never find the lead role again" and proceeds to call him a homophobic slur. Then Kevin becomes Batman, the greatest one of them all.
Kevin wasn't just Batman, he IS the night. He IS vengeance. And the world will miss him.
Kevin became a beloved cultural icon. You ever heard of that producer who called him the slur? Hehe 😉
@@Prof_Tickles92naw who called my boy a fag
The unambiguously gay duo.
-- and proud!
Please don't bring this to batman. We have gay men playing straight roles we have straight men playing gay roles it's just that some people do not want to be involved with the politics. Kevin Conroy was amazing and always will be in our minds whether we're straight or gay or any other listing you may add to it. Can't we just celebrate "ACTORS" ? I DONT CARE WHAT SOURCE THAT VOICE CAME FROM! IT'S GONNA BE A PILL TO SWALLOW TO FIND A CONSISTENT REPRESENTATION OF ONE OF OUR CHILDHOOD/ADULTHOOD ICONS.
is gay people existing a political statement for you?@@josephlavender5232
His voice was absolutely perfect for Batman. He was soft-spoken and charming, yet strong and intimidating at the same time and he didn't even have to try to change his voice to jump between these things, they were just always present in the performance simultaneously.
Yeah you nailed it. Comforting and imposing.
No, Christian Bale is better
@@stellviahohenheimwack bait
@@stellviahohenheim Voice acting and acting are completely different things. Christian Bale was a good physical Bruce Wayne and Batman, and his voice was good for Bruce, but the scratchy, “bat growl” was hard to take seriously
@@stellviahohenheim what is the need for this comment? ? ? ? theyre praising kevin, theyre not bringing down other batman actors/voice actors... get a grip and read the room
Didn’t knew he was gay. Met him at Comic Con, thought he was toughest, most wholesome man I’ve ever met, and I still do. Goodbye uncle Kevin, thank you for being so wonderful! 🫶🙏
Gay guys can’t be tough and wholesome?
@@AppallingTrashFilms um, I don't think that's what they meant 💀
@@itsbritneybyotch7471 fr tho, people are unable to read full sentences😭💀.
@@AO-qj2zu they're probably one of the people from Twitter that reads into a sentence so deeply that they would assume the person who put out a compliment was actually insulting and not complimenting 😭
@@AppallingTrashFilms they can
This guy who probably thought of himself as a failed actor for much of his life became absolutely an icon of joy and heroism for entire generations of people.
"Nobody gets out of here without getting the shit kicked out of them" Damn straight. You can't live like it never will. You can't live like it never *has*.
I literally cried during this. If I live my life half as well as this man, by God I will have *won*.
The fact that Batman and Superman almost roomed together is the most adorable thing I've ever heard.
I believe Comic Tropes did a video on this, but the very first comic where those characters cross over from way back in the 50s involved them rooming together which is delightful!
Robin Williams almost voiced Howard the Duck
Batman and Robin roomed together, since Kevin was Robin’s roommate at Juilliard.
And how Superman kissed Alfred in 1982... the true cause of Batman V Superman!
@@silentghost751 Because Michael Caine played Alfred in the Nolan trilogy and Christopher Reeve played Superman
Kevin and Mark’s friendship was the sweetest thing
RIP Kevin
Now I wonder if they ever took a Batman project just as an excuse to hangout after recordings 🤔
@@theelementalstation947 That certainly seems in character for Mark
@its really complicated being nice to straight men Almost nobody cares that Kevin was gay. They don’t care if you’re gay. You’re not using the word “Karen” correctly. No, they do not cry if DC characters are rewritten as gay. Complaining is not the same thing as crying. You’re projecting.
@@evanlinden4410 Almost nobody. Your side cares far more about that than our side ever has. Kevin Conroy is the best Batman ever. Yes, I am a straight male. Yes, I am a moderate conservative Republican. No, I don’t care that Kevin was gay. I’m happy that he was happy with his husband. I send my condolences to his family, including his husband.
@@MS-ns2pj Your argumentative tone and the use of “your side” would suggest otherwise
As a Batman fan and a straight guy I gotta say if Kevin Conroy was public about his homosexuality us real fans would have still supported him and made sure he still kept getting Batman roles
Facts.
That’s just it; it didn’t matter, we didn’t need to know what his preferences were. We still don’t.
Definitely
There's sadly so many toxic DC fans and there would've been a lot of backlash.
@@sipiocthats pretty healthy but sadly, most public figures just dont admit it because theres a lot of people who would react in a bad way, so even if they want they cant
It’s a strange feeling to grieve over someone you never met. Yet my heart still hurts over the loss of Kevin Conroy. I only really got into his work (BTAS and TNBA in particular) in late 2021, yet it still feels like I lost an old friend. Thanks for the video, Matt. Rest peacefully, Kevin ❤
Eh...I've already had this feeling 3 times in my life. Once with a professional wrestler named Eddie Guerrero, once with Leonard Nimoy, and finally with Kevin Conroy.
@@jeremiahbristow7609 Yeah losing Eddie sucked. I met him once . Great guy. Met Benoit to, I know what he did was horrible. I try to remember the guy who shook my hand that day and thanked me for telling him how much I enjoyed the match he had with William Regal that night.
Honestly I recently had a Jason Todd (death in the family)situation
Kevin Conroy is why people should want to be famous. To have a positive and legendary impact on people's lives.
This us hoe people felt when Gandolfini died.....just someone you loved watching or hearing taken away feels like a small piece of u is gone for all of us.
Kevin will always be my Batman. He brought so much humanity, compassion, and empathy to the character.
He is the best Batman! He's not goofy, or overpowered, or dark for the sake of being gritty. He is so relatable and genuine!
Honestly I didn't like batman, but I always knew batman woth Kevin being the voice in everything. Including my favorite bits usually crossovers with superman. Now tho. Batty might be my new favorite, because he has no superpowers apart from money
Also batman is officially gay.
@@Gilded_Cage_Princess Batman is not officially gay lmfao
@@Gilded_Cage_Princess That is completely false, Batman has never said to be gay. Kevin Conroy May be but the character of Batman isn’t
I didn’t even know he was gay, I respect him even more now, rest in piece, absolute legend.
You respect someone more based on their sexual orientation? A bit interesting and odd. Couldn’t be me and I’m bisexual. I don’t respect people based off of whom their attracted to but. I do have respect for Kevin nonthless
@@Daddyvader7 People are saying they respect how he fought through the adversity being gay in his time brought.
@@Daddyvader7 it’s recognizing he went through struggles that very few people knew about while pushing on and focusing on his art and how he knew it was adding goodness into the lives of children.
@@Daddyvader7 Well stated .. Conroy will always BE Batman for me. Couldn't care less who he cuddled up with and not sure throwing it out there as some kind of "well there" (I think) is a bit of a disservice to someone so talented.
@@Daddyvader7 Did you even watch the video?
Ah damnit, now I’m crying over Batman.
Update: looked up when Conroy was born and saw that he was close to my dad’s age, who also went to high school in Westport. Turns out the two of them played the trumpet together. Small world.
Double update: turns out the younger brother played trumpet with my dad. Kevin Conroy was in my uncle’s grade and they were in plays together.
That’s awesome 😊
Wild! Six degrees can happen!
Woah
I highly doubt this.
@@lightwarrior1084 lol that’s okay
I had no idea Kevin was gay before I saw this. Just makes me love him as a person even more. He lived through so much pain and had to closet himself to others or he feared to be blacklisted. And he still was such a sweet and loving person to everyone he worked with or met. We truly lost a hero when we lost Kevin. RIP Kevin, we all love and miss you.
i dont think knowing hes gay makes a difference. This nonsense.
@@robfragale if you don’t realize how coming out could have affected his early career, you live in a bubble dude…
@@robfragale Didn´t know either and frankly i don´t care now that i found out.
So he was gay so what, i didn´t like his version of Batman because the actor playing him was gay.
I liked it because it was well acted and the voice fitted Batman and he made Bruce Wayne sound like a different person.
Unless the actor is either involved in some weird shit and/or highly illegal stuff or that he/she directly attacks the fans online, then it doesn´t matter what they do in their personal life or who they like to sleep with, that´s not my concern.
My sole concern when i either hear their voice in a game or cartoon or watch them like action, is can they deliver a satisfying performance and is the story any good.
In Kevins case he delivered a good performance as Batman and Bruce Wayne and the stories and games he was in ranged from mediocre at worst to REALLY excellent at best.
Well except for one episode... where he played a psychotic bruce wayne in a batwoman episode... that episode was REALLY bad.
Sue he might have given it his all... but... no even his acting couldn´t save that episode..
@@Erikjust Batman's character is all about duality and hiding a part of yourself from the world while putting on a front. Very much like Conroy having to hide his sexuality in both his personal and professional life. He expressed that when playing Batman he drew from his own experiences of putting on a "presentable" front to the world or else he'd have lost jobs or family.
He writes about it in a comic he wrote for DC a few years ago for Pride that talks about his early life, career and how he got the role of Batman. It's a very good read. He took his own experiences in life and applied them to his acting and made arguably the best portayal of Batman come to life as a result.
@@caldw615 Good for him.
But it still doesn´t change the fact that i didn´t know any of this when i first heard his version of Batman.
in fact it wasn´t before his death that i even knew he was gay.
Didn´t care then don´t care know.
The personal lives of the various actors are just that their personal lives.
and a "consumer" so to speak of his "products"/the roles he played.
All i really care about is does the product live up to the standards that i have set for a good product.
and i would say when it comes to his version of batman yes they do.
and as long as they did i didn´t care much about his social life and still do not.
I did some research about Kevin and I had no idea he was gay until just before he passed away. That didn’t change my view of him, it actually made me respect and appreciate him even more. He overcame so much in his life to become a hero to so many of us. I even read about the story of when he volunteered to cook meals for the first responders after 9/11. Kevin shouted in his “Batman voice” from the kitchen his iconic line and everyone cheered and applauded. Kevin was not led by money or greed, he just wanted to make people happy with his work as Batman. He was a hero to so many of us and I’m very thankful to have grown up with his work.
Thank you Kevin for not being the hero we deserved, but the hero we needed. You will forever be our Batman. Rest in peace. ❤
I met Kevin in March 2022, at a convention. I had very limited time, so I made the best of it. I shared with him his impact in my life, personal and professional, and that his work, and he as a person, meant so much to me. And I thanked him for getting me through all the rough times in my life, to which he just smiled and said, "Hey... Hang in there." and that was the greatest piece of advice I had ever received.
Well, I cried throughout this whole video 😭🤧
Not only an amazing voice actor but such a beloved human being. There will only be one Kevin Conroy.
Holy crap, me too.
Likewise here - Kevin's death hit me hard but this just writ it so large on my wee heart
Can't lie, I thought your comment about crying was just silly over a celebrity, even as great a person as Kevin was, but then it got me half way through and I've got tears too.
R.I.P Kevin Conroy. I love hearing him speak, but I find it a bit too hard as well now he's gone. Wish I could've met him.
🫂
@straight males are gay 🤨 Okay.
This made me tear up. with all the suffering that Kevin went through he still helped others. Thank you for making this, Kevin is truly a hero of the people and inspires me to be better.
Also Tara Strong is ridiculously hot.
@@Sweetstickamen, and AMEN.
I grew up on Batman: the Animated Series, and I'm glad I grew up when I did. It (along with Gargoyles, and one or two others) showed that animation directed at children and teenagers didn't need to be wacky and pandering. This wasn't ONLY because of Kevin Conroy, but the voice actors were a huge part, maybe none more than Mr. Conroy.
Exo-Squad, I would put that on the list.
It opened the door for other adult animation for me like Spawn.
Batman, X-Men, Gargoyles, & Spider-man in the 90s didn't talk down to kids. They trusted us to be mature enough to handle the stories they showed us.
Amen
Conroy and Hamill. Both are good on their own; the combination is magical.
I'm not a gay man but was definitely uptight and "in knots" when I was younger, like Kevin says. And his story about getting cast in the school play and stepping out on stage feeling like all his worries melted a way really speaks to me. Exact same scenario for me. Music classes definitely helped along the way but when I was cast in a play... everything made sense all of a sudden. I miss this man dearly.
Kevin is proof of just how important a teacher is for kids. If it wasn't for a teacher taking notice of Kevin with the play and how well he got the story behind the play and getting him into the classes and acting then we would have never had Batman.
It actually sucks that he died. I know he was in his 60s, but he very much still had the Batman voice and it's clear that he still had so much to give to the world. The definitive Batman and a great man overall.
60s is still young . He should have been with us for at least another 10 years. It's not fair that he and so many other good people such as Carrie Fisher and Stephen Hillenburg died prematurely and yet scum like Joe Biden and Kathleen Kennedy still live.
60s is not that old....he sadly got sick.
Wish we had more of him
@@Daysbb me too Bro, Batman won't be the same without him.
@@dannypitcherenterprises2414 It won't be the same, it will always be elevated because of Kevin.
Hands down, my favorite tribute to Kevin Conroy. Kevin was my batman. I grew up in the 90s and love all forms of Batman but the cartoon hit a certain chord within me. Growing up in an awful, abusive household, it was a welcome respite most days. Kevin got me through a lot in those days and I returned to Batman: The Animated Series again and again whenever I was feeling down or having a rough time. When he passed, I cried harder than I cried for Bowie (and that's saying something). Thank you for this incredible video, Matt.
Your Batman, our Batman, the Batman
This was my favourite show as a kid, I used to have lots of anxiety about going to school and fear of getting bullied, this show definitely made me feel better watching it before I went to school and helped me calm down some, the stories where so good that you almost forgot everything else for a moment. Great to gear it has been a support for others too.
I had absolutely no idea about Kevin's back story. I've always loved Batman TAS and was always impressed by how good it was. This level of quality acting absolutely had to play a big reason as to why it was so damn good. And again - I knew nothing of this. Thank you so much for sharing this story.
Kevin Conroy’s Batman wasn’t just a voice. It was an Image. It defined the character forever. He changed Batman’s perception in comics, movies, shows, games, etc.
I wish Kevin could’ve seen this video, I bet he would have loved it. I remember a couple of years ago when I was discovering my own sexuality I found out that Kevin was gay, my favourite Batman, the voice of my childhood hero, and it gave me such comfort and confidence in coming out myself. I realised that if THE Batman could be a gay man then I should have nothing to fear. RIP Kevin, we all loved you.
Oh I have no doubt he definitely saw this video just from a different plain!!
don't be gay
@@zak_atck Ummmmm... Pretty sure there are alot of People in the comment section that are gay..... So they are "Gonna Be Gay!!??!!"
@@DOCDOCFLAMINGOS one thing I loved about Kevin's voice acting was he had two different voices for Bruce Wayne and Batman
@@Chuck_EL Thanx fir sharing that.
He seemed like such a genuine and kind man. He will be missed
He was, and he is
Kevin Conroy is such a king. Gone, but never EVER forgotten.
Matt, I felt compelled to respond... Not only was I a fan, but I was also fortunate enough to be able to call Kevin Conroy a personal friend for the last several years... He and my late best friend both called Westport, Connecticut home and, ironically, attended the same high school -- albeit some 18 or so years apart... I am grateful for his portrayals of my favorite superhero, but I will also treasure the personal friendship I had with him for the last several years of his life. Having lost my best friend to cancer in 2019, Kevin's passing hit me particularly hard, but, while he may have left this metaphorical stage, the amazing thing about actors is that their performances survive them, and for that, I will be eternally grateful.
Sorry for your loss
This made me cry ugly tears, I'm gonna miss him so goddamn much. You did a good job incorporating interview from Kevin and the people that worked with him.
Yes this is a great tribute
"Without Batman crime has no punchline"
RIP to Kevin, countless people will always associate his instantly recognizable voice as Batman
Hearing “we found Batman” choked me up omg I miss Kevin so much
I've always adored his performance as Batman, but never knew his full story. what an incredible man!!!
I met him only months before his tragic passing at a CON and I’m SOOO glad i had the chance to thank him for all the memories and the dignity he brought to the part and the profession. He will be missed.
What a beautiful tribute. Thank you for this. I was also raised on Kevin's Batman. I had no idea about his backstory. His complete embodiment of this role makes so much more sense.
I'm sitting here sobbing as I watch this. Kevin's life is so incredibly inspiring. He started with such a tortured childhood and evolved into a confident man who took charge of his destiny. An absolutely amazing role model.
The fact that he was able to turn his pain and struggles into something that has brought so much joy to so many people is truly inspiring. He was one of the best of us. He will always be my Batman.
I've lost count the number of times Kevin Conroy brought me to tears as Batman. The main one that comes to mind is when he's speaking to his parents' graves in Mask of the Phantasm. I just wanted to give Bruce a hug in that moment and tell him that his parents would want him to be happy and if that means marrying the love of his life instead of becoming Batman, then so be it! The fact that his performance, without the audience ever seeing his face, could be so moving is just extraordinary. I never watched any of the DC shows except for when he appeared as Batman. It was the culmination of his entire body of work to finally see him in live action and I'm so happy we got that. What a legacy and what a beautiful tribute! Thank you
There's an episode of Justice League where he sits with Ace from the Royal Fresh gang that gets me misty eyed everytime.
I didn’t know Kevin was gay. I don’t know why I didn’t know, but I didn’t. I am delighted to know that he was, because I always love knowing someone was a part of the community, BUT it breaks my heart that he spent so long hiding who he was.
I am glad he found love later in life, and that he died with that love. I just wish he could have lived longer with it.
Kevin, you were an icon. That ending made me cry 😭
I had know idea that Kevin was gay until I watched this video I really feel sorry that he had to hide his sexuality for so long
Only until he passed away did I learn about this. It doesn’t change a thing he will always be Batman no matter what.
“I am glad he found love later in life, and that he died with that love.” is just simply a beautiful quote alone. Gosh that nearly made me sob😭😭
I found out after his passing. I always thought he was straight. I guess I was wrong. You learn something new every day. RIP Kevin Conroy.
I didn’t know ether, but now knowing makes me loves Kevin all the more as Batman. Maybe subconsciously I came to love Batman cause I felt a link to another member of the LBGTQ like I am. Thank you Kevin bringing joy to a bisexual kid who still dreams of superheroes ❤
RIP Kevin Conroy, we miss you. Thank you for making my childhood
I found out Kevin was gay a year or two ago, but I didn’t know what he went through throughout his life. This makes me respect and appreciate him a lot more not just as Batman, but as a person too. As a gay man myself who struggles being closeted with my family, and trying to find my place in the world, learning all this helps me feel less alone. Especially from someone who was part of my childhood. I just wish I had a chance to meet him.
The world still needed Kevin Conroy. Not the same without him
This was a man driven by love.
He embodied the role of harnessing the darkness to find the light.
The love you left behind will ripple for generations.
Thank you for being you.
I grew up gay in a hateful Mormon home and community and Batman the animated series was my escape. I had no idea so many other people also found refuge there too, and didn’t know who Kevin was until all of this tribute at the event of his death and I am just crying. Thanks Kevin, and everyone responsible for BTAS.
haha gay funny haha🥶🥸
@lorenzzorzt shut up bro
🥵🥵🥵
@lorenzzorzt grow up
You had no idea so many found refuge in Batman? One of the most popular comic book characters of all time. Please don’t be ignorant your not special.
In the days after his passing, many people shared the Cameos that Kevin had recorded for them. Each one was full of kindness and warmth and encouragement.
Wow, almost my story.
Born in 55 to an alcoholic father who died when I was 21.
My father always worked and separated from my mother when I was 20. He then died about a year later. My father was funny straight and pretty angry drunk. I understood that he loved me. I never understood that of my mother.
I grew up in a family of five boys and one sister. Incest with brothers started at six. I grew up straight but incredibly confused.
I still have not found my great talent like Matt.
I have learned to cope enough to not drink and to have a wife and three amazing kids.
I am glad you worked it out Kevin.
It ain't a simple life but there are moments of bliss.
Rest in peace brother.
Considering his young life, he could have gone in an extremely different direction in life. That teacher put him in the right direction. I’m glad she was there for him.
Imagine being that teacher!! How fulfilling is that!! To have played a part in such an incredible story
Teachers have such a big impact on the lives of their students. And this country treats them like second class workers. It’s fucking disgusting. Thank a teacher if you can, it means the world to them.
There's something so vidicating about learning that he was gay. I'm literally just finding out as I watch this video- and the little scared black gay nerdy child in me is squealing with rejoice. This man that I looked up to for all these years for reasons soley based on the merits of his career, turned out to also be gay. This means the world.
I'm just *now* watching this video. The small scared nerdy trans girl in me is rejoicing too, for finding this, and all of you in the comments here. My eyes are misting over with grief and remembrance, but with relief and release as well. Stay safe, 'kay?
I've realised I've been asexual if not aroace since I was 13. The shy nerdy gal in me feels so valid too! My mum always thinks I'm a failure because I never did what other girls (and she did) growing up.
@Phoebe5448 girl yall just give yoself a title. So you a plant? 😂
@@Kededian You wouldn't know marxism if it LGBTQQIA2S+'d you up your ass 🤣
Learning that he is gay is making the straight boy in me to be screaming of joy
Makes me so happy that the man behind the iconic voice of Batman was a lovely human being. RIP
His performance in Arkham Knight is truly incredible. The amount of pain and torture in that performance, barely disguised after years of doing it. You feel it with every line. And then the way his voice wavers when he gives the password for Knightfall, as he knows his mission is over... "Martha." It sticks with me and gives me chills whenever I think about it.
It's the REAL Martha moment that everyone should be talking about.
Yeah I feel like Bruce's relationship with his mom should be more fleshed out, it's always about his dad's legacy
@@nadussias I’m currently replaying Arkham Knight on the highest settings with Nvidia GameWorks. And, my god, it still looks fucking gorgeous to this day. I’m going to miss Kevin Conroy’s Batman till the day I pass. Coming back home after school to watch both the Animated series and JLA were awesome.
Whelp, I thought I was done crying over Kevin’s passing but apparently not. This was a beautiful tribute to him and crushed me all over again to know he’s gone.
Yeah I had to wait a few days to prepare for another round of heartache
I got to meet Kevin at a con in 2016. I haven't watched the show, but the fact that the con had 2 actors who played Batman (the other being Adam West), I thought why not. I even drew Kevin a simple Batman drawing as a thank you. He appreciated my dawing, and I asked him what his favorite Batman line was. He did "I am Batman" line which made me happy. Years later, I finally watched the animated series and was beyond amazed. I wasn't able to properly tell him that after watching the show, that I absolutely admire him for his performance. As for the DC Pride Comic, it's emotional to read about his life and how his connections to Batman wasn't just a role for him. I still admire him for his bravery and hope that he was at peace with himself when he left. His death really shook me up, and I couldn't stop crying that morning I found out. Anyway, this was a wonderful video! And thank you, Kevin, for everything.
His voice is the voice i always hear when I think of batman, play a game, read a comic or book. His voice was the voice I Heard since I was 7 years old watching batman the animated series, superman adventures, justice league. It's the one I will always hear. I hope he's resting easy now. You are missed Kevin.
When I read a Batman comic, it's almost impossible to hear any other voice as Batman!
I was already an adult and expectant father when Batman the animated series premiered. Even so, I had been waiting for a truly exceptional Batman TV series for a long long time, and it miraculously appeared the week before my son was born. Kevin Conroy defined the role for multiple generations, and I share my love for his performances with my adult children to this very day.
I read a lot of the comments and it tears me up how much people Kevin touched as Batman. He is a legend and I hope he knew how much we all love him.
This was such a beautiful tribute to Kevin Conroy. It covers a lot about his personal life, his professional life and how he eventually landed the role of Batman. Batman: The Animated Series was my first exposure to the character and I watched the DCAU series a lot back in the day. Kevin's voice for Batman is iconic. It captures both his gruff dark knight tone, as well as his compassion underneath it all. He has so many iconic moments throughout his role.
Kevin Conroy sounded like such a warm and loving person. He seemed to enjoy interacting with fans and those stories about him trying to make everyone in the studio comfortable were really sweet too. His story for DC Pride was so raw and intense. I'm glad that he was able to share his story. That video where he thanks people for their support and that their support means the world to him still makes me cry. I truly hope that he knew how much fans love him and that provided him more comfort. I hope that he felt love from his friends and family too. I hope that Kevin Conroy is at peace and his family and friends will be okay.
Thank you so much for this. It must have been a ton of work to put together but this man meant so much to so many of us. It was wonderful to see him get his due and have his story told.
" Restes the Greek hero, driven to mad vengeance by the death of his father"
"Edgar a wealthy man that goes into hiding and adopts a disguise"
"Achilles a seemingly invincible hero who hides a secret vulnerability"
Okay... All these characters are just Batman with a different name lol. He was already playing batman before he did batman lol.
Everything was building up to Batman. It's a bit errie
Dear Matt,
Don't know if you'll read this, but I wanted to salute you for so beautifully giving justice to the story of this incredible hero. Between the loss of Kevin and Jason David Frank, it was an extremely rough November. Your review brought back a LOT of memories and inspiration from Mr. Conroy, his performance, and his message, on how to be a hero and positively impact the world in your own way, and leave it better than how you found it. For all of us who are still grieving him, that message does bring comfort.
Thank you, Matt. This is the first video I've watched on your channel, but I've become an instant fan.
All the best.
He has manny videos that do justice and give grace to everyone we have lost!! Actually all his videos do.
Yes Matt's work is amazing and important.
@@Nono-hk3is very
His Batman is probably the single most impactful performance of my life, as a person and as an artist. Will never really get over his loss.
Thank you for this video. Kevin Conroy is the voice in my head when i read Batman comics. To think that he applied his duality to voicing Batman was incredible. I would have liked to meet him, and tell him how influentail his work was on me and that i was proud of him for coming out. I've gone back to Batman and showed it to my wife and kids and they enjoyed it.
this was so beautiful man, i never knew one of the greatest voices of Batman was Gay and that's what makes Kevin's story so beautiful and tragic but in all of the dark corners of the world there is light to be found and to us that was Kevin's performance as Batman and to Kevin it was the fans who showed so much love and support.
Rest in Peace Kevin Conroy, You'll never be forgotten ever.
This is so beautiful. And extra kudos for getting Tara Strong to share her memories of Kevin!
A year has passed and I still can't believe Kevin's gone. He was a national treasure and WAS Batman! RIP Dark Knight, we will never forget you!!
I am barely 5 minutes in and Good Lord, I had no idea about Kevin's upbringing. I can tell this is already quality, so I'm going to shut up and finish the video.
EDIT: Fantastic work Matt. A wonderful tribute to a good man.
Did you read his short for DC Pride 2022 called Finding Batman?
I knew I was going to get emotional watching this, didn’t think I’d cry in the first 5 minutes. Kevin had such an impact on my life, & I always wish I was able to meet him and thank him for everything he’s done. Reading his Pride story tore out my heart. Hearing in someone else words about that mask that we put on for the rest of the world. The pain of saying goodbye to your chosen family as they pass from aides (tho thankfully not as common, I went through something with a dear friend with cancer). The more I learn about the man the more I feel connected to him, & the more I view him as a true hero
To say I'm glad this video exists is a huge understatement. It is superbly researched & it made me learn a lot more about this cherished icon who’s voice acting career will forever immortalise him.
I never knew he was gay OR how he was the guy that made me realize I was gay. I just found out he was in a movie called Chain of Desires 1992 and not only was it the movie that made me finally accept that i was gay he played the role that gave me the realization. It played this exhibitionist in a window getting off to a guy watching him. It was the most sexually charged thing i had ever seen and is still of the top 5 scenes for me. I had no idea until a few minutes ago that he was the actor. I was ten and he got me to figure myself out. I loved Batman as well and that they were one and same blows my mind and makes me wonder if I had known that if things might not have been so isolating being a gay kid in the south in 90's. Thank you for this, and thank you Kevin for saving me from the denial bullshit so many of my peers dealt with and the fallout from it.
Wow…. I never knew any of this about Kevin. The struggles, the pain, the fears that he went through throughout his life. I mean that’s just heartbreaking to hear. Hearing that he totally relates to Batman before actually becoming the character… is just unbelievable.
This is why Kevin will forever be my Batman. RIP Kevin Conroy.
Your videos are always great, but this one was more eye-opening to me than I had any way to expect. I regret to say I was totally unaware of Kevin Conroy until this very minute. Not being a New Yorker, I'd no occasion to regularly frequent theater there, and I stopped watching commercial television in the mid 1970s, so never caught any of his work in those venues. The man really pulled himself up by his bootstraps to lead a wonderfully productive life that gave countless people such joy. This is a wonderful tribute. I salute you!
Batman the animated series was one of many animated superhero shows out around that time that got me into comicbooks. The loss of Kevin hit hard, everytime i read a dc comic or batfamily book i hear his voice
We need a Kevin Conroy biopic
But who should play Kevin if they ever did a biopic? If they do a documentary though, it should be on E! True Hollywood Story.
I don't care if he was gay. He was Batman. He helped make my childhood imagination fun every Saturday morning.
I will miss him.
Well no one else minds either
@@stopwatchstudios9622 Use your head. If nobody minded, why did Kevin Conroy have to hide his homosexuality for such a long time? This isn't about you and your feelings.
@@SkullyX99 I mean nowadays and obvs that isn’t entirely true but it’s closer to reality
@@stopwatchstudios9622but like, kevin isn't the gay person we see today, he's the gay person who had to fight for gay rights, which eventually happened in 2015
@@joaquingonzalez834 true
Kevin Conroy was not The Batman we deserved, but he was The Batman we needed. I was already in college when Batman:TAS started airing, but as a Batman fan I watched it regularly even though it was a "kids show". Conroy's Batman and Hamill's Joker will forever be the voices I hear in my head now when I read the comics. His death hit me harder than I thought it would. From the little I know of him, I believe the world is worse off without him in it and it saddens me that we will never hear his voice again in any new projects.
We do have… one…
What an amazing tribute. I grew up with Kevin Conroy and loved his voice acting, but still didn't realize how fundamental he was to the role of Batman. This video does a great job at an exploring how the turmoil in his life shaped him and his performance, but also the good he made from it and how he was able to spread positivity, kindness, and joy despite it. Makes me appreciate him even more as both a person and in the role. Similar to the lesson his father taught him, I hope everyone can live a life true to themselves and leave something behind in the process. Cheers!
Thank you for doing this man's life justice. Conroy's legacy is immortal.
Yep, that was a tough one to watch. I dont normally get effected by celeb deaths, but the moment I heard the news I just tried to keep from crying until I got off work. I think Kevin will be remembered as being THE Batman for a very very long time.
I didn't know much about Kevin Conroy prior to his passing. I knew about Batman TAS and I remember you mentioning something about him in your Dynasty video, but I didn't know much beyond that. Since his passing, I have learned so much about this incredible man from the multitude of humans singing his deserved praises. As a queer individual with family trauma pursuing acting, I now want to be like Kevin Conroy. I want to be able to so authentically use my experiences to amplify my performance in a way that touches others.
Incredible video as always. Thank you for all the research you do.
I didn't know that he was Gay until 2016 when he officially came out. Kevin was intensely private.
Hell yeah
I never knew was gay, but like you know that strange voice in the back of your head letting you know theyre one of you was always there. Im so glad i got to see Kevin as Batman in so many things. A toast to Kevin and a toast to The Batman.
You’re a great storyteller, Matt. I love the way you integrate clips into your narrative, it’s like quotes in an article
I cried throughout the video... I never expected to be so moved. I grew up, as many others, with BTAS. It was one of my favorite shows and to this day hands down my favorite version of Batman. I was thinking about how did Kevin's passing could hit me like this. We grew up loving his potrayal of Batman, only to grow up and find the origin of his nuanced performance and with it all too familiar elements that hit close for most if not all of us: a double life, concealing and even hatred of the self, maybe even some parental neglect or loss. Yes, we all didn't have it exactly the same, yet some elements definitely repeat themselves. There is kinship, a very special one, and Kevin Conroy embodies it... Those wounds informed this beloved portrayal of Batman of all superheroes, and we do identify with some or all of those wounds. He found strength in portraying Batman and finding something to do with love. He healed through Batman, through Art and through doing something he loved doing. That is inspiring. Thanks Conroy, our Dark Knight. May he rest in peace.
Batman: The Animated Series is my all-time favorite tv show. Batman is my absolute favorite character of all-time, and Kevin Conroy is my favorite Batman of all time.
I met him once at Salt Lake City FanX. He was super nice, and wonderful. However, I never knew he was gay. It doesn’t matter at all, I just found it interesting that I never knew that detail of someone I admired so much.
Out of all the celebrity deaths, his hit me the hardest. Everyone says he was such a wonderful person, and he not only gave my favorite character his most iconic voice, but he gave him a soul. When I met him, he said to me (in the Batman voice) “Nick, I need your help…Gotham needs you.” I legitimately teared up when he said that…I was talking to Batman.
Kevin, you may be gone…but you’ll never be forgotten. Your legacy as The Dark Knight will live on.
I think Kevin's story about his life shows how you can reach fulfillment even when you've gone through the darkest of times. It really feels like he was born to play Batman. Thank you Kevin for being the definitive Batman of our lives!
Thank you so much for making this. It was a great tribute to Conroy!
RIP Mr. Conroy, never knew you were gay and wouldn’t have cared either way. Whenever I think of Batman or see anything that reminds me of Batman I will hear your voice and smile fondly
One of the Greatest American Voice Actor next to Mel Blanc.
He gave us all an amazing male model that a generation needed (same as Peter Colleen did in the 80s with Optimus Prime).
I am glad to have enjoyed both of them in my life.
Thank you for giving us more insight into a great person that has impacted millions.
I am 75 years old and never knew of Kevin Conroy. Throughout the video I was very emotional, not because how good he was at his craft and not that he was a gay man with a tragic childhood, but rather of the exceptional human being he has been throughout his life. He fought all odds to be remembered as a good person, one he always been since his childhood. When I finally heard that he has died I felt being thrown in a black hole only to realise that he is still alive in his legacy he has left behind for all of us. Thank you for your passion in telling us this remarkable Life.
Kevin’s death is one of the only “celebrity” deaths that just felt like a punch in the gut upon hearing the news. I felt sick for days after finding out. Kevin’s voice had been such a huge part of my childhood that when I found out about his passing it was like losing an old friend. As a kid I watched BTAS, JL and JLU, Batman Beyond, and played the Arkham and Injustice games. Batman is still my favorite superhero character to this day.
I had no idea Kevin Conroy was gay before seeing this video, and no idea how much he'd struggled during his life. The fact that he took all the pain and fear and uncertainty he'd experienced and didn't succumb to it, but used it to create a character beloved by generations of fans - and beyond that, to make the lives of his friends and coworkers just that much better by treating them with love and kindness - is the work of a true hero.
He will always be "my" Batman, just as he is for so many others. Thank you for making this video and sharing his story with us.
1992 Texas, a little blind gay boy hides from a mentally unstable mother and a drunkin stepfather. From the dark came a voice of comfort. 30 years later I find out that voice shared my pain.
BTAS is very special to me always has been. Now me and my son watch it non stop he LOVES it. Kevin is the GOAT and will be missed, still can’t believe he’s gone.
OMG he was Gay?! I'm a Gay man who was brought up Catholic as well!!! I never knew my favorite superhero was voiced to perfection by another Gay man of similar circumstances!!! So proud of him, and I grieved his loss before, but the grief is renewed after knowing this!!
Had to stop and restart this video so many times because of the crying. I'm just one more lonely kid that Kevin kept company. RIP Batman.
I had no idea that Kevin Conroy’s own childhood was so eerily close to that of Bruce Wayne in a vague sense. And the fact that everyone who plays batman after the fact emulates him so closely is so amazing to me. Batman was a goofy character before Conroy, and now he’s the brooding damaged man that everyone knows him for. I may not have been the greatest batman fan, but seeing his work now makes me so happy. Thank you for your efforts sir, may you rest in peace
The portrayals that Conroy and Hamill gave in Batman have literally shaped every portrayal of the characters since
I am in tears. This is a beautiful tribute. You are missed, Mister Conroy. You are MY Batman. The one who made me love this character since my childhood.
Matt, You are an amazing story teller. The ways in which you tell these peoples lives from joyous occasions, or heart wrenching disaster is just breathtaking. Thank you for all you do to add the human element that's behind the scenes, you bring out so much nuance in every story you tell. I just looked up and realized I wasn't subscribed and watched to slap myself. You are an icon!
I had the pleasure of meeting Kevin at a convention and he was so kind and humble. He will forever be the definitive Batman.