In the realm of voice acting, some artists leave indelible marks that echo through time, and Kevin Conroy is undoubtedly one such legend. As a lifelong fan of Batman, I can say with absolute certainty that his portrayal of the Dark Knight transcended the boundaries of animated series, video games, and films, becoming an integral part of our collective memory.
Voice actors have played significant roles in movies and TV for nearly as long as these media have been around, yet their identities and appearances often go unrecognized. They are the ones responsible for giving life to animated characters, a task that begins with artists who sketch them and animators who bring them to motion. Although there has been an increasing trend over the past two decades for screen actors to also take on voice acting roles to boost a movie’s prominence, dedicated voice actors continue to be vital to visual storytelling, just as much as those who physically appear on screen.
Voice actors typically recognize their role as unsung heroes, for they often blend seamlessly into the characters they portray, making us forget that it isn’t the characters themselves speaking. This is a testament to their skill, as is their ability to bring multiple characters to life without our immediate recognition that they are performed by the same individual. However, some voice actors have gained significant fame due to their extensive work or by voicing an iconic character. Regrettably, when a voice actor passes away, it doesn’t always garner the same media coverage as the death of a screen actor. Let’s make sure to acknowledge and honor their contributions more often.
Rachael Lillis
Without a doubt, the Pokémon video games were quite successful on their own. However, it was the anime that truly propelled the franchise into a worldwide sensation. People living in English-speaking regions may forever link Rachael Lillis to her characters, Misty and Jesse, as she provided their voices for the first eight years of their appearances in the animated series, movies, and games.
Lillis was not just known for voicing Pokémon, particularly the beloved Jigglypuff; she continued to voice this character up until the 2019 film “Detective Pikachu.” Despite moving on from the franchise, her voice remained synonymous with Jigglypuff. Apart from Pokémon, Lillis took on significant roles in the English versions of “Hunter x Hunter,” “Genshiken,” and Cartoon Network’s 2006 series “Chaotic.” Tragically, Lillis passed away due to breast cancer in August 2024, having been diagnosed just a few months prior.
Christine Cavanaugh
Christine Cavanaugh, who was known for playing young Gosalyn Mallard in “Darkwing Duck,” became widely recognized by an entire generation when she voiced Chuckie Finster in “Rugrats.” She continued to voice Chuckie throughout the first eight seasons of the series, spanning its entire ’90s run and venturing into the early 2000s. However, it was arguably her role as the title character scientist in “Dexter’s Laboratory” that truly cemented her status as a voice acting legend from her time.
She did voice many other characters — most notably Babe from the first “Babe” movie — and also showed up on a few live-action shows, but Chuckie and Dexter will always be most closely associated with Cavanaugh. She played both characters up until her sudden retirement in 2001, never really explaining why she stopped but choosing to live an entirely private life until her passing in 2014 — the cause of which has never been publicly disclosed. Despite it being an iconic cartoon that deserves a reboot, “Dexter’s Laboratory” creator Genndy Tartakovsky said he would never bring it back now that Cavanaugh is gone, calling her the original soul of not only Dexter but the show itself.
Johnny Hardwick
Among the talented and experienced actors on “King of the Hill,” including Mike Judge, Stephen Root, Kathy Najimy, Brittany Murphy, and Pamela Adlon, it might surprise you to learn that one of the standout performers was actually a first-time voice actor with little prior acting experience. The man who brought the character Dale Gribble to life in such an authentic way was Johnny Hardwick. Despite his lack of extensive acting background, you’d never guess it from his convincing portrayal of Dale, a chain-smoking, conspiracy-theorizing neighbor.
Prior to his role on “King of the Hill,” Hardwick had only made an appearance in one independent film and a few short productions. However, he was more than just a voice actor on the show; he was also a writer and producer for “King of the Hill.” This position earned him three Emmy nominations and one win. Apart from a guest spot on “Ace of Cakes” and occasional social media appearances, Hardwick generally avoided the limelight after the series ended, but he did contribute to its forthcoming revival on Hulu.
Sadly, Dale Hardwick was discovered deceased at his residence in August 2023. The circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear. It has been verified that he had previously recorded dialogue for numerous episodes of the upcoming revival, but it remains undecided how the series will handle Dale’s absence in future installments.
Wayne Allwine
Since Mickey Mouse was first created, there have been relatively few actors who have given him an official voice. Initially, Walt Disney himself provided Mickey’s voice during the early years, but it was Jimmy MacDonald who took over in 1946 and held that position until 1978 – quite a remarkable stretch of time. However, Wayne Allwine surpassed even MacDonald’s tenure, currently holding the title as Mickey’s longest-serving voice actor with 32 years under his belt. It’s only due to his passing in 2009 at age 62 that he didn’t hold the record longer; unlike Disney and MacDonald, Allwine continued to voice Mickey right up until his death, and even has several posthumous roles as the beloved character.
In my gaming days, I got the privilege to voice Mickey Mouse during some truly iconic periods for this beloved character. I brought Mickey to life for countless popular projects that many kids, like me back then, grew up with. For those who first encountered Mickey through “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” they heard my voice for the initial three seasons. I was also the voice behind Mickey in the first two mainline “Kingdom Hearts” games and various spin-offs. Plus, I had the honor of being a part of animation history when I voiced Mickey Mouse in his cameo alongside Bugs Bunny in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” – a moment that was one of Mel Blanc’s final performances as the rabbit.
Russi Taylor
There are few things more adorable than the fact that the man who voiced Mickey Mouse and the woman who voiced Minnie Mouse were married, and for many years at that. In fact, Wayne Allwine and fellow actor Russi Taylor met while both actors were working on their respective characters for the 1988 TV special “Totally Minnie,” getting married in 1991 and staying together all the way up until Allwine’s death.
Regarding Taylor, she spent an impressive span of time portraying Minnie Mouse, continuing until her passing in 2019 due to colon cancer, a role she took on from 1988. In her time at Disney, she also frequently played the nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. However, Taylor’s fame extends beyond Disney as she played Martin Prince for more than 100 episodes of “The Simpsons,” including the 2007 movie and several video games. Over her 30-year stint with this franchise, Taylor also gave voice to Wendell, Uter, twins Sherri and Terri, and Martin’s mother, Martha.
Casey Kasem
For the better part of 40 years, the voice of Casey Kasem was nearly inescapable. Between 1970 and 2009, he was the host of various incarnations of weekly syndicated radio countdowns, where he became famous not only for introducing the songs but also reading heartfelt letters and dedications from listeners. He also spent most of that same timespan as the voice of Norville “Shaggy” Rogers, the often befuddled dog owner with a serious case of the munchies, across dozens of incarnations and offshoots of the “Scooby-Doo” franchise.
Kasem’s original run as Shaggy began in the 1969 animated series “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” and continued for decades in the majority of the character’s appearances in TV shows, animated movies, video games, and more. Kasem initially quit his tenure as Shaggy in 1995 after the performer — who is a vegan — objected to Shaggy being used in a Burger King commercial. A few other actors played Shaggy over the next few years, until Kasem agreed to return to the role in 2002 on the condition that Shaggy be officially declared a vegetarian. His second stint as Shaggy continued until about 2009.
In the following year, Kasem took on the character of Colton Rogers in the cartoon “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated,” marking his last major role on screen, aside from a few re-releases of earlier “Scooby-Doo” content. Sadly, he passed away in 2014 at the age of 82, during hospitalization due to complications from Lewy body dementia (LBD).
Christopher Ayres
Throughout the “Dragon Ball” series, Japanese voice actors have generally remained consistent, but there’s been more variety in the English dubs. Frieza, one of Goku’s major rivals and a highly popular villain, has been voiced by several English actors, with Christopher Ayres being the primary voice from 2009 to 2019. This is one of the longest and most memorable runs for the character in the English dub.
Initially, Ayres lent his voice to Frieza during the English adaptation of “Dragon Ball Z Kai,” a revamped edition of the classic “Dragon Ball Z.” Later, he portrayed Frieza across all four seasons of “Dragon Ball Super.” Additionally, Ayres voiced Frieza in the films “Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F'” and “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,” as well as several video games. Beyond the “Dragon Ball” series, Ayres appeared in English versions of other anime like “Fairy Tail,” “Gantz,” “Black Butler,” and “Gintama,” and the “Sengoku Basara” video game series. However, in 2017, he was diagnosed with COPD, and tragically passed away from complications related to the disease in 2021 at the age of 56.
Arleen Sorkin
Despite many actors on this list being renowned voice artists, Arleen Sorkin primarily excelled as a screen actor. Spanning four decades, her career reached iconic heights with over 400 episodes of “Days of Our Lives”. Interestingly, she voiced only three characters in total. However, one of these roles was a character based on herself, which we deemed significant enough to make an exception for her inclusion.
Arleen Sorkin is renowned for being the initial voice actor of Harley Quinn, the lively Joker protege who first appeared in “Batman: The Animated Series”. Since Harley was created specifically for this show, Sorkin will always have a connection to the origin of one of the most well-known pop culture figures from the past 30 years. However, there’s more to the story of Harley Quinn that isn’t often discussed: as Arleen’s friend and co-creator Paul Dini revealed to Hobo Trashcan, he based the character on Arleen in many ways because she’s full of life and humor. He also mentioned that he was inspired by seeing Sorkin dressed as a court jester on “Days of Our Lives”, which helped him finalize the character design.
Over time, Sorkin frequently took on the role of Harley, with several other actresses also playing her part. Tara Strong was the most frequent besides Sorkin herself. In the 2011 video game “DC Universe Online”, Sorkin’s portrayal of Harley marked her final screen credit. Tragically, she passed away in 2023 at the age of 67 due to complications from multiple sclerosis.
Marcia Wallace
Initially, Marcia Wallace was generally recognized as a screen actor who occasionally ventured into voice work. However, following her long-running role as Edna Krabappel, Bart’s cynical fourth-grade teacher on “The Simpsons” for an impressive 24 years, this perception has been flipped. Before her tenure on “The Simpsons,” Wallace was most recognized for her roles as Carol on “The Bob Newhart Show” and frequent appearances on “The Merv Griffin Show.” However, due to the fact that recent generations are largely unfamiliar with these shows and only know her by her voice as Mrs. Krabappel, Wallace’s legacy has undergone a substantial change.
In 2013, at the age of 70, Wallace passed away. Unlike some important characters in “The Simpsons,” whose roles are sometimes taken over by a different actor after an actor’s death, Edna Krabappel was retired instead, following Wallace’s demise. The show subsequently introduced a prominent Shondaland actor to take on the role of Bart’s new teacher. Although Edna’s death was not shown on screen, it was acknowledged, albeit without revealing the cause or building a significant plot around it. Since then, she has made occasional appearances, but these have been through Wallace’s archival recordings rather than a replacement actor. The 2021 Season 32 episode “Diary Queen” is considered the final goodbye for Edna’s character.
Pat Carroll
Pat Carroll’s extraordinary career stretches as far back as the 1940s, and her last credited roles before her death in 2022 at the age of 95 were in the 2010s. Although she played numerous roles on both screen and stage, it is for her voice performances that she will probably be most fondly remembered – specifically, the iconic Disney villain, Ursula the sea witch, from the 1989 film “The Little Mermaid.
Carroll took great delight in embodying the character of Ursula across various TV shows, movies, and games throughout the years. Yet, another significant part of her voice acting career is almost equally renowned, though it involves a character she didn’t ultimately play – at least not in the final version. Initially cast as Jane Jetson in the 1962 animated series “The Jetsons,” Carroll recorded lines for the first episode and believed she had secured the role. However, an unexpected turn of events occurred when she discovered that she, along with Morey Amsterdam, the original George Jetson actor, were replaced without our knowledge, allegedly violating a contractual agreement.
The pair even took on Hanna-Barbera in court over the issue, although the case was ultimately thrown out. But Carroll was still discussing it in interviews 50 years on, clearly never getting over the fact that she was originally supposed to be Jane Jetson.
Joe Alaskey
Mel Blanc was the voice behind nearly every male character in the Looney Tunes series, as well as numerous characters outside of it, until his passing in 1989. Since then, different actors have stepped into these roles that Blanc originated, with some continuing for a significant amount of time. One such actor was Joe Alaskey, who from the ’90s through part of the 2000s, voiced many of Blanc’s characters – most notably Daffy Duck, but also Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Marvin the Martian, Yosemite Sam, and others at different times and for varying durations.
For about 15 years or so, Alaskey served as the primary voice actor for Daffy Duck, but he’s also recognized for creating Plucky Duck’s voice on “Tiny Toon Adventures”. In projects not directly related to Looney Tunes, Alaskey is best known for voicing Grandpa Lou Pickles on “Rugrats”, starting in Season 5 and continuing until the original series ended. He also played this role in all three theatrical Rugrats films, the 2003 spin-off series “All Grown Up!”, and various Tom and Jerry direct-to-video animated films before his death from cancer at age 63 in 2016. His final performances mainly included voicing Droopy the dog for these films, further expanding his extensive acting portfolio with another well-known character.
Kevin Conroy
One of the most hotly contested debates in pop culture history is which actor has done the best job portraying Bruce Wayne/Batman. Typically, the names thrown around are the ones who have been associated with the legendary DC comics vigilante in live action — Adam West, Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, and so on. But there are many who not only think another name should be included, but insist that this name is the definitive screen version of the Dark Knight. That name belongs to Kevin Conroy, the Caped Crusader’s longest-serving voice actor and most prolific screen Batman, period.
Initially, Conroy lent his voice to the character in “Batman: The Animated Series,” making him the preferred choice for portraying the superhero in most of his significant non-live-action roles – from television shows to animated movies, video games, and other projects. In 2019, he also had a brief appearance as the character in the live-action series “Batwoman,” which was part of the Arrowverse’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event. This was a thrilling experience for both the fans and Conroy himself.
Three years ago, I lost a legend in gaming – Kevin Conroy. His portrayal of Batman is something that will forever echo in the halls of our fandom as one of the most iconic and cherished performances by any actor embodying a character repeatedly. It’s rare for fans to unanimously agree on anything, but it’s tough to find someone who doesn’t hold Conroy’s Batman in high regard.
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2024-10-06 14:30