Batmanis among the most enduring characters in pop culture. It’s no surprise, then, that countless people have played him throughout the decades. These portrayals are not only onscreen, but also through voice work. Among these are mainstays like Kevin Conroy, Diedrich Bader, Roger Craig Smith, Troy Baker, and Jason O’Mara. However, there are also have several lesser-known performances.
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Several voice actors have portrayed the Dark Knight once or twice, and gotten lost in the shuffle. Many of these are notable celebrities whom fans might never expect to don the cap and cowl in live-action. Yet, thanks to the magic of animation and gaming, they now have Batman on their resume.
10Michael Ironside – The New Batman Adventures
ThisTotal RecallandSplinter Cellactor is no stranger to the DC universe. Many fans know him as the definitive voice ofDarkseid, playing the villainous god inSuperman: The Animated Seriesand the followingJustice Leagueshow.
However, Ironside jumped over to Gotham for an episode ofThe New Batman Adventures. When a group of kids theorize what the hero is really like, one of them imagines him as theDark Knight Returnsversion. When Ironside’s naturally raspy voice combines with Frank Miller’s hard-hitting lines, viewers get a creepily cold Batman who sounds downright homicidal.
9Peter Weller – Dark Knight Returns
Once Warner Bros. Animation finally got around to an all-out, two-partDark Knight Returnsmovie, they wrangled Weller into the cape and cowl. Everyone knows him asRobocop, but he’s done countless other projects as both an actor and director.
This experience makes him perfect as an older Batman. Weller’s gruff gravitas and articulate authority are overpowering, holding the audience’s attention and sending chills down spines with every line. He’s easily one of the finest actors to ever voice the Caped Crusader. Not to mention, he’s apparently friends with Frank Miller, so his taking the role is all the more fitting. If they everbring back this version of the character in a game or other form, Weller should be the first choice.
8Ben McKenzie – Batman: Year One
Fans of the Dark Knight know McKenzie well. After all, he recently wrapped up his role as a young Jim Gordon onthe phenomenally stupid show,Gotham. It wasn’t his first time playing a younger version of a Batman character, though.
The actor voiced Bruce Wayne himself inBatman: Year One, another Frank Miller adaptation. As the title suggests, it’s about the character’s early days, so McKenzie doesn’t have to reach the vocal depths of veteran iterations. His slightly edgy tone may not be as intimidating as others, but it is convincing as a man driven by passion.
7Sean Schemmel – The Dark Knight Rises (Mobile Game)
This is probably the weirdest entry on the list. Primarily an anime actor, Schemmel is best known for voicing Goku in the long-runningDragon Ballfranchise. How he wound up as Batman is anyone’s guess.
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He voices the character in the mobile game tie-in toThe Dark Knight Rises. As such, he’s basically doing an impression ofChristian Bale’s gravelly hiss. Try as he might, Schemmel sounds nothing like him. On the upside, he doesn’t sound like Goku, either. He couldn’t have done much more than that, given the constraints he was probably under.
6Michael C. Hall – Justice League: Gods and Monsters
Everyone says Batman is just as unhinged as the crazies he puts away, so why not get a TV nutcase to voice him? Hall made a darkly comic name for himself inDexter, playing a forensic specialist who secretly carves up criminals. This makes him a perfect fit for an alternate, vampiric version of Batman.
In the parallel universe ofJustice League: Gods and Monsters, Kirk Langstrom (Man-Bat) tests a serum on himself and becomes the Dark Knight. He’s arguably more somber than the mainline iteration, and viewers truly feel that pathos in Hall’s voice. It’s an intriguing reinterpretation, one which deserves a comeback.
5Ron Perlman – Justice League Heroes
Known forHellboyandSons of Anarchy, this grizzled genre actor had already played supporting roles in DC works:Clayface in the ‘90sBatmanshow and the chilling Slade (Deathstroke)inTeen Titans. However, he was easily the biggest name inJustice League Heroes, a beat-em-up game in the vein ofX-Men LegendsandMarvel: Ultimate Alliance.
Perlman goes for a minimalist approach. He doesn’t try to change his voice to intimidate others. Instead, his naturally deep tone is enough to sell the character. In a world where distorting Batman’s vocals to comical degrees is the norm, it’s refreshing to see someone taking the more subtle tack.
4Kevin McKidd – Justice League: The Flash Point Paradox
Another alternative take,Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradoxsees Bruce Wayne gunned down instead of his parents. This leads Thomas Wayne to become a gun-toting, booze-drinking Batman who turns his surgical knowledge on the criminal element.
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As a legionary inRomeand a doctor inGrey’s Anatomy, McKidd seems like the ideal choice. Indeed, he does an admirable job. Despite the character’s hard lifestyle, he doesn’t go for a gruff growl or drunken routine, opting instead for a harsh whisper. This helps to both sell this Batman’s age and differentiate him from other Dark Knights.
3Seth Green
When most viewers hear Seth Green’s name nowadays, they automatically think ofRobot ChickenorFamily Guy. It should be no surprise, then, that he steps into Batman’s boots for the former. He’s not very convincing, but that’s part of the charm.
Green goes for less gravel and more guttural nervousness, which aids in the fast-paced screwball exchanges.It’s animated sketch comedy, so it’s hard to fault him for an “inaccurate” portrayal. He sells the jokes effectively and works well within this format.
2Jimmy Kimmel – Teen Titans Go! To The Movies
In keeping with the show’s farcical tone,Teen Titans Go! To the Moviesis fully of celebrity stunt casting. It’s howNicolas Cage finally got to play Superman. For the Caped Crusader, the creators castno one’s favorite late-night host.
Much like Schemmel, Kimmel mostly recycles Bale’s performance. He only has a few lines, echoing buzzwords and movie titles, and that’s probably for the best. What little there is fails to impress. Nevertheless, this is a quirky little chapter in the hero’s storied history. Considering some of the wacky misadventures Batman’s gotten into, that’s no small feat.
1Jensen Ackles – Batman: The Long Halloween
The most recent entry on the list, Ackles was likely looking for something to do after a million episodes ofSupernatural. He’s set to voice the Caped Crusader later this yearin the two-part adaptation ofBatman: The Long Halloween. His youthful energy may strike fans as an odd choice, but don’t forget that the tale takes place early in the hero’s career.
It’s a full circle moment for Ackles, who previously voiced Jason Todd, the former Robin inBatman: Under the Red Hood. It’s like the old saying goes: the student becomes the mater.
