Top 10 Best Batman Voice Actors

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Known for his various performances in video games, Troy Baker has lent his vocal talents as the Caped Crusader multiple times. Along with several animated films, Baker has donned the cowl most notably in the “Lego Batman” games and Telltale Games’ Batman series. Both franchises highlight Baker’s acting chops as the Dark Knight – being stern yet heroic in the lighthearted Lego games while harnessing Bruce’s earnest, emotional struggles in the Telltale series. Just to further add to Baker’s incredible range, he’s also portrayed The Joker effortlessly multiple times. It takes plenty of range to bring the Bat to life in both goofy and serious scenarios, and Baker has shown he is remarkable at playing either tone.

“Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” (2012-13)

The two-part animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns” follows a much older Batman coming out of retirement after hanging up the cowl. This heavily aged Crusader’s voice was provided by Peter Weller, known for his role as RoboCop. Weller’s Batman is much grittier and ailing, as the years have taken their toll physically and mentally. And yet, he commands respect and authority, whether he’s putting a Mutant Leader in his place or rallying a cult of worshippers. This Bat is no spring chicken, but he’s not past his prime yet, and Weller’s performance exudes the age and experience needed for one of the most influential “Batman” stories of all time.

“Batman: The Long Halloween” (2021)

Following the end of the DC Animated Movie Universe, the Tomorrowverse emerged with a new lineup of films –and, of course, a new voice for the Bat, Jensen Ackles. Ackles is no stranger to the DC Universe, having previously shaken us to the core as Jason Todd in the critically acclaimed “Batman: Under the Red Hood”. It’s funny how the student became the master, considering Ackles’ Batman is more inexperienced as a detective. What he lacks in crime-solving, he makes up for in intimidation. While his performance isn’t as gripping as Jason Todd’s, it perfectly matches a Bat who’s still coming into his element as the world’s greatest detective.

"The Batman" (2004-08)

Having previously played the wise-cracking Spider-Man multiple times, Rino Romano may seem like a weird choice for the Dark Knight. And yet in Kids’ WB’s “The Batman,” we see him voice a new side of the Caped Crusader we didn’t know we needed. This Batman is younger and less hardened than usual, which makes sense given that he’s only recently donned the cape and cowl. Romano’s voice for the Bat is more nasally than usual, but it only further shows that he’s a vigilante with room to grow. His voice subtly changes throughout the show, but in a way, it reflects the character’s evolution into the hero Gotham City and the World truly need.

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There isn’t a Bat-Fan alive that doesn’t recognize the voice of the late Adam West. He first brought Batman to life in the 1960s live-action series, which ran for three seasons. As you can expect, he was given multiple opportunities to reprise the role as a voice actor. This included a few ‘70s animated series, a guest appearance in a Lego game, and two animated film reunions alongside his old co-stars, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar. Every appearance recaptured West’s campy, heroic spirit that made his live-action performance iconic. Tragically, West passed away in 2017 before getting to see his final performance in “Batman vs. Two-Face”, a fitting sendoff for his legacy as an actor and a role model.

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Following 2013’s “Flashpoint Paradox”, the DC Animated Movie Universe was in full swing; and taking the helm as the franchise’s Batman was Irish actor, Jason O’Mara. At first, O’Mara struggled to get into the role, and his performance -while not bad- felt rather generic. It also didn’t help that he had big shoes to fill given the Bat’s previous voice actors. However, with over 10 films under his belt, O’Mara got a chance to improve his performance down the road. From becoming a father to being enslaved by Darkseid, this Dark Knight’s journey has been a turbulent one, and O’Mara’s voice perfectly reflects that growth as he makes the role all his own.

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"Batman: Under the Red Hood" is still considered one of the Bat’s most acclaimed animated films, and a lot of that is thanks to Bruce Greenwood’s portrayal of Gotham’s Defender. Greenwood’s Dark Knight feels a lot more human - intense and resourceful on the battlefield but wracked with turmoil over his past mistakes. The pain only grows knowing that he can’t abandon his moral code and cross the line …no matter how tempting or easy it is. His imposing performance guaranteed that Greenwood would be given more opportunities to voice The Bat, including on Cartoon Network’s “Young Justice.” In the series, the character steps up to the plate as a mentor figure for the young heroes.

"The Lego Movie" franchise (2014-)

The Lego Movies are over-the-top and goofy in every way -including their take on Batman, voiced by Canadian comedian Will Arnett. This Dark Knight is more egotistical and aggressive; he’s fully aware of how awesome he is and is relishing every minute of it -all while doing his best Christian Bale impression. We shouldn’t be taking him too seriously, but seeing how vulnerable and secluded his parents’ death left him, we can’t help wanting to see him improve as a character and move past his hardships. All the while, we’re laughing as Arnett simultaneously parodies the Bat while paying homage to his legacy with this funny vocal performance.

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With “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” paying tribute to DC’s campy side, the series needed a Batman that fit the lighter tone like a glove. Needless to say, Diedrich Bader was the perfect pick. Bader’s Batman is still plenty tough and heroic, but more akin to your typical superhero, on par with the Adam West years. He faces his adversities but overcomes them with dignity and a heart of gold. Additionally, he teaches us a critical lesson – that the hammer of justice is unisex. Fortunately, it appears Bader still has a lot more iterations of the Caped Crusader left inside him.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Anson Mount, “Injustice” (2021)
Hearing Him Sobbing Just Breaks Our Hearts

Anthony Ruivivar, “Beware the Batman” (2013-14)
His Time as the Bat May Have Been Brief, but He Owned the Role

Roger Craig Smith, Various
Who Else Can Add Both Sonic the Hedgehog & the Dark Knight to Their Resume?

Jeremy Sisto, “Justice League: The New Frontier” (2008)
Confident & Resourceful, It’s Sad That This Was His Only Time to Play the Bat

William Baldwin, “Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths” (2010)
The Casting Choice Was Unexpected, but We Were Pleasantly Surprised with the Results

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Are you really surprised he’d be this high on the list? Ever since his debut as the Dark Knight in “Batman: The Animated Series”, Kevin Conroy raised the bar for voicing Batman. Not only perfectly capturing his tough-as-nails, intimidating voice but also having us feel his pain when things get emotional and heavy -whether as Bruce or The Bat. Conroy’s performance has become so iconic that he portrayed the Bat for over 30 years in MANY projects -including the Arkham series. Tragically, Conroy passed away in 2022 after succumbing to cancer. We’d like to believe that he would be proud to see other talented actors carrying on his legacy of bringing Batman to life.

Who do you consider to be the one true voice of the Dark Knight? Let us know in the comments!