Everyone knows the live-action actors who have taken on the role of Batman and Superman. From Adam West and Christopher Reeve to Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill, there are plenty of actors to leave their mark on the DC characters. Just like James Bond, the character will live on with many new faces to come.
However, there are even more actors who have taken on the voices of Superman and Batman in various forms of animation. Whether it's cartoon shows, animated movies, or video games; there are so many voice actors out there but which actors are the best to have portrayed the World's Finest?
10 Superman: Matt Bomer
Most may know him as Larry Trainor AKA Negative Man on HBO Max's Doom Patrol. Doom Patrol was actually not his first DC role as he was one of many actors who auditioned for Superman in Zack Snyder's Man Of Steel. Though he lost to Henry Cavill, he did get to play Superman in animation.
In the animated film Superman Unbound, Matt Bomer portrays a much grittier and serious take on the character. However, Bomer still retained many of the admirable qualities of Superman while adding a new flavor to make his Superman unique. Sadly, this was Bomer's only time in the role but he will be returning to DC animation as The Flash in Justice Society: World War II.
9 Batman: Ben McKenzie
Much like Matt Bomer, Ben McKenzie is another actor who only voiced Batman once. He portrayed Batman and Bruce Wayne in the animated adaptation of Batman: Year One. McKenzie performed well in bringing that dark and brutal Frank Miller version of Batman to life. He made it his own while definitely portraying that gruff and brooding vigilante that fans love.
Fans might recognize Ben McKenzie from another DC project he did later on; he was Jim Gordon on Fox's Gotham for all seasons. So what's next for the actor? Will he ever return for Batman, Jim Gordon, or perhaps both in the same animated project?
8 Superman: Tim Daly
Fresh off his hit sitcom Wings, Tim Daly had a large shadow cast over him by the star of Batman: The Animated Series as well as the likes of Christopher Reeve's Superman. Fortunately, Tim Daly pulled the role off in Superman: The Animated Series for all three seasons.
Though he would leave the role, Tim Daly has returned to the role in several animated movies. Each time, Tim Daly brings a humble and down-to-Earth performance to the character that makes his Superman very likable. However, Daly perfectly brings the same amount of intensity and emotional depth that Batman: The Animated Series brought to Batman.
7 Batman: Troy Baker
Often labeled as one of the kings of voice actors, Troy Baker has played many superheroes and villains alike; Hawkeye, Bruce Banner, The Joker, Jason Todd, Two-Face, and even the Big Bad Bat himself. Troy Baker began his tenure as Batman with LEGO Batman across games and animated movies.
Over time, Troy Baker took on more serious and epic versions of Batman in the Telltale games and Batman VS The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He openly admits his admiration for Batman: The Animated Series and used that as inspiration but never feels like a copycat. His Batman is undeniably unique and fits a more neo-noir style.
6 Superman: Jerry O'Connell
He began as a replacement for Alan Tudyk's Superman in the DC Animated Movie Universe but over the course of several movies, Jerry O'Connell proved to be even better than his predecessor. Jerry O'Connell shined the most in the double feature of The Death Of Superman and Reign Of The Supermen.
O'Connell's Superman is an interesting case where one cannot judge him off one movie. His Superman evolves with every entry of the DCAMU changing even in the epic finale of the DCAMU, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. By the end, O'Connell perfected his Superman and always gave a great performance.
5 Batman: Roger Craig Smith
Mainly known for voicing Sonic The Hedgehog in the games and Mirage for Apex Legends, Roger Craig Smith was treated unfairly by fans. When it was announced that Smith would be taking over Batman in Batman: Arkham Origins, he was immediately ostracized by the community.
Over the years, fans have come to appreciate Roger Craig Smith for effectively portraying a young, rash, and much more angry version of the Arkhamverse Batman. Roger Craig Smith provided a lot of emotion, especially with his relationship with Alfred; conveying his struggle of dealing with supervillains for the first time remarkably well.
4 Superman: Kyle MacLachlan
Based on Darwyn Cooke's graphic novel, Justice League: The New Frontier is one of the most overlooked gems in the DC animated world. It's dark, mysterious, a beautiful period piece, and tackles some great themes. In The New Frontier, Superman does not have a huge role but it is an important one.
Superman is the moral compass trying to keep his friends and the government on the right path when they are the most divided. Kyle MacLachlan perfectly portrays that inspirational figure of hope, especially when he gives a speech in the final act. If given his own film to shine, Kyle MacLachlan could end up being on the same level as Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill.
3 Batman: Bruce Greenwood
Similar to Kyle MacLachlan, Bruce Greenwood was a decorated Hollywood actor already. He was in Star Trek, Double Jeopardy, and the National Treasure movies. So it was such a surprise that such a big name actor provided the voice of Batman for a straight-to-video film. A welcomed surprise as Bruce Greenwood provided a stoic performance with many subtle layers of emotion.
Batman: Under The Red Hood allowed Bruce Greenwood to shine since most of the movie is from his perspective and he shines very brightly. Greenwood would then return for the Young Justice animated series, the Gotham By Gaslight movie, and the recent Death In The Family interactive movie.
2 Superman: George Newbern
When Justice League came out, Tim Daly left the role of the DCAU Superman and so George Newbern was brought in to replace him. Over the years, Newbern would play Superman in movies, shows, and video games, and each time getting better and better.
In many ways, he provided the same stellar performance that Daly did but simply expanded upon the performance to make it even better. Newbern's brightest moments actually come from his villainous performance in the Injustice games; his Superman was dark and very terrifying as a villain.
1 Batman: Kevin Conroy
When it comes to Batman, there is one man who has absolutely perfected the role and that is the legendary Kevin Conroy. Since his debut in Batman: The Animated Series, Kevin Conroy for many fans has been the Batman of Batmen. Kevin Conroy brought new depth and portrayed Batman differently than anyone had ever done it before.
For over thirty years, Kevin Conroy has been the go-to voice for Batman; the DCAU shows, the Arkham games, animated movies, the Injustice games, and so much more. Even if the project itself is not a fan-favorite, Kevin Conroy will always be perfect in the role. He's even the first Batman voice-actor to make the leap to live-action after his appearance in Crisis On Infinite Earths.
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