12 Famous Actors Who Played Batman (That Everyone Forgot About)

Batman is more than just a superhero—he’s a cultural icon. For over 80 years, the character has appeared in comics, on television, and in movies, constantly being reinvented by different actors hoping to make the role their own. Whether it was Adam West’s playful take, Michael Keaton’s dark interpretation, Christian Bale’s realistic portrayal, or Robert Pattinson’s troubled version, each actor has brought a unique stamp to the role and defined Batman for a generation.

As a huge Batman fan, I’ve noticed something amazing: he’s everywhere! Seriously, you can’t escape him – he’s in movies, TV shows, cartoons, video games, and even quick cameos. It feels like every generation gets its own version of the Dark Knight, and each time, people think this is the one to stick with. The details change – sometimes he’s got a darker voice, or a cooler Batmobile – but the core of Batman, the things that make him Batman, always remains the same. It’s what keeps bringing us back for more.

Playing Batman is a major milestone for any actor in Hollywood. While we all remember iconic performances and endlessly discuss the best Batmans, it’s surprising how many well-known and award-winning actors have actually played the role and then faded from our collective memory. Some voiced Batman before becoming famous, others played different versions of the character, and some appeared in projects that haven’t stood the test of time. A few castings were so unexpected that we simply don’t associate those actors with Batman, even though they technically did play him. Batman is a legendary role, and we think we know everyone who’s portrayed him, but history reveals there are many more than we realize.

Jensen Ackles

The CW

Jensen Ackles is well-known and loved by fans, especially within the superhero world. While he’s famous for playing Dean Winchester in Supernatural and Soldier Boy in The Boys, he’s also become a popular voice actor for Batman. He first voiced Bruce Wayne in the animated movie Batman: The Long Halloween, and continued in the role for several other DC animated films, including Legion of Super-Heroes and Justice League: Warworld, becoming a key part of the DC Animated Movie Universe.

Most people wouldn’t instantly associate Jared Padalecki with the role of Batman. His portrayal is dark and gritty, heavily inspired by the cynical tone of the Year One comic book. He plays Batman as a tired, battle-worn hero, but one who’s still incredibly intelligent and able to outsmart his opponents.

Kevin McKidd

HBO

Many viewers know Kevin McKidd as Dr. Owen Hunt from Grey’s Anatomy, but he also voiced Batman in the 2013 animated film Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. The movie is based on a popular DC Comics story where time travel changes reality. In this alternate world, Bruce Wayne is dead, and his father, Thomas Wayne, becomes Batman, while his mother becomes the Joker.

David McKidd’s extensive acting background, including roles in films like Trainspotting and the series Rome, made his casting a surprising choice. However, it perfectly suited the film’s dark and realistic style. McKidd portrays Thomas Wayne as a harsh, relentless, and even more aggressive character than Bruce Wayne is typically shown. The film was praised for its mature themes, and McKidd’s voice performance delivered a powerful, gravelly tone, hinting at both deep sorrow and intense anger.

Ron Perlman

Ron Perlman has one of those instantly recognizable voices – it’s deep, powerful, and has a slightly rugged quality. Though he’s best known for roles like Hellboy and many other characters, Perlman also voiced Batman in the 2006 video game Justice League Heroes. The game, created by Snowblind Studios, boasted an impressive cast including Michael Jai White as Green Lantern and Crispin Freeman as Superman.

Perlman’s Batman stands out because he offered a fresh take on the character, but he doesn’t get enough recognition for it, likely because it was in a video game. His Bruce Wayne was a strong, military-style leader, which perfectly matched the game’s serious and action-packed feel. He commanded respect and was the one everyone turned to when things got tough, and that level of seriousness was really impressive.

Jeremy Sisto

CBS

Jeremy Sisto has had a long and varied career, appearing in numerous TV shows like Six Feet Under and Law & Order. But many fans may not know that in 2008, he also provided the voice for Batman in the animated movie Justice League: The New Frontier, which was based on the popular graphic novel by Darwyn Cooke.

As a huge cinema fan, I was really intrigued by the casting in this film – Kyle MacLachlan as Superman and Neil Patrick Harris as the Flash? Brilliant! But it was Mark Sisto as Batman who really grabbed me. He brought this amazing, down-to-earth quality to the role. The story itself felt very much like those 1950s sci-fi films – a mix of hopeful futurism and Cold War anxiety. And Sisto’s Batman perfectly fit that vibe – he was practical, a little distant, exactly the kind of hero you’d expect to see navigating that era.

Peter Weller

DC/Warner

Looking back, it seems fitting that Peter Weller became connected to Batman. Before he ever played a role in Gotham City, he was known for bringing a thoughtful quality to action heroes, most notably as RoboCop. Later, in 2012 and 2013, he provided the voice for an older, experienced Bruce Wayne returning from retirement in the animated movie adaptation of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns.

The films stayed true to the spirit of Miller’s original comic, and Michael Keaton perfectly captured the role of the weary, battle-hardened hero. He was praised for his subtle performance, often relying on his distinctive voice to convey emotion. In the first film, his Batman seemed like a reluctant fighter, but by the second, he felt the full responsibility for Gotham’s fate.

Iain Glen

Prime Video

I was really fascinated by Iain Glen’s take on Bruce Wayne in Titans. Most people know him as Jorah Mormont, but he played Batman from 2019 to 2021, and it was a really interesting portrayal. He wasn’t the Batman we’re used to – he was older, more of a guiding figure, and often appeared in the background. It was a deliberate choice to make him a bit unsettling and, honestly, a pretty controversial one, but I found him to be a powerfully influential character.

Titans intentionally moved away from the legendary portrayal of Batman, and the show’s version of Bruce Wayne caused a stir when it first aired. Many headlines highlighted how realistically flawed and human this Bruce felt, with some viewers even pointing out he resembled Alfred more than Batman. However, others welcomed this new take, seeing it as a compelling way to show the character’s growth and change over time.

Ben McKenzie

Fox

Before becoming famous for his roles in shows like Gotham, Ben McKenzie actually started with a connection to Batman’s beginnings. While he was best known for The O.C. and Southland, McKenzie first voiced a young Bruce Wayne in the animated movie Batman: Year One, which was based on the classic comic book by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli.

Ben McKenzie’s portrayal of Batman is worth remembering because he showed a Bruce Wayne who was rough around the edges and still learning. In Year One, the story focuses on a new vigilante figuring things out, and McKenzie’s voice perfectly captured that blend of drive and insecurity. His Batman felt realistically human, rather than like a legendary figure. It’s understandable why people might forget this role, since he later became well-known as Gordon in Gotham.

Michael C. Hall

Paramount+

While best known for his role as Dexter, Michael C. Hall took on an unexpected project in 2015, voicing a unique version of Batman in Justice League: Gods and Monsters. Instead of playing Bruce Wayne, he portrayed Kirk Langstrom, a scientist who transforms into a vampire-like Batman through self-experimentation. The film is part of DC’s “Elseworlds” series, which presents darker and alternative takes on classic superhero origins.

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Hall also brought the character to life in animated shorts, giving fans more of this vampire-like crime fighter across different projects. This portrayal had a cold, detached feel that fit perfectly with Langstrom’s disturbing change, and Hall emphasized that by playing Batman as a hunter rather than an investigator. It’s easy to overlook this version of the character, but Hall demonstrates just how adaptable the Batman story can be.

Troy Baker

DC Entertainmen

Troy Baker is a hugely successful voice actor, famous for bringing characters like Joel from The Last of Us and Booker DeWitt from BioShock Infinite to life. He added another iconic role to his list in 2019, voicing Batman in the animated film Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While Darren Criss voiced Raphael and Eric Bauza played Leonardo, Baker’s portrayal of the serious, intense Batman grounded the movie, especially as it brought him together with the fun-loving Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

What I really loved about Baker’s performance is how he struck the perfect balance between being a truly serious Batman and letting a little humor peek through. The movie itself is just fun – it’s got awesome martial arts and a really playful vibe. Baker’s Batman is this incredibly controlled, intimidating figure, but when he interacts with the Turtles, you get these moments where the sheer silliness of a Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles team-up comes through, and it works. It’s that little bit of humor that makes the whole thing so enjoyable.

Bruce Greenwood

HBO

Bruce Greenwood is a well-known actor with a distinctive and captivating voice. While he’s appeared in films like Star Trek and I, Robot, many fans recognize him as the voice of Batman. He first took on the role in Batman: Under the Red Hood and continued to voice the character for over a decade in the animated series Young Justice, from 2010 to 2022.

Bruce Greenwood has been a consistent voice for Batman in animation for a long time, even if he’s not the first actor people think of. He powerfully conveyed Bruce Wayne’s grief and remorse over Jason Todd’s death in Under the Red Hood, and in Young Justice, he showed a different side of Batman – a thoughtful mentor and strategist who quietly guides the next generation of heroes. Greenwood’s portrayal wasn’t about grand displays, but about a dependable and solid Batman.

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2026-02-07 05:06