Top 5 Batman Actors

Few characters have seen as many different and varied interpretations as DC Comic's famous Dark Knight. From the illustration page, to cartoons, to the movies and a long line of action figures, Batman has been portrayed in a myriad of different shapes and forms.

When it comes to the film world, though, who are the actors that portrayed the character most effectively? Well...

5. Val Kilmer - Batman Forever was a mixed bag. Though some naysayers see it as merely a slightly-less campy and neon-filled precursor to the much-hated Batman & Robin, it had its strong points that sometimes get forgotten - not the least of which is Val Kilmer's performance as the caped crusader. Though unfortunately overshadowed by the villains (once again), Kilmer turned in an interesting take on a Batman who was growing unsure of his mission. It's a shame he only got one movie.

4. Adam West - Come on, how could Adam West not deserve recognition? Though many fans might loathe to admit it, the cheesy BIFFS! and POWS! of the 1960's TV show was exactly like the Batman comics of its era, and they couldn't have found a better actor for that version of Batman than Adam West. Through colorful villains, campy Bat-technology and over-the-top plotlines, West never stopped playing Batman earnestly, even when he was just voicing the character years later.

3. Michael Keaton - Raw, aggressive, cynical and sarcastic as Batman, then lonely and strangely vulnerable as Bruce Wayne, Michael Keaton's portrayal was never quite the comic book hero, but it was a fascinating character nonetheless. Taking ideas from the work of Frank Miller and with a lot of Tim Burton's personal quirks mixed in, Keaton's Batman was the defining version of the character for a generation.

2. Christian Bale - Combining the aggressiveness of Michael Keaton with the intelligence and morality that the comics have shown Batman with for decades, Christian Bale's Batman (as seen in The Dark Knight and especially in Batman Begins) is the first time that the character that the fans love has ever truly appeared on the big screen. Fans were clamoring for Bale years before he was ever cast, and it's easy to see why; it's now hard to imagine anyone else stepping into the suit and cowl...

1. Kevin Conroy - ...which is why the number one choice is someone who's never actually worn the costume. Sure, it's easy to argue that as a voice actor, Kevin Conroy doesn't belong on this list. But the fact is, over multiple TV shows for the last two decades and at least four movies, including the amazing Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Conroy is Batman. He's the ultimate portrayal of the classic Denny O'Neil stories, and for that he deserves the top spot.