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TV's Michael Gray has died

Posted on 10/23/26 at 10:13 am
Posted by blueboy
Member since Apr 2006
67620 posts
Posted on 10/23/26 at 10:13 am
At 75.
quote:

Long before superheroes ruled movie theaters, Michael Gray made Saturday mornings feel heroic.

The actor best remembered as Billy Batson in the 1970s television series Shazam! has passed away at 75, closing the chapter on a performer who became permanently tied to one of DC’s most famous transformations.
For a generation of fans, he was the young hero who only needed one word to become Captain Marvel. Shazam! ran for three seasons, and decades later Gray continued embracing the role, appearing at conventions, reconnecting with fans and even making a cameo in Shazam! Fury of the Gods in 2023.

Some of his most recognizable work included:

• Billy Batson — Shazam! (1974–1976)
• “TV’s Michael Gray” — Archer (2015–2019)
• Ronnie Collins — The Brian Keith Show / The Little People (1972–1973)
• Jeff — The Brady Bunch (1973)
• Will E. Bee — Surge of Power (2016–2024)
• Buzzy Knight — Our Time (1974)
• Burt Reynolds’ younger brother — Run, Simon, Run (1970)

That brief appearance alongside Burt Reynolds even helped turn Gray into a teenage heartthrob before Shazam! arrived, leading to attention from Tiger Beat and opening the door to the career that followed.

Michael Gray didn’t need a cape to become part of superhero history. For millions of fans, Billy Batson already had his face.
Rest in peace, Michael Gray.
Posted by udtiger
Over your left shoulder
Member since Nov 2006
118612 posts
Posted on 10/23/26 at 10:51 am to
Even back then, I thought him riding around in the RV with the old dude was weird.
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion
Texas
Member since Jul 2022
559 posts
Posted on 10/23/26 at 11:41 am to
Those "Shazam" and "Isis" series must have been filmed in 16mm. They always look grainy. Not very good shows, but they sure capture the 1970s ambiance better than almost anything. It confused me when "Shazam" started, how it deviated from the comic, with the whole thing of driving around in an RV and conversing with the mythical 'elders' or whatever. It seemed so odd and unrelated to the Captain Marvel comic narrative. But, the show was still fairly good-natured and hard to really hate.

Much prefer the "Captain Marvel" of the Republic 1941 serial, who is shown tossing villains off the top of tall buildings, and firing a machine-gun into the backs of enemy soldiers as they flee. Truthfully, it wasn't terribly representative of the comic book either, but I always prefer bloodthirsty 1940s violence to wimpy 1970s good-behavior lessons.
Posted by Fewer Kilometers
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
38837 posts
Posted on 10/23/26 at 11:50 am to
quote:

how it deviated from the comic, with the whole thing of driving around in an RV and conversing with the mythical 'elders' or whatever. It seemed so odd and unrelated to the Captain Marvel comic narrative.
DC tried to dovetail the comic with the series by having Uncle Dudley (Uncle Marvel) serve as Billy's mentor as they started their own RV trek.

I watched "Shazam", but hated that DC couldn't use the Captain Marvel name and that the shoestring budget meant that everything seemed to take place in the desolate hill country of California.
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion
Texas
Member since Jul 2022
559 posts
Posted on 10/23/26 at 11:57 am to
Yes, I do actually recall how the DC comic tried to shoehorn Uncle Marvel into the 'Mentor' role. I picked up a few issues around that time, but mainly because I always liked Kurt Schaffenberger's artwork. He'd done some work on the original "Captain Marvel, Jr." comics that Fawcett put out. I have a few dozen of those, from back when I was more of a comic collector.
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