Michael Gray, the actor best known for playing Billy Batson on the 1970s TV show Shazam!, has died at 75 of natural causes in Palm Desert. His passing was confirmed by a family spokesperson on Friday.
Gray’s death closes a chapter on a childhood of fame that lasted well into adulthood. He was born in Chicago on September 2, 1951, and moved to Miami Beach as a child before heading to Hollywood to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. His first screen role came in 1969 on an episode of Room 222, and he quickly appeared in shows like The Flying Nun, Marcus Welby, M.D., and The Brady Bunch. He played Marcia’s boyfriend in a 1973 episode when she worked in an ice cream shop.
His breakout came with the role of Ronnie Collins on NBC’s The Little People. The sitcom ran from 1972 to 1974, with Gray appearing in the first season. The show starred Brian Keith and Shelley Fabares and showcased Gray as a young doctor. During that period, Gray appeared on the covers of Tiger Beat and other teen magazines, becoming a recognizable face to millions of fans.
In 1974, Gray landed the part of Billy Batson on Shazam!, a live-action CBS series that ran for three seasons until 1976. His character could transform into Captain Marvel by uttering the word “shazam,” a catchphrase that became part of his identity. Jackson Bostwick originally played Captain Marvel, succeeded by John Davey after Bostwick’s departure. The show’s opening sequence features Gray’s Billy Batson getting ready to shout the magic word before transforming into the superhero.
Gray recalled in an interview with Comic Book Resources that he remembered the experiments with the special effects used to change from Billy to Captain Marvel. “I remember when we were experimenting with the change from Billy to Captain Marvel, using a sort of flash device, and poof, the smoke would clear and I was a little singed,” he said. “They changed that real quick. That definitely didn’t work.”
The role of Billy Batson turned Gray into a teen idol. He was often on the front covers of magazines like Tiger Beat, and he admitted the fame was overwhelming. “Back then, when the show was running and all the fan magazine coverage was going on, I couldn’t leave my house. It got pretty ugly sometimes,” he told Comic-Con attendees in later years. Gray said he was told he was supposed to be the next David Cassidy.
He eventually stepped away from acting, feeling he was being typecast. Gray shifted to children’s theater education, worked in men’s fashion, and owned a floral business in West Hollywood with his wife Stacy. Despite moving on, he remained connected to his past. The 2012 DVD release of Shazam! prompted Gray to attend fan conventions, where he shared how much the show meant to him and his fans.
Photo: hollywoodreporter.com
“I can’t tell you how overwhelmed I am. Shazam! is such a major part of my life, and for 30-some-odd-years, it just collected dust,” Gray told Fanboy Planet. “I didn’t know how much I would like Shazam! until years later when I found out how much of an influence my character and the show was on people’s lives. There were such good moral values to the show, and I meet people every day who say, ‘You helped me get through life.’”
In recent years, Gray’s career experienced a resurgence. He voiced the character of Sterling Archer’s childhood idol in four episodes of FX’s Archer between 2015 and 2019. He also played Will E. Bee in Surge of Power from 2016 to 2020. His cameo in the 2023 film Shazam! Fury of the Gods marked his latest appearance as the character that made him famous.
Gray’s death drew condolences from those who knew him well. John Davey, who succeeded Bostwick as Captain Marvel, described Gray as “a loving, sweet guy with a great sense of humor.” Davey added, “He loved acting, loved doing the show and, in recent years, loved appearing at comic-cons. He really enjoyed meeting and chatting with the fans. Mike was a wonderful man, I don’t think he ever stopped smiling.”
Gray’s survivors include his wife, whom he married in 1994, along with his stepchildren Ryan and Cooper, and his son-in-law Lee. His family spokesperson emphasized that Gray died peacefully, with no indication of anything other than natural causes.
As news of his passing spread, fans and colleagues remembered Gray for his warmth and humor. His contributions to the childhoods of millions remain undeniable, even as he quietly stepped away from the spotlight decades ago. Gray’s legacy is woven into the fabric of Saturday morning television, a reminder of a time when a single magic word could transform a boy into a hero.
Source Hollywood Reporter.