Actor Michael Gray, best known for playing Billy Batson in the superhero series Shazam!, has died from natural causes at 75.
Gray’s representatives confirmed to People on Thursday that the actor died on October 16.
From 1974 to 1976, Gray appeared in 28 episodes of the DC Comics-inspired series as Billy Batson, a teenager who transformed into the superhero Captain Marvel by saying “Shazam!” Captain Marvel was played first by Jackson Bostwick and later by John Davey.
“I didn’t know the character or the story when I was initially cast, so I had to be a quick study,” Gray recalled during a 2012 Comic-Con panel. “So it was fun and exhausting, challenging and thrilling, all at once.”
“It didn’t matter that it was on Saturday morning or prime time — though the fact that it was one of the first few live-action shows on Saturday morning was exciting.”
Our News Outlet has contacted Gray’s representatives for additional comment.
Actor Michael Gray, best known for his work on the superhero series Shazam!, has died from natural causes at 75. Above, in 2001.
Gray discussed his time on the series during a 2012 appearance at Retro-TV Action-Adventure-Thon, according to Comic Book Resources.
Speaking about joining the show, Gray said: “I don’t recall really being in the audition, but I met with the people of the studio. The show was all shot within an hour, hour-and-a-half from the studio in the Los Angeles Valley.”
“Lots of guys from the crew worked on the Lassie series. It was good, quality stuff for what it was back then. We did an episode in two-and-a-half days, shooting from sunrise to sunset.”
Gray later described his brief time as a teen idol as both “exhausting and thrilling.”
“Before I took the role, I was told by a few people in the biz it wasn’t a good idea — that I’d be typecast,” he said. “But a job’s a job, so I took it. It truly was a thrilling show to work on and ended way too soon as far as I’m concerned.”
Gray returned to the franchise with a cameo in the 2023 film Shazam! Fury of the Gods, starring Zachary Levi, Asher Angel and Rachel Zegler.
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John Davey remembered Gray as “just a loving, sweet guy with a great sense of humor.”
Gray was raised in Miami Beach before moving to Southern California to pursue a career in show business.
Gray (right) played Billy Batson in 28 episodes of the series from 1974 to 1976. Above, with co-star John Davey.
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.”
Born on September 2, 1951, Gray grew up in Miami Beach before moving to Southern California to pursue acting.
He studied at the Pasadena Playhouse, while appearances on the covers of teen magazines including Tiger Beat helped raise his profile and led to his role in Shazam!.
Before landing his first recurring role as Ronnie on NBC’s The Little People, Gray appeared on television shows including Marcus Welby, M.D., The Flying Nun and Room 222.
He also appeared in an episode of The Brady Bunch as the boyfriend of Marcia (Maureen McCormick) in 1973.
Gray had worked on films such as Run, Simon, Run; Beyond the Valley of the Dolls; and Myra Breckinridge.
Following Shazam!, Gray took a break from show business and worked in different fields such as theater education, men’s fashion and a flower company he ran with his wife Stacy Benon Gray, according to Variety.
In recent years, Gray appeared on FX’s Archer and in the four films in the Surge of Power franchise, with his final role coming in 2024’s Surge of Power: Where There’s Smoke.
Gray is survived by wife Stacy Benon Gray; stepchildren Ryan Cooper and Laurel Cooper; and son-in-law Lee Barker.
