Michael Gray, Who Brought Billy Batson to Life in ‘Shazam!,’ Dies at 75
Michael Gray, the actor best known for playing Billy Batson in the 1970s superhero television series Shazam!, has died at 75.
Gray died of natural causes on October 16, 2026, his publicist announced on October 22. His portrayal of the young hero made him a familiar face to a generation of Saturday-morning television viewers. tvline.com
The Role That Defined His Career
Gray starred in Shazam! throughout its three-season run on CBS from 1974 to 1976. His character, teenager Billy Batson, transformed into the powerful Captain Marvel whenever he shouted the word “Shazam!”
Jackson Bostwick initially played Billy’s superhero alter ego, with John Davey later taking over the role. Alongside Les Tremayne as Mentor, Gray helped bring the comic-book adventure to television during an era when live-action superhero shows were still relatively uncommon. tvline.com
A Warm Tribute From His Co-Star
Davey remembered Gray’s kindness and the welcome he received when joining the series.
“Mike was just a loving, sweet guy with a great sense of humor,” he said in a statement reported by People.
He also recalled Gray’s enthusiasm for acting and his enjoyment of meeting viewers at comic conventions in later years. Those appearances gave the actor opportunities to reconnect with fans who had grown up watching him. people.com
From ‘The Brady Bunch’ to a Superhero Return
Before Shazam!, Gray appeared alongside Brian Keith and Shelley Fabares in NBC’s The Little People, playing student doctor Ronnie Collins. He also portrayed Jeff, Marcia Brady’s boyfriend, in a 1973 episode of The Brady Bunch. AOL
His television credits included Room 222, The Flying Nun and Marcus Welby, M.D. Decades later, he voiced a fictionalized version of himself in the animated comedy Archer. tvline.com
In 2023, Gray returned to the superhero world with a cameo in Shazam! Fury of the Gods. His brief interaction with Zachary Levi’s character offered a connection between the modern film franchise and the television series that had defined his career nearly five decades earlier. au.rollingstone.com
Gray is survived by his wife, Stacy Benon Gray; his stepchildren, Ryan Cooper and Laurel Cooper; and his son-in-law, Lee Barker. tvline.com
