DC’s Robin is perhaps the most well-known superhero sidekick of all time. Originally devised as a means to attract young readership for DC, the many iterations of Robin went well beyond marketing gimmicks to established themselves as one of the key superhero identities in the Batverse.
Of course, it’s not just his association with The Dark Knight that makes Robin a beloved character. Fighting alongside the Caped Crusader since his first comic book appearance in the 40s, Robin has undergone numerous transformations. From the classic Burt Ward Robin, who entertained the audience with his goofy side, to the Jason Todd Robin, who added a dark dimension to the character, Robin has wowed the audience with the possibilities of a complex three-dimensional character. Most importantly, the iconic Batman persona has also been influenced by the character’s relationship with Robin. In fact, most recently, Ben Affleck’s menacing take on Batman was shown to have been overtly influenced by the fate of Jason Todd in Batman v Superman, as outlined by Games Radar.
Over the years, numerous actors have attempted to don Robin’s iconic yellow cape, in both live action and animation formats. Some have shouldered the mantle better than others. Now, with talks about Robert Pattinson’s The Batman 2 featuring Robin, per Screen Rant, it’s the perfect time to revisit the many actors who have slipped into the Robin suit. Here, we rank some of the best actors who have played DC’s Robin in live-action and animation.
8 Douglas Croft — Batman (1943)
This list would obviously be incomplete without including the very first actor to don Robin’s costume. Douglas Croft appeared as Robin beside Lewis Wilson’s Batman in the Batman TV serial from 1943. Croft was only 16 years old when he played the part, making him the first and the youngest Robin in history. Croft’s take on the Boy Wonder was confident, righteous, jovial, and boyish. Thanks to his age, Croft was able to radiate the role with Robin’s staple youthfulness.
Sadly though, this is where the list of merits for the Batman serial ends. When we look at 1943’s Batman with 2022’s hindsight, it appears dull, unwittingly silly, and somewhat racist. However, it was still the very first adaptation of Batman and Robin on -creen. The Robin character portrayed by Croft laid the foundations for future actors who would take on the moniker Robins. This alone makes Croft deserving of a place in this list.
7 Chris O’ Donnell — Batman Forever
Chris O’Donnell first appeared as Robin in Batman Forever and continued to play the part for three more movies. This version of the Robin finds his origins after being orphaned by Two-Face. The trauma has transformed this Robin into a sad, headstrong, revenge-thirsty vigilante. O’Donnell’s Dick Grayson constantly oscillates between being headstrong confidence and heartbroken sorrow. The inner turmoil is well-portrayed by O’Donnell and aptly reflects the comic book portrayals of the Robin character during that period, which often focused on the character’s teenage angst and hot-headedness.
O’Donnell’s Robin, however, had one fatal flaw, which happened to be beyond his control — his age. Being 30-something years old, playing the role of a teenager added an unavoidable tinge of awkwardness to his performance. While O’Donnell’s heartfelt efforts to play the Boy Wonder are evident, his age often acted as road bumps to an otherwise stalwart performance. In this case, Dick Grayson grew up too soon for his own good.
6 Loren Lester — Batman: The Animated Series
For those who grew up in the 90s, it’s Loren Lester’s voice that remains the most enduring and memorable version of Robin. Lester voiced Dick Grayson’s many evolutions from the cool and mature Robin in Batman: The Animated Series to his departure from Batman’s partnership and transformation into Nightwing in New Batman Adventures. Lester’s version of Dick Grayson exuded calm, competence, and confidence without appearing cocky — character traits that have come to define the character even in later portrayals. That is not to say that this Robin isn’t without the character’s inherent flaws. Lester’s Robin is prone to acting impulsively under pressure. Yet, at the end of the day, he learns his lesson and is only wiser for it. Lester’s take is the sort of Robin that kids can idolize and look up to.
5 Burt Ward — Batman (1966)
Burt Ward slipped into Robin’s role so perfectly that it’s hard to imagine him playing any other role. Ward’s first appearance as Robin was in the 1966 Batman TV series alongside Adam West. Since then, Ward’s version of Robin has gone down in history as the standard version of the sidekick. From his comic book-like costume and over-the-top reactions to his “holy” catchphrases and hilarious punchlines, everything about this Boy Wonder screams iconic. It’s a version that panders to the child in all of us and remains absolutely timeless.
4 Jensen Ackles — Batman: Under the Red Hood
Many iterations of the Batman sidekick have hung Robin’s costume to become standalone heroes in their own right. After Dick Grayson goes on to become the Nightwing, it’s Jason Todd who fills in his shoes and later, goes on to become the feared Red Hood. Jason Todd’s storyline is one of the darkest and most famous tales in DC Comics; it’s a pivotal moment in Batman’s own journey as well. Actor Jensen Ackles of Supernatural fame was the perfect choice to voice Jason Todd in Batman: Under the Red Hood. The animated movie told the dark story of Jason Todd’s transformation from the youthful Robin to the cynical Red Hood. With a voice that contained both a youthful flexibility and a darker, gritty baritone, Ackles was able to bridge this transformation perfectly. Despite the fact that it was his first gig as a voice actor, Ackles did a striking job of conveying the anger and hurt to Jason’s voice.
3 Brenton Thwaites — Titans
When we first meet Brenton Thwaites’ Robin in HBO Max series Titans, he’s already grown disillusioned from Batman. The first words we hear from his mouth are “F*** Batman!” And this perfectly sets the tone for the sort of Robin we’d be following for the rest of the series. This setup allows for the series to explore a strained relationship between Batman and Robin, and shows us how this conflict looks like from Robin’s perspective. Thwaites for his part does an outstanding job of portraying a complex character who’s attempting to find a new set of principles after being let down by the old ones. This internal struggle grows to a full crescendo towards the season 2 finale, when Dick Grayson finally breaks away from Batman’s shadow to become Nightwing.
2 Honorable Mention: Joseph Gordon-Levitt — The Dark Knight Rises
Since we are talking about all the Robins, it would be unfair to not mention the Robin who never was. Towards the end of The Dark Knight Rises, after Batman retires, we see Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character John Blake discovering Batman’s identity and his Batcave. We also learn that John Blake’s real name was actually Robin. While we don’t see Gordon-Levitt putting on the Robin suit, it’s generally understood that he goes on to become the Boy Wonder. We know Gordon-Levitt was phenomenal as John Blake, so, it’s left for the audience to imagine his version of Robin.
1 Curran Walters — Titans
Curran Walter’s Robin is bratty, brimming with confidence, morally questionable, and sometimes even downright annoying. And yet, it's impossible to take your eyes off of his performance. Curran Walters was the first actor to portray Jason Todd in a live-action format, and he’s already set the benchmark extremely high. With his portrayal of the second Robin Jason Todd in the HBO Max Series Titans, Walters successfully captures the complex duality of his character: between a scared orphan seeking Batman’s approval and a terrifying menace that is quick to anger and violence. In the end, Walters achieves a feat unimaginable to past Robins — breaking away from Batman’s shadow to establish Robin as a significant character in his own right.