‘Shazam!’ Star Michael Gray Dies at Age 75
WHO:
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray’s wife was Stacy; his survivors also included stepchildren Ryan and Cooper and son-in-law Lee.
Deadline - Michael Gray, the star of the 1970s CBS live-action series *Shazam!*, died at age 75.
Screen Rant - Michael Gray was the star of the superhero series *Shazam!*.
TMZ - Gray was known for playing Billy Batson on *Shazam!* in the 1970s.
Deadline - Gray’s representative confirmed his death to Deadline.
TMZ - Gray’s publicist confirmed his death to TMZ.
Deadline - Gray’s early television roles included a part in NBC’s *The Little People*, alongside Brian Keith and Shelly Fabares.
WHAT:
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray made his onscreen debut in a 1969 episode of *Room 222*.
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray appeared with Burt Reynolds in the 1970 ABC telefilm *Run, Simon, Run*.
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray’s *Shazam!* aired for three seasons, from 1974 to 1976.
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray said an early transformation effect left him “a little singed” when the smoke cleared, so the production quickly changed it.
The Hollywood Reporter - The 2012 DVD release of *Shazam!* opened the door for Gray to appear at fan conventions.
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray played student doctor Ronnie Collins on the first season of *The Little People* and appeared in *The Flying Nun*, *Marcus Welby, M.D.*, *The Brady Bunch*, *Beyond the Valley of the Dolls*, and *Myra Breckinridge*.
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray made a cameo in *Shazam! Fury of the Gods* (2023), voiced “TV’s Michael Gray” on four episodes of *Archer* from 2015–19, and played Will E. Bee in the *Surge of Power* franchise from 2016–20.
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray left acting, worked in children’s theater education and men’s fashion, and operated a West Hollywood floral business with his wife.
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray said, “They wanted me to be the next David Cassidy,” and recalled that fame sometimes made it impossible for him to leave his house.
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray’s *Shazam!* co-star John Davey described him as “a loving, sweet guy with a great sense of humor” who enjoyed meeting fans at comic-cons.
Deadline - Gray died of natural causes.
Screen Rant - Gray died at age 75.
TMZ - Gray died at age 75.
Deadline - Gray was cast in *The Little People* in 1972.
WHERE:
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray was born in Chicago and raised in Miami Beach before moving to Hollywood.
Deadline - Gray died in Palm Desert, California.
TMZ - Gray died in Palm Desert, California.
WHEN:
The Hollywood Reporter - Gray was born Sept. 2, 1951.
WHY:
Deadline - The reported cause of Gray’s death was natural causes.
TMZ - Gray’s publicist said he died of natural causes.
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - On *Shazam!*, Billy Batson transformed into Captain Marvel by saying “shazam”; Captain Marvel was played by Jackson Bostwick and later John Davey.
Deadline - Gray’s representative confirmed his death to the publication.
TMZ - Gray’s publicist confirmed his death to TMZ.
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 05:05 UTC)
Michael Gray, who starred as Billy Batson in the 1970s television series *Shazam!*, has died at 75. His death in Palm Desert, California, was confirmed by his representative and publicist, and the reported cause was natural causes. On the CBS series, which ran for three seasons from 1974 to 1976, Batson transformed into Captain Marvel by saying “shazam”; the superhero was played first by Jackson Bostwick and later by John Davey. Gray made his onscreen debut in *Room 222* in 1969 and also appeared in *The Little People*, *The Brady Bunch* and other television shows and films. He later returned to the *Shazam!* universe with a cameo in *Shazam! Fury of the Gods*. After leaving acting, Gray worked in children’s theater education and men’s fashion, and ran a West Hollywood floral business with his wife, Stacy. His survivors include Stacy, stepchildren Ryan and Cooper, and son-in-law Lee.
--
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 02:16 UTC)
Actor Michael Gray, best known as Billy Batson on the 1970s television series *Shazam!*, has died at 75. His representative and publicist confirmed his death, which occurred in Palm Desert, California, from natural causes. On the live-action superhero show, Gray’s character transformed into Captain Marvel by saying “shazam”; the hero was played by Jackson Bostwick and later John Davey. Gray began his television career in *The Little People*, playing student doctor Ronnie Collins, and went on to appear in *The Flying Nun*, *Marcus Welby, M.D.*, *The Brady Bunch* and several films. He later returned to the *Shazam!* world with a cameo in *Shazam! Fury of the Gods*, and voiced himself on *Archer*. After leaving acting, he worked in children’s theater education and men’s fashion, and ran a West Hollywood floral business with his wife, Stacy. His survivors include stepchildren Ryan and Cooper and son-in-law Lee.
--
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 00:09 UTC)
Michael Gray, the actor best known for playing Billy Batson in the 1970s live-action superhero series *Shazam!*, has died at age 75. He died of natural causes in Palm Desert, California, according to his publicist, who confirmed his death. Gray’s representative also confirmed the news. The CBS series made him a familiar face to television viewers as Billy Batson, the young hero who became Shazam. Before that role, Gray appeared in NBC’s *The Little People*, an early television credit that placed him alongside actors Brian Keith and Shelly Fabares. He was cast in the series in 1972. Gray’s career therefore included work on both a superhero program and a family-focused television drama, with *Shazam!* remaining the role most closely associated with him. He was 75 when he died.