EntertainmentPosted at: Oct 24 2026 5:36PM


‘Shazam!’ star and 1970s teen idol Michael Gray passes away at 75

Los Angeles, Oct 24 (UNI) American actor Michael Gray, best known for portraying Billy Batson in the 1970s television series 'Shazam!', has passed away at the age of 75.
Gray died of natural causes on Friday, Variety reported. Rising to fame, he became a teen idol and appeared in several popular television series in numerous supporting roles, including 'The Brady Bunch', 'Dynasty' and 'The Flying Nun', during his acting career.
In 1972, the veteran actor got his first television break when he was casted in NBC’s “The Little People” alongside actors Brian Keith and Shelly Fabares.
Significantly, in 1974, Gray joined the cast of “Shazam!” and portrayed the character as Billy Batson, starring alongside John Davey and Les Tremayne in the series, which ran for three seasons until 1976.
The veteran actor rose to become a popular teen idol, frequently appearing on the covers of ‘Tiger Beat’ and other teen magazines.
Describing Gray as wonderful and sweet person, John Davey said, “From my very first day on the sets of ‘Shazam!’, Mike and Les [Tremayne] welcomed me like king. Mike was just loving, sweet guy with great sense of humour. 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,” Davey added.

Gray also appeared in several episodes of the FX series “Archer” as one of the titular character’s boyhood idols, as well as featuring in “Surge of Power” on AMC’s “Comic Book Men.”
Notably, Michael Gray was born in Chicago on September 2, 1951, and was raised in Miami Beach, Florida, prior moving to Los Angeles to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and pursue his career in entertainment.
After landing his role in ‘Shazam!’, Gray began to feel typecast and took a hiatus from acting. Moreover, he also worked in the children’s theatre education and men’s fashion, and simultaneously, owned and operated a floral business with his wife Stacy, Variety reported.
Furthermore, Michael Gray is survived by his wife, Stacy Benon Gray, whom he married in 1994, his step-children Ryan Cooper and Laurel Cooper, and son-in-law Lee Barkar.
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