Michael Gray, who played Billy Batson on 1970s TV series Shazam!, has died at 75

Michael Gray, the actor a generation of kids knew as Billy Batson on the 1970s TV series "Shazam!", has died. He was 75.

His publicist confirmed that Gray passed away on Oct. 16 in Palm Desert, California.

The cause was natural, his publicist said, adding that his health had been in decline.

The boy with the magic word

On "Shazam!", Gray's Billy Batson would call out the show's famous word and transform into Captain Marvel, the hero who swooped in to set things right. The role made him a familiar face on Saturday mornings.

A busy career on the small screen

Gray worked steadily in television over the years. His credits include "The Little People", "Dynasty" and "The Flying Nun".

Fans of "The Brady Bunch" may also remember him as Jeff, the boyfriend of Marcia. He picked up voice acting work along the way too.

A nod from the new generation

Decades after his run as Billy, Gray returned to the franchise with a brief cameo in the 2023 movie "Shazam! Fury of the Gods", a small tribute that tied the original series to the modern films.