As many of you probably know by now, we love Batman here at Cinema Smack. That being said, it’s unbelievably sad that the star of the 1960’s Batman television show, Adam West, has passed away at the age of 88 after a short battle with leukemia.
West got his start in Hollywood in the late 1950’s appearing in a number of TV shows. Of course, he’s most widely known for his role as the “original” Batman. The Batman TV show and subsequent film will always be remembered for their campy styling and jokey nature. While West’s wasn’t a serious take on the character, it will always hold its place in popular culture. His portrayal of the caped crusader alongside Burt Ward as Robin is absolutely iconic.
He returned to voice the character in animated shows and films a number of times over the years. Most recently, West, Ward, and Julie Newmar voiced Batman, Robin, and Catwoman respectively in last year’s throwback animated film, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. Batman vs. Two-Face is currently in post-production with all three returning to their roles alongside William Shatner as the villain.
In addition to his legacy as Batman, Adam West has done a lot of other voice work as well. He has played himself in shows like The Fairly Oddparents and The Simpsons. He is also portrayed as the Mayor of Quahog, Rhode Island in Family Guy. His quirky one liners and paranoia have been a constant source of comedy for the show. He has been a recurring character on the show since Season 2 in 2000.
All respects go to the family and friends of Adam West.
