Lois & Clark Forums Forums General Discussion Off Topic R.I.P. Adam West

Adam West, TV's Batman, Dies at 88

Adam West, who played Batman on the campy TV show that ran from 1966 - 1968, died of leukemia on Friday, June 9.


West's portrayal of Batman was much lighter than most of those that came later (definitely lighter than the Batmen of Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck, though Val Kilmer and George Clooney were pretty campy). I enjoyed the re-runs of the show when I was a kid in the 80's -- and when I re-watched the movie and some of the episodes as an adult, I picked up on the somewhat naughty undertones that had gone over my head when I was a kid.

West was typecast after playing Batman and had trouble getting other roles. He was disappointed at not being cast as Batman in the Tim Burton films, though at 60+, he was a little old to play a Batman just starting out. (If a live-action version of The Dark Knight Returns had ever been made, West might have stood a chance, although that Batman is much, much darker than the 60's Batman -- the only actor who has come close to playing that version of the character live-action is Ben Affleck in Batman vs. Superman.)

I was saddened to hear this today. Adam West introduced many of us to DC Comics and made us see the humor of spandex heroes. He'll truly be missed.

I agree.

In grade school, with my parents and siblings we watched Batman with Adam West and Burt Ward twice a week when it aired. At the time, I took it very seriously. A few years later as a teenager, I watched a rerun of their Batman movie, and was rolling on the floor. While that series didn't get much critical acclaim, it entertained both children and adults.

And there is a New World Zorro (TV show from the 1990s with Duncan Regehr as Zorro) episode called "The Wizard", where Adam West played Dr. Henry Wayne, a traveling peddler and inventor whose eyes lit up when he saw Zorro's cave. And apparently was an ancestor of Bruce Wayne. That episode is very reminiscent of the deadpan humor of the Batman series.

Adam West's Batman was the first live-action superhero I ever recall watching, and I have very fond memories of the show.

R.I.P., Mr. West.

- Lynn

He'll be missed.

Me too. As a kid, I loved Adam West's Batman. He's still my favorite.

Joan

I have a strong memory of being terrified as a kid when I saw our heroes trapped in a room with the walls closing in. And a very happy one of being taken by my mum to see one of the movies and then coming home to discover dad had bought me Batman and Robin figurines as a surprise. Except he had spent the day laquering the floor in my bedroom and accidentally left the figures on the nightstand - so they were trapped until the floor dried and I could get to them. Seemed to take days. LOL.

Adam seemed such a genuinely lovely person. Humble and self-deprecating and with a fine sense of the ridiculous. Not afraid to take the mickey with his legacy.

Family Guy just won't be the same without the demented Mayor West.

LabRat

MeTV is having an Adam West tribute on Saturday. If you get it, they'll be showing episodes of shows where he was a guest star all day starting at 10AM, at least in the Eastern Time Zone (US). Also think at least one episode of Batman will be shown. Don't know about other time zones. I don't have cable, but MeTV is one of the few local stations I can get with my $14 antenna.