It feels odd mourning the loss of someone you never knew personally. When someone we watch on TV or on the big screen leaves a lasting impression on us at a young age, we develop this connection to them. We look at them as though they are our teacher, our parent, or our friend; maybe all of the above. TV and Film actor Adam West passed away from Leukemia on June 10, 2017, at 88 years old. And yet for many of us, it feels like we lost a father, and a friend.
Since his passing, so many celebrities such as Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, Mark Hamill, Seth Macfarlane, Kevin Smith, and so much more have written their tributes and expressed what Adam West meant to them. I honestly don't know how I can do an icon like him justice. But it's worth a try.
Adam West was born on September 19, 1928 in Walla Walla, Washington to a farmer, Otto West Anderson, and an opera singer, Audrey V. He attended Lakeside School, and then went to Whitman College where he got a degree in Literature and Psychology. He came to Hollywood in 1959, and developed the stage name "Adam West".
In 1966, he agreed to star in a television series based on a comic book about a billionaire playboy who dressed up as a bat and fights crime. Little did West know that this show would change his life, as well as pop culture, forever.
Batman, which ran from 1966 to 1969, was the television debut of the Batman character created by Bob Kane. It was one of the more light-hearted interpretations of the caped crusader. And that's an understatement. It was more of a flat-out spoof than an interpretation. This show was the definition of campy. It was filled with cheap looking sets and costumes, hammy acting, fake looking fight scenes, and of course, cheesy catch phrases.
For years, Batman fans hated this show because they felt that it ruined the image of Batman for decades. But it's been more appreciated in recent years. And it deserves to be. I think the 1960s Batman show is one of the best comedies in television history. It's a show that understands how ridiculous the concept of Batman is, and has fun with it. It's not afraid to be goofy. Something that superhero movies tried to stay away from for years until recently.
Adam West is the perfect Batman for this type of interpretation. He plays the part so deadpan, and yet has a subtle self awareness at the ridiculousness of it all. He stands up for what is right and never gives up until the job is done. He's like an Eagle Scout Sherlock Holmes with a thing for dressing in rubber.
Fans like to debate who the best Batman is. Some say Michael Keaton, others say Christian Bale. Most would say Kevin Conroy. Even Ben Affleck has his fans. But Adam West is the one who started it all. Sure, he wasn't the first actor to ever play Batman (that was Lewis Wilson). But Adam West is the actor who introduced Batman into the mainstream. For many of us, AdamWest is the first person who comes to mind when we think of Batman.
Plus, can any of the other Batman actors do the Batusi?
Top that, Ben Affleck!
Of course, Batman can't do it alone. Not without his sidekick Robin, played by Burt Ward!
Robin is the opposite of Batman, as is Burt Ward's performance. Where Batman is serious and deadpan, Robin is more over-the-top and wacky. He delivers some of the funniest, most over-the-top lines of dialogue in any TV show. And for a show that premiered in the 1960s, that is saying a lot!
The show featured many of Batman's most famous villains including the Joker (played by Caesar Romero, who famously refused to shave his mustache for the role), the Riddler (Frank Garshin and John Astin), the Penguin (Burgess Meredith), and Catwoman (Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, and Eartha Kitt).
If you first watched this show as a kid, you probably took it seriously and got mad at your parents for laughing at it. But when you became an adult, you understood why they were laughing at it. It's a really silly show. And it's aware of that. And it's not ashamed of it. In fact, it embraces its silliness, which is part of its appeal. You can see a lot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies taking notes with how they also don't take themselves too seriously.
The show was so popular, it had a feature film in theaters, Batman: The Movie. It had all of Batman's most famous villains with a diabolical plot to turn all the world leaders into dust. And it involved one of the coolest scenes in Batman history!
The show was cancelled in 1969 after three seasons. There were a number of reunions, including Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt in 2003, and a straight-to-dvd animated feature Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders in 2016.
For a while, Adam West was mainly absent from the spotlight with the exception of a TV pilot, Lookwell, in 1991. But in the 90s and 2000s, he was able revive his career as well as connect with a new generation with voice over roles in animation, including a guest appearance as the Grey Ghost in Batman: The Animated Series, an episode which was a love letter to the 1960s TV show.
In the early 2000s, he made a guest appearance as himself in The Fairly Oddparents as himself playing another caped superhero, Catman; one of Timmy Turner's favorite superheroes.
Cat-Man is basically Batman, but he dresses as a cat instead of a bat. He fights crime, drinks cream, and does what every cat does... just as a man.
This was my introduction to Adam West. He was so cartoony and so over the top, I thought he was an original character. I didn't think he was a real actor. He was just so over-the-top and goofy! He was easily one of my favorite characters on the show, solely because of how ridiculous he was. This performance was an example of what a good sport Adam West was, and how he was not afraid to make fun of himself. He had a great sense of humor.
But The Fairly Oddparents was not the only show Adam West played an exaggerated version of himself on. He also played himself on Family Guy, only this time he was the psychotic mayor of Quahog. He is easily one of the funniest characters on the show. He's kind of a parody of dumb, corrupt politicians. He says lines that are so stupid and so bizarre, you can't help but laugh. A lot of that is due to Adam West's brilliant performance. He had a talent of making every line he says sound funny. I've always enjoyed his appearances on Family Guy. The show will have a huge hole without him.
I had a chance to see Adam West in person at Comic Con in 2014 at a panel for the 60s Batman show to celebrate its first release on DVD and Blu-ray. He was there along with Burt Ward and Julie Newmar. They shared so many funny stories about working on this crazy show that made its way into the pop culture lexicon. I was so close to asking them a question. But was sadly cut off at the last minute. It's one of the biggest regrets I have at a convention. But it was till worth it to see West, Ward, and Newmar in person! You can watch the whole panel below. It's long, but worth it.
As I said before, it's odd mourning the loss of someone you never knew personally. I never met Adam West in person. But it sure feels like I did. For me, Adam West was more than just a great actor. He was like a role model. As Batman, he taught kids right from wrong, to stand up for others, and to never give up. And he did so with a great sense of humor about himself. He didn't take himself seriously. But he took what Batman meant to people seriously. He was aware of the impact this character had on so many people, and was proud to be a part of it. As a Batman fan, a superhero fan, and a fan of pop culture in general, I am forever grateful to Adam West for introducing Batman to the masses. But I am even more grateful for the years of entertainment and joy he brought to me and millions around the world.
Farewell, old chum.
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