Sometimes typecasting isn’t such a bad thing.
Adam West was a working TV actor for more than a decade before being cast in the role that would define his career. As the title character on Batman, West brought a campy and colorful 1960s style to the Dark Knight, a mark that stuck with the actor up until his death on Friday, June 9, at the age of 88.
Rather than run from his past as the Caped Crusader, West embraced the character and his spot in pop culture. He routinely popped up on TV in guest spots as “himself” and often appeared in Batman documentaries and retrospectives (he also reprised the role in an animated movie released in 2016).
Past and present members of the Batman community paid respect to West following his passing. Among them, West’s sidekick throughout his adventures, Burt Ward.
“I am devastated at the loss of one of my very dearest friends. Adam and I had a special friendship for more than 50 years,” Ward, who played Robin on the series, told The Hollywood Reporter.
“We shared some of the most fun times of our lives together; our families have deep love and respect for each other. This is a terribly unexpected loss of my lifelong friend, I will forever miss him. There are several fine actors who have portrayed Batman in films, in my eyes there was only one real Batman and that is and always will be Adam West; He was truly the Bright Knight,” he added.
