Adam West - # 160

Adam West, TV's 'Batman,' Dead at 88

He was number 160 on the list.

Adam West, the star of the Sixties Batman series, died Friday night in Los Angeles following a short battle with leukemia. The actor was 88.

"Our dad always saw himself as The Bright Knight, and aspired to make a positive impact on his fans’ lives. He was and always will be our hero," the West family said in a statement to Variety.

The family added on Facebook, "It's with great sadness that we are sharing this news... Adam West passed away peacefully last night after a short but brave battle with leukemia. He was a beloved father, husband, grandfather, and great-grandfather. There are no words to describe how much we'll miss him. We know you'll miss him too and we want you to know how much your love and support meant to him throughout the years. Hug your loved ones today."

After spending the early half of the Sixties playing bit parts on TV shows and movies – including the 1964 sci-fi classic Robinson Crusoe on Mars – West was the first actor to step into the role of Bruce Wayne and his crime-fighting alter ego Batman for the kitschy, campy television series based on the DC Comics character.

A surprise hit, Batman ran for three seasons and 120 episodes, with West's deadpan depiction of the Dark Knight immortalized in the pop culture lexicon.

"My Batman has endured because it had something for everyone," West told the Daily Express in 2015 of the Batman role. "When you were a kid you could enjoy all the adventure, the color, the crazy costumes, the wonderful villains. Then as you got a little bit older you saw the satirical elements, the bizarre stuff."

Following the end of the first season in 1966, West played the superhero in the film Batman, the first big screen adaptation of the comic book. While West is credited with reviving the Batman character and proving its franchise potential - as well as setting the bar for future Dark Knights like Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale and Ben Affleck - the actor was inevitably typecast due to the famous role.

Over the next 50 years, West continued to find steady work with television guest appearances, small movie roles and as a voice actor, but he never reclaimed the fame he achieved as Batman; West would later reveal that he was approached about playing James Bond in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, but turned down the role because he believed the secret agent should be portrayed by a British actor.

In recent years, West lent his voice to a caricatured version of himself as Mayor West on the animated series Family Guy. In 2016, West reprised the Batman role by providing the voice of the superhero in the cartoon film Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, a spoof of the Sixties series.

"If I had the chance to do it all over again I would," West added. "It was tough for a while but I'm the luckiest guy in the world because I got to create a character that lasts and that people love. So I made up my mind that if people love Batman, I'll love Batman too." In later years he did voice work for studios such as Disney.

Filmography

Film

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1957      Voodoo Island   Weather Station #4 Radio Operator         Uncredited

1958      Ghost of the China Sea                   Uncredited

1959      The Young Philadelphians             William Lawrence III       

1959      The FBI Story      Man on Two Way Radio                 Voice, Uncredited

1962      Geronimo            Lt. John Delahay              

1963      Tammy and the Doctor Dr. Eric Hassler

1964      Soldier in the Rain            Captain                

1964      Robinson Crusoe on Mars             Colonel Dan McReady   

1965      The Outlaws Is Coming   Kenneth Cabot

1965      Mara of the Wilderness Ken Williams     

1965      The Relentless Four         Ranger Sam Garrett        

1966      Batman                Bruce Wayne / Batman

1969      The Girl Who Knew Too Much    Johnny Cain       

1971      The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker      Chester               

1972      Curse of the Moon Child                               

1974      Hell River             Kurt Kohler        

1975      The Specialist     Jerry Bounds     

1978      Hooper                 Himself                

1980      Warp Speed       Shuttle captain

1980      The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood         Lionel Lamely    

1982      One Dark Night Allan McKenna

1984      Hell Riders           Doctor Dave      

1985      Yellow Pages      Henry's Father   Uncredited

1985      Young Lady Chatterley II                Professor Arthur Bohart Jr.          

1986      Zombie Nightmare           Capt. Tom Churchman  

1988      Doin' Time on Planet Earth           Charles Pinsky  

1988      Return Fire          Carruthers          

1988      Night of the Kickfighters                Carl McMann    

1989      Mad About You                 Edward Harris   

1990      Omega Cop         Prescott              

1991      Maxim Xul           Professor Marduk           

1994      The New Age     Jeff Witner         

1994      Not This Part of the World                           

1994      The Best Movie Ever Made           Himself                

1995      Run for Cover     Senator Prescott              

1996      The Size of Watermelons              Himself                

1997      Redux Riding Hood          Leonard Fox        Voice, Short

1997      Joyride Harold  

1997      American Vampire           The Big Kahuna

1999      Drop Dead Gorgeous      Himself                

2001      Seance Homeless Man / Angel   Also known as Killer in the Dark, released online in 2015

2002      From Heaven to Hell                      

2003      Baadasssss!        Bert      

2003      Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt        Himself                 TV movie

2004      Tales from Beyond           Jay          (segment "The Bookstore")

2005      Aloha, Scooby-Doo!        Jared Moon        Voice, Direct-to-DVD

2005      Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story                 Mayor Adam West           Voice, Direct-to-DVD

2005      Buckaroo: The Movie      Judge Werner   

2005      Chicken Little     Ace - Hollywood Chicken Little    Voice

2005      Angels with Angles          Alfred the Butler              

2007      Meet the Robinsons        Uncle Art             Voice

2007      Sexina: Popstar P.I.          The Boss             

2009      Ratko: The Dictator's Son              Kostka Volvic     

2009      Super Capers: The Origins of Ed and the Missing Bullion Manbat / Cab Driver      

2011      Pizza Man            Himself                

2015      Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie         Sandy Blake        Voice, Direct-to-DVD

2016      Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders                 Bruce Wayne / Batman Voice, Direct-to-DVD

2017      Batman vs. Two-Face      Bruce Wayne / Batman Voice, Direct-to-DVD

Posthumous release, (final film role)

Television

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1954–1955          The Philco Television Playhouse                 Ham Ector           3 episodes

1958–1959          77 Sunset Strip Jim Beck / Lonnie Drew / Ernest Detterback         3 episodes

1959      Grand Jury          Fenway                Episode: "The Big Boss"

1959      Lawman               Doc Holliday       Episode: "The Wayfarer"

1959      Sugarfoot            Doc Holliday / Frederick Pulaski 2 episodes

1959      Cheyenne           Ashley Claiborn Episode: "Blind Spot"

1959      Bronco Major Carter      Episode: "The Burning Springs"

1959      Colt .45                 Doc Holliday / Marshal Joe Benjamin / Sgt. Ed Kallen        3 episodes

1959      Maverick              George Henry Arnett / Rudolph St. Cloud / Vic Nolan        3 episodes

1959      Hawaiian Eye     George Nolen    Episode: "The Quick Return"

1959      Bourbon Street Beat       Deputy Episode: "The Black Magnolia"

1960      Johnny Midnight               Jake Hill                Episode: "The Villain of the Piece"

1960      Overland Trail    Wild Bill Hickok Episode: "Westbound Stage"

1960      Goodyear Theatre           David     Episode: "All in the Family"

1960      Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse                Johnny Cinderella             Episode: "Murder Is a Private Affair"

1961–1963          Laramie                Kett Darby / Deputy        2 episodes

1961      Tales of Wells Fargo        Steve Daco          Episode: "The Has-Been"

1961      Bonanza               Frank Milton      Episode: "The Bride"

1961–1962          Perry Mason       Pete Norland / Dan Southern      2 episodes

1961      Michael Shayne                Dave Owens       Episode: "Date with Death"

1961      The Rifleman      Christopher Rolf               Episode: "Stopover"

1961      Guestward, Ho!                Larry Crawford Episode: "Bill, the Fireman"

1961–1962          The Detectives Det. Sgt. Steve Nelson    30 episodes

1962      The Beachcomber            Huckabee            Episode: "Captain Huckabee's Beard"

1963      The Real McCoys              Buzz Cooper       Episode: "The Crop Duster"

1963      Gunsmoke          Emmett                Episode: "Ash"

1964      Petticoat Junction            Dr. Clayton Harris             2 episodes

1964      The Outer Limits               Major Charles 'Chuck' Merritt     Episode: "The Invisible Enemy"

1964      Bewitched           Kermit   Episode: "Love Is Blind"

1965      The Virginian      Sam Loomis        Episode: "Legend for a Lawman"

1966–1968          Batman                Bruce Wayne / Batman 120 episodes

1966      The Milton Berle Show   Batman                Episode #1.2

1968      The Big Valley    Major Jonathan Eliot       Episode: "In Silent Battle"

1971      Night Gallery      Mr. Hyde             Episode: "With Apologies to Mr. Hyde"

1972      Primus Jenson Episode: "Sea Serpent"

1972      Alias Smith and Jones     Brubaker              Episode: "The Men That Corrupted Hadleyburg"

1972      The Eyes of Charles Sand               Dr. Paul Scott     Television film

1972      This Is the Life    GI Hank Mathes                Episode: "The Revenge of Cho Lin"

1972      Mannix                 Jonathan Forsythe           Episode: "A Puzzle for One"

1973      Poor Devil           Dennis Crawford               Television film

1974      Emergency!        Vic Webster        Episode: "The Bash"

1975      Nevada Smith    Frank Hartlee     Television film

1976      Shazam!               Hercules               Voice, Episode: "The Delinquent"

1976      Alice      Mr. Turner          Episode: "Sex Education"

1977      The New Adventures of Batman                Bruce Wayne / Batman Voice, 16 episodes

1977      Police Woman   Morgan                Episode: "Guns"

1978      Operation Petticoat         Steve Fleming    Episode: "Bless You, My Sub"

1978      Tarzan and the Super 7 Bruce Wayne / Batman Voice

1978      The American Girls                          Episode: "The Beautiful People Jungle"

1979      Legends of the Superheroes        Bruce Wayne / Batman 2 episodes

1979      Big Shamus, Little Shamus            Harley Morgan Episode: "The Loser"

1980–1984          Fantasy Island    Frank McKenna / Philip Breem   2 episodes

1980      For the Love of It              Jock Higgins        Television film

1981      Warp Speed       Captain Lofton   Television film

1981      Time Warp          Col. Ed Westin   Television film

1982      Laverne & Shirley             Edgar Garibaldi Episode: "The Gymnast"

1983      I Take These Men             Craig Wyler         Television film

1983      The Love Boat    Bob Williams      Episode: "Doc's Big Case/Senior Sinners/A Booming Romance"

1983      Hart to Hart        David Stockwood             Episode: "Love Game"

1984      Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show            Bruce Wayne / Batman Voice, 8 episodes

1985      The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians        Bruce Wayne / Batman Voice, 8 episodes

1986      The Last Precinct              Captain Rick Wright         8 episodes

1987      Murder, She Wrote         Wade Talmadge                Episode: "Death Takes a Dive"

1990      Zorro     Dr. Henry Wayne              Episode: "The Wizard"

1991      Lookwell              Ty Lookwell         Pilot

1992      The Ben Stiller Show       Himself                 Episode: "With Colin Quinn"

1992      Batman: The Animated Series     Simon Trent / The Gray Ghost     Voice, Episode: "Beware the Gray Ghost

1992      Rugrats                 Captain Blasto   Voice, Episode: "Superhero Chuckie"

1992–2002          The Simpsons    Himself / Batman             Voice, 2 episodes

1993      Danger Theatre                 Capt. Mike Morgan          4 episodes

1993      Tales from the Crypt       Chapman             Episode: "As Ye Sow"

1994      The Good Life    Himself                 Episode: "John Hurts His Leg or Tales from the Crip"

1994      The Critic             Himself                 Voice, Episode: "Eyes on the Prize"

1994      Nurses Mr. Greer            Episode: "All the Pretty Caseys"

1994      Space Ghost Coast to Coast          Himself                 Episode: "Batmantis"

1995      The Adventures of Pete & Pete Principal Ken Schwinger                2 episodes

1995      Muscle Jim Atkinson       Episode #1.5

1995      Hope and Gloria                Himself                 Episode: "Who's Poppa?"

1995      Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Jerry Retchen     Episode: "Whine, Whine, Whine"

1995      Burke's Law                        Episode: "Who Killed the Toy Maker?"

1995      The Clinic             Horton Van Hoon             5 episodes

1996      Goosebumps     The Galloping Gazelle     Voice, 2 episodes

1996      Weird Science    Himself                 Episode: "Strangers in Paradise"

1997      Pauly     Himself                 Episode: "Spies Like Us"

1997      The Wayans Bros.            TV Host                Episode: "The Black Widower"

1997      Murphy Brown Himself                 Episode: "Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow"

1997–2004          Johnny Bravo     Himself                 Voice, 2 episodes

1997      Animaniacs         Spruce Wayne / Caped Crusader                Voice, Episode: "Boo Wonder"

1998      Jenny    Himself                 Episode: "A Girl's Gotta Hang with a Celebrity"

1998–1999          The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs                 Dog Zero / Leonardo da Vinci      Voice, 22 episodes

1998      Diagnosis: Murder           Bruce Blazer       Episode: "Write, She Murdered"

1998      Histeria!               Ernest Hemingway           Voice, 2 episodes

1998      NewsRadio         Himself                 Episode: "Clash of the Titans"

1999      Pacific Blue         Macon Dean       Episode: "Stargazer"

2000–2019          Family Guy          Mayor Adam West           Voice, 118 episodes

2001      Black Scorpion   Dr. Noah Goddard / Breathtaker                5 episodes

2001      The Drew Carey Show    Mitch    Episode: "Hotel Drew"

2003      Kim Possible       Timothy North / Fearless Ferret Voice, Episode: "The Fearless Ferret"

2003      The Mullets        Himself                 Episode: "Silent But Deadly"

2003–2017          The Fairly OddParents    Himself / Catman             Voice, 10 episodes

2003      The Bronx Bunny Show Himself                 1 episode

2004      Monster Island Dr. Harryhausen               Television film

2004–2006          The Batman        Mayor Marion Grange    Voice, 7 episodes

2005      The King of Queens         Himself                 Episode: "Shear Torture"

2005      The Boondocks R. Kelly's Lawyer               Voice, Episode: "The Trial of Robert Kelly"

2007      George Lopez    Jonathon K. Martin          2 episodes

2008      Guiding Light      Himself                 1 episode

2009      30 Rock                Himself                 Episode: "Apollo, Apollo"

2010      SpongeBob SquarePants               Young Mermaid Man      Voice, Episode: " Back to the Past"

2010      Batman: The Brave and the Bold                Proto-Bot / Thomas Wayne          Voice, 2 episodes

2011      The Super Hero Squad Show        Nighthawk          Voice, Episode: "Whom Continuity Would Destroy!"

2011–2012          Jake and the Never Land Pirates                Wise Old Parrot                Voice, 3 episodes

2015–2017          Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero           Captain Super Captain / Professor Evil Professor                Voice, 4 episodes

2015      Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship 60's Batman / Robber     Voice, Television special

2015      Moonbeam City                Razzle Novak      Voice, Episode: "Stuntstravaganza"

2016      The Big Bang Theory       Himself                 Episode: "The Celebration Experimentation"

2017      Powerless           Narrator / Chairman Dean West                2 episodes