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William West Anderson (September 19, 1928 – June 9, 2017), known professionally as Adam West, was an American actor. He portrayed Batman in the 1960s ABC series of the same name and its 1966 theatrical feature film, reprising the role in various media until 2017. Having made his film debut in the 1950s, West starred opposite Chuck Connors in Geronimo (1962) and The Three Stooges in The Outlaws Is Coming (1965). He also appeared in the science fiction film Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964).
He voiced parodied versions of himself in the animated television sitcoms Johnny Bravo (1997, 2004), The Fairly OddParents (2003–2008), The Simpsons (1992, 2002), SpongeBob SquarePants and Family Guy (2000–2017). In the latter, he played Mayor Adam West between the second and seventeenth seasons. He received a television star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.
Early life
Adam West was born William West Anderson on September 19, 1928, in Walla Walla, Washington.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nytobit"/> His father, Otto Anderson (1903–1984) was a farmer descending from Scania in southern Sweden; and his mother, Audrey Volenne (née Speer; 1906–1969) was an opera singer and concert pianist who left her Hollywood dreams to care for her family.<ref name="Starring">Template:Cite AV media</ref> Following her example, as a young man West told his father that he intended to go to Hollywood after completing school. He moved to Seattle with his mother when he was 15, following his parents' divorce.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
West attended Walla Walla High School during his freshman and sophomore years and later enrolled in Lakeside School in Seattle. He attended Whitman College but studied at the University of Puget Sound<ref name="Olympian">Holy Logger, Batman! Before stardom, Adam West attended the University of Puget Sound, "The Olympian", June 2017</ref> during the fall semester of 1949. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in literature and a minor in psychology from Whitman College,<ref name="Whitman2006">Interview, Whitman Magazine, December 2006</ref> where he was a member of the Gamma Zeta chapter of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He also participated in the speech and debate team.
Drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he served as an announcer on American Forces Network television. After his discharge, he worked as a milkman before moving to Hawaii to pursue a television career.<ref name="Starring"/>
Career
Early roles
While in Hawaii, West was picked for a role as the sidekick on a local TV program, The Kini Popo Show, which also featured a chimp named Peaches. West later took over as host of the show.<ref name="thewrap">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1959, West moved with his wife and two children to Hollywood,<ref name="Starring"/> where he took the stage name Adam West.<ref name="foxnews">Template:Cite news</ref>
He appeared in the film The Young Philadelphians, which starred Paul Newman.<ref name="Young Philadelphians'">Template:Cite news</ref> He had guest-starring roles in a number of television Westerns. On three Warner Bros. Television westerns which aired on ABC—Sugarfoot, Colt .45, and Lawman—West played the role of Doc Holliday, the frontier dentist and gunfighter.<ref name="outsider">Template:Cite web</ref> West also appeared playing different characters in two episodes of Maverick opposite James Garner: "Two Tickets to Ten Strike" and "A Fellow's Brother" in 1958.<ref name="outsider"/> He guest starred in Warner Bros. detective series Hawaiian Eye and Bourbon Street Beat.
1960s–1980s
On January 10, 1961, West appeared as a young, ambitious deputy who foolishly confronts a gunfighter named Clay Jackson, portrayed by Jock Mahoney, in the episode "The Man from Kansas" of the NBC Western series Laramie.<ref name="Jock Mahoney: The Life and Films of a Hollywood Stuntman">Template:Cite book</ref> He played Christopher Rolf in the episode "Stopover" of ABC's The Rifleman, which aired on April 25, 1961.<ref name="Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, Volume 60"/>
West made two guest appearances on Perry Mason in 1961 and 1962. His first role was as small-town journalist Dan Southern in "The Case of the Barefaced Witness".<ref name="Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, Volume 60">Template:Cite book</ref> His other role was as folk singer Pete Norland in "The Case of the Bogus Books".<ref name="Raymond Burr: A Film, Radio and Television Biography">Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1959-1962, he became a regular on the American television series Robert Taylor's Detectives in its third season.
He made a brief appearance in the 1963 film Soldier in the Rain starring Jackie Gleason and Steve McQueen,<ref name="Turner Classic Movies Presents Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide: From the Silent Era Through 1965: Third Edition">Template:Cite book</ref> and starred as Colonel Dan McCready, the ill-fated mission commander of Mars Gravity Probe 1 in the 1964 film Robinson Crusoe on Mars.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That same year he was cast alongside William Shatner in the pilot for the proposed series Alexander the Great, playing Cleander to Shatner's Alexander. The series was not picked up, and the pilot was not broadcast until 1968 when it was repackaged as a TV film to capitalize on West and Shatner's later fame. West was apparently unsurprised by the rejection, later noting that "It turned out to be one of the worst scripts I have ever read and it was one of the worst things I've ever done."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>
In 1964, West played Dr. Clayton Harris, a handsome young physician, in two episodes of the sitcom Petticoat Junction. In the same year West starred in an episode of the ABC Outer Limits series titled "The Invisible Enemy".<ref name="A History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7, the 1978-1981 British Television Space Adventure">Template:Cite book</ref> December 10, 1964, an episode of Bewitched titled “Love is Blind” was released, in which West played Kermit, an artist who marries Gertrude.
In 1965, he was cast in the comedy Western The Outlaws Is Coming, starring The Three Stooges.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the same year he starred in Mara of the Wilderness<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and in the Spaghetti Western The Relentless Four.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Batman
Producer William Dozier cast West as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the television series Batman, in part after seeing him perform as the James Bond-like spy Captain Q in a Nestlé Quik commercial. West was in competition with Lyle Waggoner for the Batman role.<ref name="The Batcave Companion">Template:Cite book</ref>
The popular campy show ran on ABC from 1966 to 1968; a feature-length film version directed by Leslie H. Martinson was released in 1966.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1966, West released a novelty song Miranda as his Batman character.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Also in character, West appeared in a public service announcement in which he encouraged schoolchildren to heed then-President Lyndon B. Johnson's call for them to buy U.S. savings stamps, a children's version of U.S. savings bonds, to support the Vietnam War.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
In 1970, West was considered for the role of James Bond by producer Albert Broccoli for the film Diamonds Are Forever.<ref name="Diamonds Pratt">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>
Post-Batman career
After his high-profile role, West, along with Burt Ward and Yvonne Craig (who played crime-fighting sidekicks Robin and Batgirl), were typecast; all three found it difficult to find other roles. West's first post-Caped Crusader role was in the film The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1969). His lead performance against type as cynical tough guy Johnny Cain did not erode his Batman image; the film was a box office disappointment.Template:Citation needed
For a time, West made a living from personal appearances as Batman. In 1974, when Ward and Craig reprised their Batman roles for a TV public-service announcement about equal pay for women, West did not participate; instead, Dick Gautier appeared as Batman.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> After the series had ended, he appeared as Batman in a skit for the Memphis-based United States Wrestling Association, where he engaged in a war of words with Jerry "The King" Lawler while wearing the cowl and a tracksuit, and even name-dropping Spider-Man.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
West subsequently appeared in the theatrical films The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker (1971),<ref name="New York Magazine">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Specialist (1975),<ref name="Batmania II">Template:Cite book</ref> Hooper (as himself; 1978), The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood (1980),<ref name="Batmania II"/> One Dark Night (1983)<ref name="Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide">Template:Cite book</ref> and Young Lady Chatterley II (1985). West also appeared in such television films as The Eyes of Charles Sand (1972),<ref name="The ABC Movie of the Week: Big Movies for the Small Screen">Template:Cite book</ref> Poor Devil (1973),<ref name="Movies on TV '88-'89">Template:Cite book</ref> Nevada Smith (1975),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> For the Love of It (1980)<ref name="Movies on TV and Video Cassette 1989-1990">Template:Cite book</ref> and I Take These Men (1983).<ref name="The Blockbuster Entertainment Guide to Movies and Videos: 1999 Edition">Template:Cite book</ref>
West split his time between residences in Palm Springs, California, and Ketchum, Idaho.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
He did guest shots on the television series Maverick; Diagnosis: Murder; Love, American Style; Bonanza; The Big Valley; Night Gallery; Alias Smith and Jones; Mannix, Emergency!; Alice; Police Woman; Operation Petticoat; The American Girls; Vega$; Big Shamus, Little Shamus; Laverne & Shirley; Bewitched; Fantasy Island; The Love Boat; Hart to Hart; Zorro; The King of Queens; and George Lopez. West was also in an episode of Bonanza that supposedly never aired until reruns were shown, and he made several guest appearances as himself on Family Feud. In 1986, he starred in the comedy police series titled The Last Precinct.<ref name="Sophomore slumps: disastrous second movies, albums, singles, books, and other stuff">Template:Cite book</ref>
Return to Batman
West often reprised his role as Batman/Bruce Wayne, first in the short-lived animated series The New Adventures of Batman, and in other shows such as The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour, Tarzan and the Super 7, Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show and The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (succeeding original Super Friends Batman voice Olan Soule in the role). In 1979, West once again donned the Batsuit for the live-action TV special Legends of the Superheroes. In 1985, DC Comics named West as one of the honorees in the company's 50th-anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great for his work on the Batman series.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>
West was considered to play Thomas Wayne, Bruce Wayne's father, in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film, but West rejected the role wanting to play Batman again.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was also a voice actor in various Batman-related animated series and films in addition to other projects connected to the TV series. West also guest starred in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Beware the Gray Ghost" as Simon Trent,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a washed-up actor who used to play a superhero in a TV series called The Gray Ghost and who now has difficulty finding work. He reprised his role of Batman in the Animaniacs episode "Boo Wonder" Season 5, Episode 3 of Animaniacs.
West suited up one final time in the full Batman outfit in 1997 for a photo session for TV Treasures magazine #1 titled "Adam West Remembers 30 Years of Batman". He had a recurring role as the voice of Marion Grange in the 2004-2008 WB animated series The Batman.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed.">Template:Cite book</ref> West was the voice of Batman in the 2005 animated short film Batman: New Times.<ref name="Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, & Critics">Template:Cite book</ref> He co-starred with Mark Hamill, who voiced The Joker and had originally played the role on Batman: The Animated Series.<ref name="Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, & Critics"/> West also voiced Thomas Wayne in a 2010 episode, "Chill of the Night!", of the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold.<ref name="latimes">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2015, Adam West and Burt Ward announced that they would be reprising their roles as Batman and Robin (along with Julie Newmar as Catwoman) for two animated features to celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of the TV series. The first, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, was released in theaters for one day on October 10, 2016, before being released on DVD and Blu-ray. The second, Batman vs. Two-Face co-starring William Shatner as Two-Face, was released on October 10, 2017, four months after West's death.
1990s–2000s
During the 1990s, West's status as a pop culture icon led to appearances as himself in the film Drop Dead Gorgeous and in several TV series, including NewsRadio, Murphy Brown, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, The Ben Stiller Show,<ref>Biography at Hollywood.com.</ref> and The Drew Carey Show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He notably appeared as "Dr. Wayne" in the 1990 Zorro episode "The Wizard", even being shown Zorro's "secret cave" headquarters. In 1991, he starred in the pilot episode of Lookwell, in which he portrayed a has-been TV action hero who falsely believes he can solve mysteries in real life. The pilot, written by Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel in their pre-Late Night period, aired on NBC that summer, but was not picked up as a series.<ref>Conan O'Brien bio at TVGuide.com</ref> It was later broadcast on the Trio channel, under the "Brilliant But Cancelled" block.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1994, West played a non-comedic role as the father of Peter Weller's character in the Michael Tolkin film The New Age.<ref name="articles.latimes">Template:Cite news</ref>
He played a washed-up superhero in the Goosebumps television series episode "Attack of the Mutant".<ref name=" 9 Actors Who Terrified Us In The Original Goosebumps">Template:Cite news</ref> The boy hero is a comic book geek whose favorite superhero, Galloping Gazelle (West's character), is portrayed as fading and on the verge of retirement. Towards the end, the boy is shocked to learn that the Gazelle is real, though he (the boy) must save the day by himself.<ref name="Attack of the Mutant">Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1994, West, with Jeff Rovin, wrote his autobiography, Back to the Batcave published by Berkeley Books.<ref name="Back to the Batcave">Template:Cite book</ref> In 1997, Virgin Interactive released the gambling simulation game Golden Nugget. West acted in the video cut scenes of the "Chaos Mystery" storyline subgame.<ref name="latimes2">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2001, he played the super-villain Breathtaker on the short-lived television series Black Scorpion.<ref name="The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television, 2d ed.">Template:Cite book</ref>
In 2003, West and Burt Ward starred in the television film Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt, alongside Frank Gorshin, Julie Newmar, and Lee Meriwether.<ref name="The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television">Template:Cite book</ref> Jack Brewer portrayed West in flashbacks to the production of Batman.<ref name="Age of TV Heroes: The Live-Action Adventures of Your Favorite Comic Book Characters">Template:Cite book</ref> In 2005, West appeared as himself in the CBS show The King of Queens.<ref name="7 times Adam West played Adam West, and it was great">Template:Cite news</ref> He appears prominently in the 2006 video for California band STEFY's song "Chelsea" as "Judge Adam West", presiding over the courtroom scene.<ref name="roxwel">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2007, West appeared in a recurring role on George Lopez, as an attorney for George's mother, and he starred as "The Boss" in the comedy film Sexina: Popstar PI.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the release of a Batman game, a host of the show X-Play visited West on the show. In 2009, West played himself in the episode "Apollo, Apollo" of 30 Rock.<ref name="7 times Adam West played Adam West, and it was great"/>
2010s
In 2010, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> West received the 2,468th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 5, 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His star is located at 6764 Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Guinness Museum in Hollywood, California.<ref name="patch">Template:Cite news</ref>
West appeared in a number of videos for Funnyordie.com.<ref>Taylor, Lee Ann (September 19, 2013). "TV's Batman Adam West Turns 85!". WAAL. Template:Webarchive</ref>
He was interviewed in 2013 on the PBS series called Pioneers of Television in the season-three episode called "Superheroes".<ref name="cbr">Template:Cite news</ref> Also in 2013, he was the subject of the documentary Starring Adam West.<ref name="rogerebert">Template:Cite news</ref>
West is among the interview subjects in Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle, a three-hour documentary narrated by Liev Schreiber that premiered on PBS in October 2013.<ref>Logan, Michael (October 14, 2013). "The Comics' Real Heroes". TV Guide. p. 27.</ref>
In February 2016, West guest-starred as himself on the 200th episode of The Big Bang Theory.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In January 2017, West appeared on the British comedy panel show "Through the Keyhole," in which viewers and panellists looked around West's Los Angeles home by video.
Walla Walla, Washington, Adam West's hometown, officially celebrates its annual "Adam West Day" on September 19, with the first one celebrated in 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Voice-over work and advertising
Having a distinctive voice, West built a career doing voice-over work on a number of animated series (often as himself), including appearances on The Simpsons,<ref name="vox">Template:Cite news</ref> Futurama,<ref name="ew">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Rugrats,<ref name="Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary">Template:Cite book</ref> Histeria!,<ref name="Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary"/> Kim Possible,<ref name="Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary"/> and Johnny Bravo.<ref name="ew"/>
He also appeared in many episodes of Nickelodeon's cartoon The Fairly OddParents as a cat-obsessed version of himself, who is famous for playing a superhero called Catman, and who actually believes he is Catman.<ref name="heavy.com">Template:Cite news</ref> His later appearance in The Fairly OddParents was a parody of himself, hired to play the role of the Crimson Chin in the film of the same name. Yet another appearance on the show had him as himself in a fairy-sponsored video about how to cope with losing one's fairy godparents. After West's death, he was replaced by Jeff Bennett.<ref name="heavy.com"/>
In 1997, West appeared in a national television advertising campaign for Ziebart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
From 2000, West made regular appearances on the animated series Family Guy, on which he played the fictional character of the same name, who was the lunatic mayor of Quahog, Rhode Island. His role brought West a new wave of popularity post-Batman, and lead writer Seth MacFarlane claims to have gone out of his way to avoid typecasting West by deliberately not making any references to Batman.<ref name="avclub">Template:Cite web</ref>
Some of his last voice-over performances were playing the role of Uncle Art in the Disney Animation film Meet the Robinsons,<ref name="Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary"/> and voicing the young Mermaid Man (along with Burt Ward, who voiced the young Barnacle Boy) in the cartoon show SpongeBob SquarePants, in the episode "Back to the Past" in 2010.<ref name="The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 22">Template:Cite book</ref>
West also played the voice of General Carrington in the video game XIII,<ref name="Guinness world records 2009: Gamer's edition">Template:Cite book</ref> and voiced other video games such as Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure,<ref name="Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure ">Template:Cite web</ref> Chicken Little: Ace in Action,<ref name="eurogamer">Template:Cite web</ref> Scooby-Doo! Unmasked, and Goosebumps: Attack of the Mutant.<ref name="Attack of the Mutant"/>
In November 2014, West voiced himself, the 1960s version of Batman, and the Gray Ghost in the video game Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.<ref name="Batman A Trajetória">Template:Cite book</ref>
In 2016, West was the voice of TV's Batman for the Batman '66 pinball game produced by Stern Pinball Incorporated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
West also did voice-over work for superhero-themed commercials for the investment firm LendingTree and television commercials for Hebrew National hot dogs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
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West was married three times. His first marriage was to his college girlfriend, Billie Lou Yeager, in 1950. The couple divorced six years later. In 1957, he married Cook Islands dancer Ngatokorua Frisbie Dawson, descendant of Robert Dean Frisbie, and part of Elaine Matua Frisbie's<ref name="staradvertiser/elaine-frisbie">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="flickr/3000178833">Template:Cite web</ref> Puka Puka Otea Tahitian Show, outside on the lanai,<ref name="outrigger/1962">Template:Cite web</ref> at the Queen's Surf<ref name="mytiki/queens-surf-">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ilind/queens-surf">Template:Cite web</ref> restaurant and night club across from Kapiʻolani Park on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. They had two children before their divorce in 1962.<ref>"Adam West", Biography, A&E Television (biography.com), 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.</ref><ref name="Inquisitr">Tanos, Lorenzo (2017). "Adam West's Third Wife, Marcelle Tagand Lear: Helped Him Beat Alcoholism", Inquisitr [sic], Tampa, Florida, June 10, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.</ref><ref name="Chalmers">Template:Cite news</ref> West then married Marcelle Tagand Lear in November 1970. They had two children and remained together for more than 46 years, until West's death.<ref name="Inquisitr"/> West also had two step-children.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
During the Batman television series, West's relationship with co-star Burt Ward was jokingly described as "problematic". He said, "Burt fell victim to making up stories to sell books. But in a way it was flattering, because he made me sound like King Kong."<ref name="Chalmers"/> West also said that he played Batman "for laughs, but in order to do [that], one had to never think it was funny. You just had to pull on that cowl and believe that no one would recognize you."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Also during the Batman series, he became close friends with crossover co-star Van Williams, who played The Green Hornet. The two of them were also neighbors for a while and spent much time together outdoors, including fishing and hunting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Death
On June 9, 2017, West died from leukemia in Los Angeles at the age of 88.<ref name="nytobit">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Lowry">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a statement, his former Batman co-star and longtime friend Burt Ward said: Template:BlockquoteBatman: The Animated Series actor Kevin Conroy (who performed alongside West in the episode "Beware the Gray Ghost") said: Template:BlockquoteFamily Guy creator Seth MacFarlane stated: Template:Blockquote On June 15, 2017, Los Angeles projected the Bat-Signal on City Hall as a tribute to West, and in his hometown of Walla Walla, Washington, the Bat-Signal was shone upon the landmark Whitman Tower.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
West had pre-recorded five more Family Guy episodes as Mayor Adam West, which were released posthumously as part of the sixteenth season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also recorded the 11th episode of Powerless, which never aired due to the show's cancellation. NBC aired the episode online after West's death.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
West's last public appearances were from March to April 2017 at the NorthEast ComicCon & Collectibles Extravaganza in Hanover, Massachusetts, where he was the guest of honor,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fan Expo Dallas,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Silicon Valley Comic Con.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was cremated at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Photoplay | Gold Medal-Favorite TV Program | Batman
(shared with Burt Ward) |
Template:Nom |
| Laurel Awards | Male New Face | Himself | Template:Nom | |
| 1980 | Inkpot Awards | Inkpot Award | Himself | Template:Won |
| 1995 | CableACE Awards | Best performance in a Comedy special | 1995 MTV Movie Awards
(shared) |
Template:Nom |
| 2004 | NAVGTR Awards | Best Voice Performance | XIII | Template:Won |
| TV Land Awards | Favorite Crimestopper Duo | Batman
(shared with Burt Ward) |
Template:Won | |
| 2005 | Favorite Crimestopper | Batman | Template:Won | |
| 2010 | Palm Springs Walk of Stars | Awarded a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in 2010 | Himself | Template:Won |
| 2012 | Walk of Fame | Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 5, 2012 | Himself | Template:Won |
| 2016 | Behind the Voice Actor Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a New television Series | Pen Zero: Part-Time-Hero | Template:Nom |
| 2018 | Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short | Batman vs. Two-Face | Template:Won |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Voodoo Island | Weather Station #4 Radio Operator | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Ghost of the China Sea | ||
| 1959 | The Young Philadelphians | William Lawrence III | |
| The FBI Story | Man on Two Way Radio | Voice, Uncredited | |
| 1962 | Geronimo | Lt. John Delahay | |
| 1963 | Tammy and the Doctor | Dr. Eric Hassler | |
| Soldier in the Rain | Inspecting Captain | ||
| 1964 | Robinson Crusoe on Mars | Colonel Dan McReady | |
| 1965 | The Outlaws Is Coming | Kenneth Cabot | |
| Mara of the Wilderness | Ken Williams | ||
| 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 | The Curse of the Moon Child | ||
| 1974 | Hell River | Kurt Kohler | |
| 1975 | The Specialist | Jerry Bounds | |
| 1978 | Hooper | Himself | |
| 1980 | Warp Speed | Shuttle captain | |
| 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 |
| Young Lady Chatterley II | Professor Arthur Bohart Jr. | ||
| 1986 | Zombie Nightmare | Capt. Tom Churchman | |
| 1988 | Doin' Time on Planet Earth | Charles Pinsky | |
| Return Fire | Carruthers | ||
| Night of the Kickfighters | Carl McMann | ||
| 1989 | Mad About You | Edward Harris | |
| Cartoon Lost and Found | Himself | Nick at Nite | |
| 1990 | Omega Cop | Prescott | |
| 1991 | Maxim Xul | Professor Marduk | |
| 1994 | The New Age | Jeff Witner | |
| The Best Movie Ever Made | Himself | ||
| 1995 | Not This Part of the World | ||
| Run for Cover | Senator Prescott | ||
| 1996 | The Size of Watermelons | Himself | |
| 1997 | Redux Riding Hood | Leonard Fox | Voice, Short<ref name="btva2">Template:Cite web A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> |
| Joyride | Harold | ||
| 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 | |
| Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt | Himself | Television film | |
| 2004 | Tales from Beyond | Jay | (segment "The Bookstore") |
| 2005 | Aloha, Scooby-Doo! | Jared Moon | Voice, direct-to-video<ref name="btva2"/> |
| Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story | Mayor Adam West | Voice, direct-to-video | |
| Buckaroo: The Movie | Judge Werner | ||
| Chicken Little | Ace – Hollywood Chicken Little | Voice<ref name="btva2"/> | |
| Angels with Angles | Alfred the Butler | ||
| 2007 | Meet the Robinsons | Uncle Art | Voice<ref name="btva2"/> |
| Sexina: Popstar P.I. | The Boss | ||
| 2009 | Ratko: The Dictator's Son | Kostka Volvic | |
| Super Capers: The Origins of Ed and the Missing Bullion | Manbat, Cab Driver | ||
| 2011 | Pizza Man | Himself | |
| 2014 | Sexina | The Boss | |
| 2015 | Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie | Sandy Blake | Voice, direct-to-video<ref name="btva2"/> |
| 2016 | Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders | Bruce Wayne / Batman<ref name="btva2"/> | |
| 2017 | Batman vs. Two-Face | Voice, direct-to-video; posthumous release; dedicated in memory | |
| 2023 | The Flash | Archival audio; likeness used for CGI model |
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 | |
| 1959 | Grand Jury | Fenway | Episode: "The Big Boss" |
| Lawman | Doc Holliday | Episode: "The Wayfarer" | |
| Sugarfoot | Doc Holliday, Frederick Pulaski | 2 episodes | |
| Cheyenne | Ashley Claiborn | Season 4/Episode 1 - "Blind Spot" | |
| Bronco | Major Carter | Episode: "The Burning Springs" | |
| Colt .45 | Doc Holliday, Marshal Joe Benjamin, Sgt. Ed Kallen | 3 episodes | |
| Maverick | George Henry Arnett, Rudolph St. Cloud, Vic Nolan | ||
| Hawaiian Eye | George Nolen | Episode: "The Quick Return" | |
| Bourbon Street Beat | Deputy | Episode: "The Black Magnolia" | |
| 1960 | Johnny Midnight | Jake Hill | Episode: "The Villain of the Piece" |
| Overland Trail | Wild Bill Hickok | Episode: "Westbound Stage" | |
| Goodyear Theatre | David | Episode: "All in the Family" | |
| 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" |
| 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" |
| The Rifleman | Christopher Rolf | Episode: "Stopover" | |
| Guestward, Ho! | Larry Crawford | Episode: "Bill, the Fireman" | |
| 1961–1962 | The Detectives | Det. Sgt. Steve Nelson | Main cast |
| 1962 | The Beachcomber | Huckabee | Episode: "Captain Huckabee's Beard" |
| 1963 | The Real McCoys | Buzz Cooper | Episode: "The Crop Duster" |
| Gunsmoke | Emmett | Episode: "Ash" | |
| 1964 | Petticoat Junction | Dr. Clayton Harris | 2 episodes |
| The Outer Limits | Major Charles 'Chuck' Merritt | Episode: "The Invisible Enemy" | |
| Bewitched | Kermit | Episode: "Love Is Blind" | |
| 1965 | The Virginian | Sam Loomis | Episode: "Legend for a Lawman" |
| 1966–1968 | Batman | Bruce Wayne / Batman | Main role |
| 1966 | The Milton Berle Show | Batman | Episode #1.2 |
| 1968 | The Big Valley | Major Jonathan Eliot | Episode: "In Silent Battle" |
| 1971 | Night Gallery | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Episode: "With Apologies to Mr. Hyde" |
| 1972 | Primus | Jenson | Episode: "Sea Serpent" |
| Alias Smith and Jones | Brubaker | Episode: "The Men That Corrupted Hadleyburg" | |
| The Eyes of Charles Sand | Dr. Paul Scott | Television film | |
| This Is the Life | GI Hank Mathes | Episode: "The Revenge of Cho Lin" | |
| 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" |
| Alice | Mr. Turner | Episode: "Sex Education" | |
| 1977 | The New Adventures of Batman | Bruce Wayne / Batman | Voice, Main role |
| Police Woman | Morgan | Episode: "Guns" | |
| 1978 | Operation Petticoat | Steve Fleming | Episode: "Bless You, My Sub" |
| Tarzan and the Super 7 | Bruce Wayne / Batman | Voice, Main role | |
| The American Girls | Episode: "The Beautiful People Jungle" | ||
| 1979 | Legends of the Superheroes | Bruce Wayne / Batman | 2 episodes |
| 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 | |
| Time Warp | Col. Ed Westin | ||
| 1982 | Laverne & Shirley | Edgar Garibaldi | Episode: "The Gymnast" |
| 1983 | I Take These Men | Craig Wyler | Television film |
| The Love Boat | Bob Williams | Episode: "Doc's Big Case/Senior Sinners/A Booming Romance" | |
| Hart to Hart | David Stockwood | Episode: "Love Game" | |
| 1984 | Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show | Bruce Wayne / Batman | Voice, Main role |
| 1985 | The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians | ||
| 1986 | The Last Precinct | Captain Rick Wright | Main role |
| 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" |
| Batman: The Animated Series | Simon Trent / Gray Ghost | Voice, episode: "Beware the Gray Ghost"<ref name="btva2"/> | |
| Rugrats | Captain Blasto | Voice, episode: "Superhero Chuckie"<ref name="btva2"/> | |
| 1775 | George Washington | Pilot (and only episode) | |
| 1992; 2002 | The Simpsons | Himself, Batman | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Danger Theatre | Capt. Mike Morgan | 4 episodes |
| Tales from the Crypt | Chapman | Episode: "As Ye Sow" | |
| 1994 | The Good Life | Himself | Episode: "John Hurts His Leg or Tales from the Crip" |
| The Critic | Voice, episode: "Eyes on the Prize" | ||
| Nurses | Mr. Greer | Episode: "All the Pretty Caseys" | |
| Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Himself | Episode: "Batmantis" | |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Pete & Pete | Principal Ken Schwinger | 2 episodes |
| Muscle | Jim Atkinson | Episode #1.5 | |
| Hope and Gloria | Himself | Episode: "Who's Poppa?" | |
| Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Jerry Retchen | Episode: "Whine, Whine, Whine" | |
| Burke's Law | Dean Winters | Episode: "Who Killed the Toy Maker?" | |
| The Clinic | Horton Van Hoon | 5 episodes | |
| 1996 | Goosebumps | The Galloping Gazelle | Episode: "Attack of the Mutant" Pt. 1 and 2 |
| Weird Science | Himself | Episode: "Strangers in Paradise" | |
| 1997 | Pauly | Episode: "Spies Like Us" | |
| The Wayans Bros. | TV Host | Episode: "The Black Widower" | |
| Murphy Brown | Himself | Episode: "Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow" | |
| 1997–2004 | Johnny Bravo | Voice, 2 episodes<ref name="btva2"/> | |
| 1997 | Animaniacs | Spruce Wayne / Caped Crusader | Voice, episode: "Boo Wonder"<ref name="btva2"/> |
| 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, Main role |
| 1998 | Diagnosis: Murder | Bruce Blazer | Episode: "Write, She Murdered" |
| Histeria! | Ernest Hemingway | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| NewsRadio | Himself | Episode: "Clash of the Titans" | |
| 1999 | Pacific Blue | Macon Dean | Episode: "Stargazer" |
| 2000–2018 | Family Guy | Mayor Adam West | Voice, Recurring role |
| 2001 | Black Scorpion | Dr. Noah Goddard / Breathtaker | Recurring role |
| The Drew Carey Show | Mitch | Episode: "Hotel Drew" | |
| 2003 | Kim Possible | Timothy North / Fearless Ferret | Voice, episode: "The Fearless Ferret" |
| The Mullets | Himself | Episode: "Silent But Deadly" | |
| 2003–2009 | The Fairly OddParents | Himself, Catman | Voice, Recurring role |
| 2003 | The Bronx Bunny Show | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Monster Island | Dr. Harryhausen | Television film |
| Channel Chasers | Himself | Voice, television film<ref name="btva2"/> | |
| 2004–2006 | The Batman | Mayor Marion Grange | Voice, Recurring role<ref name="btva2"/> |
| 2005 | The King of Queens | Himself | Episode: "Shear Torture" |
| 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 | Episode: "Apollo, Apollo" | |
| 2010 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Young Mermaid Man | Voice, episode: "Back to the Past"<ref name="btva2"/> |
| Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Proto-Bot, Thomas Wayne | Voice, 2 episodes<ref name="btva2"/> | |
| 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 |
| 2013 | Futurama | Himself | Episode: "Leela and the Genestalk" |
| 2015–2017 | Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | Captain Super Captain, Professor Evil Professor | Voice, 4 episodes<ref name="btva2"/> |
| 2015 | Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship | '60s Batman, Robber | Voice, television special |
| 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 |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Golden Nugget | Hugh Swain | |
| Goosebumps: Attack of the Mutant | The Galloping Gazelle | <ref name="btva2"/> | |
| 2003 | XIII | General Carrington | <ref name="btva2"/> |
| 2005 | Scooby-Doo! Unmasked | Winslow Stanton | <ref name="btva2"/> |
| 2006 | Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure | Chief Hunt | <ref name="btva2"/> |
| Family Guy Video Game! | Mayor Adam West | ||
| Disney's Chicken Little: Ace in Action | Ace | ||
| 2007 | Meet the Robinsons | Uncle Art | |
| 2012 | Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse | Mayor Adam West | |
| 2013 | Grand Theft Auto V | Unnamed Bobcat Security Guard | |
| 2014 | Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham | Himself, Batman (1966), Gray Ghost | <ref name="btva2"/> |
| Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff | Mayor Adam West | ||
| 2016 | Batman 66 Pinball | Batman | <ref name="btva2"/> |
References
Sources
External links
- Template:EmmyTVLegends name
- Template:IMDb name
- Template:Tcmdb name
- Template:Discogs artist
- That Time Adam West Had a Conversation With Himself on 'Batman' on Hollywood Reporter
- Día de los Muertos, Batman! Adam West Honored in Old Town on Times of San Diego
- Adam West, Straight-Faced Star of TV's 'Batman,' Dies at 88 on Hollywood Reporter
- Adam West fans mourn the loss of Batman under the Bat signal in Los Angeles on Los Angeles Times
- Adam West – a life in pictures on The Guardian
- Template:YouTube
Template:Inkpot Award 1980s Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control
- 1928 births
- 2017 deaths
- 20th-century American comedians
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American comedians
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male comedians
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male video game actors
- American male voice actors
- American people of Swedish descent
- Comedians from Washington (state)
- Deaths from leukemia in California
- Inkpot Award winners
- Lakeside School (Seattle) alumni
- Male actors from Washington (state)
- Military personnel from Washington (state)
- People from Walla Walla, Washington
- Pseudonymous actors
- United States Army personnel of the Korean War
- University of Puget Sound alumni
- Western (genre) television actors
- Whitman College alumni