West’s signature role was Bruce Wayne / Batman in Batman: The Movie (1966) and on ABC’s venerated Batman television series, which ran for three seasons between 1966 and 1968 and has been a syndication mainstay since. Unlike darker contemporary interpretations of the character, West brought his considerable charm and humor to a campy but endearing and family-friendly take on Batman that is remembered fondly by several generations of television fans.
West began his acting career in the early 1950s, playing a number of smaller roles in television Westerns and crime shows and eventually landing the meatier role of Detective Sergeant Steven Nelson in the final season of The Detectives (1961-1962). He also starred in cult classic Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964) before donning Batman’s cape.
West never really escaped the Dark Knight after the ABC television series was cancelled. He found small acting roles, but much of his post-Batman resume is voice work, including animated iterations of Batman in The New Adventures of Batman (1977), SuperFriends (1984), and more. Most recently, he voiced Mayor Adam West in Seth McFarlane’s Family Guy.
Despite finding himself pigeonholed by typecasting, West was never embittered by his zany portrayal of Batman. He was a regular presence at comic conventions, where he warmly embraced -- and was adored by -- his fans.
West passed away in the presence of his family after a brief battle with leukemia. West is survived by his wife Marcelle, six children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.