Adam West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adam West
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West in a publicity photo for The Detectives (1961)
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William West Anderson
September 19, 1928 Walla Walla, Washington, U.S.
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| Died | June 9, 2017 (aged 88) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Whitman College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1954–2017 |
| Known for | |
| Television |
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| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 4 |
William West Anderson (born September 19, 1928 – died June 9, 2017), known as Adam West, was an American actor. He was most famous for playing Batman in the 1960s ABC television series. He also starred in the 1966 movie based on the show.
West started acting in movies in the 1950s. He appeared with Chuck Connors in Geronimo (1962). He also acted alongside The Three Stooges in The Outlaws Is Coming (1965).
He was in the science fiction film Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964). Later, he did voice work for popular cartoons. These included The Fairly Odd Parents (2003–2008), The Simpsons (1992, 2002), and Family Guy (2000–2019). In these shows, he often played funny versions of himself.
Toward the end of his career, West voiced Batman in two animated films. These were Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders and Batman vs. Two-Face. He had a long career in films, TV shows, and voice acting.
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Adam West's Early Life
Adam West was born in Walla Walla, Washington. His father, Otto Anderson, was a farmer. His mother, Audrey Volenne, was an opera singer and pianist. She gave up her dreams in Hollywood to raise her family.
When he was 15, his parents divorced. West then moved to Seattle with his mother. He went to Walla Walla High School for two years. After that, he attended Lakeside School in Seattle.
West studied at Whitman College in Walla Walla. He earned a bachelor's degree in literature. He also studied psychology. He was part of the speech and debate team.
He joined the United States Army and worked as an announcer for American Forces Network television. After leaving the army, he worked as a milkman. Then, he moved to Hawaii to start an acting career.
Starting His Acting Career
In Hawaii, West got a role as a sidekick on a TV show called The Kini Popo Show. A chimpanzee named Peaches was also on the show. Later, West became the host of the program.
In 1959, West moved to Hollywood with his wife and two children. There, he started using the stage name Adam West.
He appeared in the film The Young Philadelphians with Paul Newman. He also had guest roles in many TV Westerns. On three Warner Bros. western shows, he played Doc Holliday. These shows were Sugarfoot, Colt .45, and Lawman.
In 1963, he had a small part in the movie Soldier in the Rain. This film starred Jackie Gleason and Steve McQueen. In 1964, he played Major Dan McCready in Robinson Crusoe on Mars. This movie was about a mission to Mars.
In 1965, he was in the comedy Western The Outlaws Is Coming. This was the last movie starring The Three Stooges.
Becoming Batman
Producer William Dozier chose Adam West to play Bruce Wayne and his secret identity, Batman. Dozier saw West in a Nestlé Quik commercial where he played a spy. This helped him get the role.
The TV show Batman was very popular and had a fun, exaggerated style. It ran on ABC from 1966 to 1968. A full-length movie version was also released in 1966. It was directed by Leslie H. Martinson.
Adam West, as Batman, also appeared in a public service announcement. He encouraged schoolchildren to buy U.S. savings stamps. This was a way to support the Vietnam War.
After playing Batman, West became very famous for the role. He, along with Burt Ward (who played Robin) and Yvonne Craig (who played Batgirl), were often seen as only those characters. For a while, West made money by appearing in public as Batman.
West often played Batman or Bruce Wayne again in other shows. These included the animated series The New Adventures of Batman. He also appeared in The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour, Tarzan and the Super 7, and The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians.
In 1979, West put on the Batsuit again for a TV special called Legends of the Superheroes. In 1985, DC Comics honored West for his work on the Batman series. They included him in their 50th-anniversary publication, Fifty Who Made DC Great.
West did not appear in any of the major Batman movies made after the 1960s.
Later, West had a recurring voice role as Mayor Grange in the animated series The Batman.
He also voiced Batman for a CGI animated short film, Batman: New Times. In this film, he worked with Mark Hamill, who voiced The Joker. West also voiced Thomas Wayne in an episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
In 2003, West and Burt Ward starred in the TV movie Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt. Other original cast members like Frank Gorshin and Julie Newmar also appeared. In November 2014, West voiced himself and the 1960s Batman in the video game Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.
Adam West's Personal Life
Adam West was married three times. His first marriage was to Billie Lou Yeager in 1950. In 1957, he married Ngatokorua Frisbie Dawson. They had two children together before they divorced in 1962.
West then married Marcelle Tagand Lear in November 1970. They had two children and stayed married for over 46 years, until Adam's death.
West said that he played Batman for laughs. But to do that, he had to act like it was very serious. He believed that when he put on the cowl, no one would recognize him.
In 2010, Adam West received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. On April 5, 2012, he received the 2,468th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 6764 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
His hometown, Walla Walla, Washington, celebrates "Adam West Day" every year on September 19. The first celebration was in 2017.
Adam West's Death
Adam West died in Los Angeles, California, on June 9, 2017. He had a short battle with leukemia, a type of cancer.
After his death, his friend and Batman co-star, Burt Ward, shared a message. Ward said, "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 that is and always will be Adam West. He was truly the Bright Knight."
On June 15, 2017, Los Angeles projected the Bat-Signal onto City Hall as a tribute to West. Walla Walla also shone the Bat-Signal on the Whitman Tower.
West's last public appearances were in March and April 2017. He attended events like the SouthCoast Comic Con in Hanover, Massachusetts, Fan Expo Dallas, and Silicon Valley Comic Con.
Images for kids
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...Batman! -
West in 1989 at the 41st Primetime Emmy Awards
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West at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con
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West in 2014
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West at Wizard World St. Louis 2014
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See also
In Spanish: Adam West para niños
