About
"I'll probably be remembered as 'Batman,' mostly. It's okay with me because it's given so many people worldwide so much pleasure. Many actors don't get the opportunity to do that."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Adam West (1928-2017) talks about his early years in television, when he was under contract with Warner Bros. and appeared on many episodes of the studio's television Westerns. He speaks in great detail about the show with which he is most identified, Batman. He discusses his casting in the role of "Batman," his approach to the character, and specific production details, which gave the series its comic book look. He also discusses working with co-star Burt Ward and the Hollywood luminaries who guest starred as villains, including Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meredith, Cesar Romero, Otto Preminger, Liberace, and Milton Berle. West talks about his career after the series ended, which left him typecast. He then discusses his later work and his voiceover roles in animated series, including Family Guy, where he plays an exaggerated version of himself, "Mayor Adam West." Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on March 16, 2006 in Santa Monica, CA.
Highlights
Adam West on appearing on Maverick starring James Garner
Adam West on his working relationships with Jack L. Warner and producer William T. Orr
Adam West on being cast as Batman along with Burt Ward as "Robin"
Adam West on getting the right level of comedy on Batman
Adam West on the Batcave and Bat poles on Batman
Adam West on the character of "Catwoman" on Batman, and the actresses that played her including Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, and Lee Meriwether
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences: on his earliest awareness of television and on hosting a local morning show in Hawaii; on signing a contract with Warner Bros Television
On his working relationships with Jack L. Warner and producer William T. Orr; on how his Warner Bros Television contracted worked in terms of his getting parts; on appearing on Cheyenne and Sugarfoot
On appearing on Maverick starring James Garner; on his growing fame and popularity from appearing on Warner Bros westerns; on where the Warner Bros westerns shot
Chapter 2
On working with Jack Elam; on appearing on Lawman, 77 Sunset Strip, and Hawaiian Eye; on getting acting jobs after his Warner Bros contract expired
On appearing on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, and Geronimo; on appearing on The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan and Petticoat Junction; on the experience of appearing on anthology series
On appearing on Bewitched with Elizabeth Montgomery and The Virginian with Lee J. Cobb; on having a recurring part on The Detectives with Robert Taylor
On being cast as Batman along with Burt Ward as "Robin"; on getting the right level of comedy on Batman
Chapter 3
On the premise of Batman, and on the rumored gay overtones of the show; on how Batman was different from earlier portrayals of the character, and on the comedy of the show; on "Robin's" "Holy" catchphrase on Batman
On playing the comedy in Batman; on the Batman costume, and how it helped him find the character; on the character of "Catwoman" on Batman, and the actresses that played her including Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, and Lee Meriwether
On Batman creator Bob Kane's involvement with the series; on the popularity of Batman; on the end of Batman
On the producers of Batman, including Bill Dozier; on the directors of Batman; on Burt Ward as "Robin" on Batman
Chapter 4
On Alan Napier as "Alfred" on Batman; on Neil Hamilton as "Commissioner Gordon" and "Madge Blake" as "Aunt Harriett" on Batman: on Burgess Meredith as "the Penguin" on Batman
On Cesar Romero as "the Joker" on Batman; on Frank Gorshin as "the Riddler" on Batman; on Victor Buono as "King Tut" on Batman
On how the guest villains on Batman were cast, and on cameos on the show; on various guest-stars including George Saunders, Eli Wallach, Otto Preminger, Roddy McDowell, Shelly Winters and David Price on Batman; on Cliff Robertson as "Shame" on Batman
On Liberace and Maurice Evans guest-starring on Batman; on Milton Berle guest-starring as "Louie the Lilac" on Batman; on the Batcave and Bat poles on Batman
Chapter 5
On the Batmoble and on the stunts on Batman; on the two episode a week cliffhanger format of Batman; on his favorite moments of the Batman series
On the fame that resulted for he and Burt Ward from Batman ; on dealing with the typecasting that came about as a result of Batman; on his career as a voiceover artist, and on appearing on Family Guy as "Mayor Adam West"
On the Batman themed made-for-television move Return to the Batcave and on the 1989 feature; on then-current projects
On advice to aspiring actors; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
77 Sunset Strip
Adam West on appearing on 77 Sunset Strip and Hawaiian Eye
Batman
Adam West on being cast as Batman along with Burt Ward as "Robin"
Adam West on getting the right level of comedy on Batman
Adam West on the premise of Batman, and on the rumored gay overtones of the show
Adam West on how Batman was different from earlier portrayals of the character, and on the comedy of the show
Adam West on "Robin's" "Holy" catchphrase on Batman
Adam West on playing the comedy in Batman
Adam West on the Batman costume, and how it helped him find the character
Adam West on the character of "Catwoman" on Batman, and the actresses that played her including Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, and Lee Meriwether
Adam West on Batman creator Bob Kane's involvement with the series
Adam West on the popularity of Batman
Adam West on the end of Batman
Adam West on the producers of Batman, including Bill Dozier
Adam West on the directors of Batman
Adam West on Burt Ward as "Robin" on Batman
Adam West on Alan Napier as "Alfred" on Batman
Adam West on Neil Hamilton as "Commissioner Gordon" and "Madge Blake" as "Aunt Harriett" on Batman
Adam West on Burgess Meredith as "the Penguin" on Batman
Adam West on Cesar Romero as "the Joker" on Batman
Adam West on Frank Gorshin as "the Riddler" on Batman
Adam West on Victor Buono as "King Tut" on Batman
Adam West on how the guest villains on Batman were cast, and on cameos on the show
Adam West on the character of "Mr. Freeze," played by George Saunders, Eli Wallach, and Otto Preminger on Batman
Adam West on David Wayne as "Mad Hatter" on Batman
Adam West on Harvey Lembeck as "Eagle Eye" and Roddy McDowell as "Bookworm" on Batman
Adam West on Art Carney as "The Archer" and Van Johnson as "The Minstrel" on Batman
Adam West on Shelly Winters as "Ma Parker" and Vincent Price as "Egghead" in Batman
Adam West on Cliff Robertson as "Shame" on Batman
Adam West on Liberace and Maurice Evans guest-starring on Batman
Adam West on Milton Berle guest-starring as "Louie the Lilac" on Batman
Adam West on the Batcave and Bat poles on Batman
Adam West on the Batmoble and on the stunts on Batman
Adam West on the two episode a week cliffhanger format of Batman and the production schedule
Adam West on his favorite moments of the Batman series
Adam West on the fame that resulted for he and Burt Ward from Batman
Adam West on dealing with the typecasting that came about as a result of Batman
Adam West on his career as a voiceover artist
Adam West on the Batman themed made-for-television move Return to the Batcave
Bewitched
Adam West on appearing on Bewitched with Elizabeth Montgomery and The Virginian with Lee J. Cobb
Bonanza
Adam West on appearing on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, and Geronimo
Cheyenne
Adam West on appearing on Cheyenne starring Clint Walker
Detectives, The
Adam West on having a recurring part on The Detectives with Robert Taylor
Family Guy
Adam West on playing "Mayor Adam West," an exaggerated version of himself, on Family Guy
Geronimo
Adam West on appearing on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Geronimo, and Perry Mason
Gunsmoke
Adam West on appearing on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Geronimo, and Perry Mason
Lawman
Adam West on appearing on Lawman
Maverick
Adam West on appearing on Maverick starring James Garner
Petticoat Junction
Adam West on appearing on The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan and Petticoat Junction
Real McCoys, The
Adam West on appearing on The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan and Petticoat Junction
Rifleman, The
Adam West on appearing on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Geronimo, and Perry Mason
Sugarfoot
Adam West on appearing on Sugarfoot with Will Hutchins
Virginian, The
Adam West on appearing on Bewitched with Elizabeth Montgomery and The Virginian with Lee J. Cobb
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Adam West on "Robin's" "Holy" catchphrase on Batman
Adam West on the Batcave and Bat poles on Batman
Fame and Celebrity
Adam West on his growing fame and popularity from appearing on Warner Bros westerns
Pop Culture
Adam West on his growing fame and popularity from appearing on Warner Bros westerns
Adam West on "Robin's" "Holy" catchphrase on Batman
Adam West on the Batcave and Bat poles on Batman
Television Industry
Adam West on how his Warner Bros Television contracted worked in terms of his getting parts
Professions
Actor
Adam West on the experience of being a guest star on series, and on being typecast
Adam West on getting acting jobs after his Warner Bros contract expired
Adam West on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Adam West on the experience of being a guest star on series, and on being typecast
Adam West on getting acting jobs after his Warner Bros contract expired
Adam West on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Adam West on the experience of appearing on anthology series
Comedy Series
Adam West on appearing on The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan and Petticoat Junction
Adam West on appearing on Bewitched with Elizabeth Montgomery and The Virginian with Lee J. Cobb
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Adam West on appearing on Lawman
Adam West on appearing on 77 Sunset Strip and Hawaiian Eye
Adam West on having a recurring part on The Detectives with Robert Taylor
Adam West on starring in Batman
Adam West on starring in Batman
Adam West on starring on Batman
Western Series
Adam West on where the Warner Bros westerns shot
Adam West on appearing on Cheyenne starring Clint Walker
Adam West on appearing on Sugarfoot with Will Hutchins
Adam West on appearing on Maverick starring James Garner
Adam West on appearing on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, and Geronimo
Adam West on appearing on The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan and Petticoat Junction
Adam West on appearing on Bewitched with Elizabeth Montgomery and The Virginian with Lee J. Cobb
People
Milton Berle
Adam West on Milton Berle guest-starring as "Louie the Lilac" on Batman
Walter Brennan
Adam West on appearing on The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan and Petticoat Junction
Tim Burton
Adam West on Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" feature film
Art Carney
Adam West on Art Carney as "The Archer" and Van Johnson as "The Minstrel" on Batman
Lee J. Cobb
Adam West on appearing on Bewitched with Elizabeth Montgomery and The Virginian with Lee J. Cobb
Bill Dozier
Adam West on the producers of Batman, including Bill Dozier
Jack Elam
Adam West on working with Jack Elam
Maurice Evans
Adam West on Liberace and Maurice Evans guest-starring on Batman
James Garner
Adam West on appearing on Maverick starring James Garner
Frank Gorshin
Adam West on Frank Gorshin as "the Riddler" on Batman
Neil Hamilton
Adam West on Neil Hamilton as "Commissioner Gordon" and "Madge Blake" as "Aunt Harriett" on Batman
Van Johnson
Adam West on Art Carney as "The Archer" and Van Johnson as "The Minstrel" on Batman
Bob Kane
Adam West on Batman creator Bob Kane's involvement with the series
Eartha Kitt
Adam West on the character of "Catwoman" on Batman, and the actresses that played her including Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, and Lee Meriwether
Liberace
Adam West on Liberace and Maurice Evans guest-starring on Batman
Roddy McDowall
Adam West on Harvey Lembeck as "Eagle Eye" and Roddy McDowell as "Bookworm" on Batman
Burgess Meredith
Adam West on Burgess Meredith as "the Penguin" on Batman
Elizabeth Montgomery
Adam West on appearing on Bewitched with Elizabeth Montgomery and The Virginian with Lee J. Cobb
Alan Napier
Adam West on Alan Napier as "Alfred" on Batman
Julie Newmar
Adam West on the character of "Catwoman" on Batman, and the actresses that played her including Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, and Lee Meriwether
William T. Orr
Adam West on his working relationships with Jack L. Warner and producer William T. Orr
Otto Preminger
Adam West on the character of "Mr. Freeze," played by George Saunders, Eli Wallach, and Otto Preminger on Batman
Cliff Robertson
Adam West on Cliff Robertson as "Shame" on Batman
Cesar Romero
Adam West on Cesar Romero as "the Joker" on Batman
Eli Wallach
Adam West on the character of "Mr. Freeze," played by George Saunders, Eli Wallach, and Otto Preminger on Batman
Burt Ward
Adam West on being cast as Batman along with Burt Ward as "Robin"
Jack L. Warner
Adam West on his working relationships with Jack L. Warner and producer William T. Orr