Robin and Catwoman on Adam West: The Finest ‘Batman’ Ever
Two former « Batman » co-stars Saturday remembered Adam West as a humble, witty man who adored his family, friends and fans – and who « will be and always will be the finest ‘Batman’ ever. »
« He and our show was bigger than life, » Burt Ward, who played sidekick Robin, told Dave Briggs on CNN . « It was something that appealed to every age group. »
West, 88, died Friday of leukemia in Los Angeles, a family spokeswoman said.
He starred as the superhero – and his low-key alter ego, millionaire bachelor Bruce Wayne – from 1966 to 1968 .
« Whether it was the kids who enjoyed the hero worship, it was the teenagers and the college kids that enjoyed the double-means and insinuations and all the crazy stuff we did, or it was the adults who bought the comic books, Batman appealed to all ages, » said Ward.
« What our show did that was different than other show. Our show played with the audience.
« Adam and I had the best time together, » he said.
Ward, now 71, said he has spent « 75 percent of my life on this planet working with this man – and I loved Adam dearly.
« ‘Batman’ will be here forever, » he added. « I miss him terribly. »
Julie Newmar, one of three actresses to play Catwoman during the show’s run, told CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield that West « was and will be and always will be the finest Batman ever.
« People adored him, » she said. « Long lines of people stood to get his autograph.
« He was charming and open and available to them. »
Newmar, now 83, said that West « had that extra intelligence called wit, which allows us to live in this world above things and laugh at it or at least release our negative feelings about it.
« The humor on top of the character and – you think of it this way: He did not have to have his shoulders built up.
« He was the real thing. »
