RIP, Adam West

Image courtesy of Shed On The Moon's Flick page - BATMAN: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack_hargreaves_shed/17238207331/in/photolist-sghjte-rjkfHq-rjwFJp-iqgmo-twTcDq-tfzoU1-mYHo9q-nEeHG5-dpzCy3-woeWi9-xMnbz-78t1VF-cyhp2C-7hLgW1-7hGjHF-7hGjFp-7hGjGT-necSob-89JxFd-qrbbBU-wQTgaS-dkbbrR-b6fQc6-vUAxkY-ngu7P2-ngcR2u-89Jwdd-89JvGf-89JwEu-89FinH-89Fhn4-nc8zkk-cJsDAm-cJsDjY-cJsDny-cJsDR9-cJsDub-cJsD9j-cJsDKG-cJsDmh-cJsDaJ-cJsD8s-cJsDPm-cJsDgu-cJsDCQ-cJsDpo-cJsDwo-cJsDdC-cJsD5N-cJsDbw

Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

Image courtesy of Shed On The Moon's Flick page - BATMAN: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack_hargreaves_shed/16603536753/in/photolist-rict24-8n7a9j-rVGDGc-nVVkn8-ricVzV-cJsDy3-finw55-rWZVhk-jEpUK-jEpUL-35YhNK-kbXDap-8kgtdz-6EMp4-6NHTHe-nBDRts-nBEzHz-nBEpb2-nBEwJi-nVVzXk-8UmVKU-6KMvR5-7UEpu9-7UEpvd-wWq9Ts-nU4dbb-nU1tSA-nBDXJo-6JopKT-612oWr-nU1DtE-nTQYq6-6JsvVA-seXsce-ri18dE-rjwGyk-66Xcj-e1qSMb-7dZkTY-7dVt7R-txakJp-rjjKZU-rjwaHn-sghjte-rjkfHq-rjwFJp-iqgmo-twTcDq-tfzoU1-mYHo9q

Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

Sad news today, as actor Adam West, best known for his portrayal of Batman/Bruce Wayne in the 1960's Batman series, has died.

West had been battling leukemia for years, although he ultimately lost the battle He was 88 years old.

The Batman series lasted for only three seasons, yet it seemed to punch harder than it's weight in a lot of key areas. There were constantly repeats of the show on while I was a child growing up, and perhaps that is why it went quite far in defining the Batman and Robin characters. The theme song alone would be iconic enough, but the "POW!" graphics that sprang up during fight scenes, and the generally ultra-corny feel (but in a good-natured, humorous manner) of the series also made it easy to remember decades after the show went off the air.

West mentioned that his role playing Batman/Bruce Wayne probably cost him chances at other acting roles that he wanted to play. Still, he was not bitter, and seemed genuinely thankful and blessed to have gotten the part. He trained his now iconic voice for years when he was a disc jockey, and it helped him to not only get the Batman role, but also to make his memory of the role an enduring one for decades after the show was off the air.

I was not around just yet when this series came out, although like most people my age, my memories of the reruns of the Batman series were always pleasant, and still are enough to bring a smile to my face.

Adam West will be missed. 

RIP, Adam West.



'Batman' actor Adam West dies By Joe Sterling, CNN, June 10, 2017:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/10/celebrities/obit-adam-west/index.html