Adam West

American actor

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

Batman: The Movie Burt Ward as Robin (third from left) and Adam West as Batman (second from right) on a lobby card for Batman: The Movie (1966), directed by Leslie H. Martinson.

Adam West was an American actor best known for his portrayal of Batman in the 1960s live-action television series Batman. The series, which premiered on January 12, 1966, starred West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. This adaptation was known for its campy style, vibrant costumes, and pop art-style sound effects. The show's popularity led to a surge in Batman-related merchandise and a theatrical movie. Despite its initial success, the series was canceled after three seasons. West's performance as Batman became iconic, defining the character for a generation.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Batman
Batman in the Silver Age
Adam West and Burt Ward. Batman bubbled with flashy costumes and sets (at a time when colour television was relatively new), Pop art sound-effect graphics, and a rotating roster of scenery-chewing villains. Cesar Romero (as the Joker), Burgess Meredith (the Penguin), Frank Gorshin (the Riddler),…
Read More
Adam West and Burt Ward. Batman bubbled with flashy costumes and sets (at a time when colour television was relatively new), Pop art sound-effect graphics, and a rotating roster of scenery-chewing villains. Cesar Romero (as the Joker), Burgess Meredith (the Penguin), Frank Gorshin (the Riddler),…
Read More

Family Guy
Setting and characters
…Adam West (voiced by the actor of the same name until his death in 2017). His character was later succeeded by his cousin, Wild West (voiced by Sam Elliott).
Read More
…Adam West (voiced by the actor of the same name until his death in 2017). His character was later succeeded by his cousin, Wild West (voiced by Sam Elliott).
Read More