Fred Prouser
Adam West, the actor who starred as the caped crusader in the 1960s Batman television series, has died at the age of 88. A family spokesperson said he died late Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with leukemia. He leaves behind his wife, six children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. “Our dad always saw himself as The Bright Knight and aspired to make a positive impact on his fans' lives. He was and always will be our hero,” his family said in a statement. West shot to fame after debuting as Batman in 1966, though his career subsided after the show was canceled following its third season. He later lamented that television producers “thought Batman was a big accident, that there was no real creative thought, expertise or art behind it. They were wrong.” In later years, he returned to the screen for his iconic role, providing the voice of Batman for cartoons like The New Adventures of Batman, Legends of the Superheros, and The Simpsons. He also provided the voice for the mayor of Quahog on Seth McFarlane’s Family Guy.