Adam West believed that playing Batman on television would help his film career in the future

There was life after Batman, and West knew it.

Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution

Some actors find it difficult to make the transition from television to film, but it seems that for Batman, anything is possible.

Before Adam West played the caped crusader in the hit 1960s series, some viewers may have already been accustomed to his face after seeing him in feature films like Tammy and the Doctor or Robinson Crusoe on Mars. However, when he joined the cast of a television series, West didn't harbor any regrets.

"I feel that I can always go back to making movies after Batman, as after all I am an established actor and have been in leading roles for several years now," said West during an interview with the Liverpool Echo. "Batman as an identity will not harm me, I am sure."

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You see, Batman was more than a role to West. "I am fully aware we are bringing to life an image that is really almost- one could say an American legend, part of the mythology of America - for the young," said West.

West felt that playing Batman on television could only help his career as a film actor. It made him visible to fans - and producers- who might have overlooked him before.

"Before, I was limited to playing leads in low-budget movies," said West during an interview with the Associated Press. "The series has given me the exposure - God knows - so that perhaps I would now be considered for important pictures, which is what I'm after. Unless the thinking of the major producers has become senile, they can perceive that I'm not Batman."

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5 Comments

ElizabethBoop 14 days ago
To be honest, it probably did less damage to his burgeoning career than appearing as the Fourth Stooge in THE OUTLAWS IS COMING!
Fun Fact: He was offered James Bond but turned it down!
justjeff cperrynaples 13 days ago
Yep, in 1970... West was considered for the role of James Bond by producer Albert Broccoli for the film Diamonds Are Forever... source: Wikipedia.

Sidebar: Remember all of those Green Acres stories on this site? Check out this picture of Doris Ziffel (Barbara Pepper) in the 1930s....WOW!
justjeff justjeff 13 days ago
Additionally here's Lillie Munster (Yvonne DeCarlo from a movie ad in 1951) and a sultry Eve Arden... YES! - Eve Arden in 1928! I've drastically cropped the Eve Arden image, because the photo spread was from a "girls and gags" magazine called Film Fun from January, 1928.

I no longer have the link to that issue, but if you can dig it up online, you'll see just how lovely "Our Miss Brooks" was as an up-and-coming actress and model.

Tuuthfully, some of those gals from almost 100 years ago look better than many of the so-called "stars and models" of today... They weren't cosmetically enhanced, overly made-up or as skinny as a pencil...
justjeff justjeff 13 days ago

CORRECTION: The photo spread seems to be from 1937, NOT 1928...

Here's the page links to the Film Fun issue Eve Arden appears in:

https://archive.org/details/filmfun1928194200film/page/296/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/filmfun1928194200film/page/297/mode/1up
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