Date of Birth

19 September 1928, Walla Walla, Washington, USA

Birth Name

William West Anderson

He breathed life into Batman. Adam West was born Billy (William) West Anderson in Walla Walla, Washington, to parents Otto West Anderson and his wife Audrey. At age 10, Adam had a cache of comic books, and Batman made a big impression on him -- the comic hero was part bat-man (ala Count Dracula) and part world's greatest detective (ala Charlie Chan and Sherlock Holmes). When his mom remarried to a Dr. Paul Flothow, she took Adam and his younger brother, John, to Seattle. At 14, Adam attended Lakeside School, then went to Whitman College, where he got a degree in literature and psychology. During his last year of college, he also married 17-year-old Billie Lou Yeager.

Adam got a job as a DJ at a local radio station, then enrolled at Stanford for post-grad courses. Drafted into the Army, he spent the next 2 years starting military TV stations, first at San Luis Obispo, CA, then at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Afterwards, Adam and his wife toured Europe, visiting Germany, Switzerland and Italy's Isle of Capri. When the money ran out, he joined a childhood and college buddy, Carl Hebenstreit, who was starring in the kiddie program "The Kini Popo Show" in Hawaii. Adam would eventually replace Carl but not the other star, Peaches the Chimp. In 1956, he got a divorce, and married a beautiful girl, originally from Tahiti, named Ngatokoruaimatauaia Frisbie Dawson (he called her "Nga" for short). They had a daughter, Jonelle, in 1957 and a son, Hunter, in 1958. In 1959, Adam came to Hollywood. He adopted the stage name "Adam West", which fit his roles, as he was in some Westerns.

After 7 years in Tinseltown, he achieved fame in 1966, in his signature role as Batman, in the wildly popular ABC TV series. (Though he has over 60 movie and over 80 TV guest appearance credits, Batman is what the fans remember him for). The "Batman" (1966) TV series, which lasted three seasons, made him not just nationally but internationally famous. The movie version earned Adam the "Most Promising New Star" award in 1967. The downside was the Batman fame was partly responsible for ruining his marriage, and he would be typecast and almost unemployable for a while after the series ended (he did nothing but personal appearances for 2 years).

In 1972, he met, and then married Marcelle Tagand Lear, so he got two step-kids, Moya and Jill. In addition, they had two children of their own: Nina West in 1976 and Perrin in 1979. You can't keep a good actor down -- Adam's career took off again, and he has been in about 50 projects since then: movies, TV-movies, and sometimes doing voices in TV series. Adam wrote his autobiography "Back to the Batcave" in 1994. One of his most prized possessions is a drawing of Batman by Bob Kane with the inscription "To my buddy, Adam, who breathed life into my pen and ink creation

After playing the role of a resourceful secret agent in a Nestle's Quik commercial in the early '60s, he caught the eye of ABC executives. They figured that he might be right for an upcoming TV show that was about to be produced, "Batman" (1966). The rest is history.

His daughter Nina West is the host of the TV Land Real Estate (2002) (TV). She is also a model and has twice appeared with her father on Howard Stern's radio show.

West once appeared on the "Batman" (1992) animated series playing - of all things - an out-of-work actor who was unable to escape his identification with the role of a superhero he had played decades earlier, the Gray Ghost. Prior to this, West had supplied the voice of Batman on the "SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show" (1984) animated series.

Enjoys fishing.

Was the third actor to play Batman (though some may credit him as the first, as the old serials are much more obscure than West's "Batman" (1966) TV series).

Member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity

He has his own web page where you can purchase his book, get memorabilia and even send him E-mail.

According to DC Comics statistics, Batman stands 6-foot-2. Of all the actors who have played Batman, West is believed to be the only one who stood the same height.

Had his creative dentist add a little black Batman logo to one of his molars.

He was to be the star of a new western series, "Doc Holliday", in 1959 after the pilot aired on an episode of "Lawman" (1958) called "The Wayfarer". ABC pulled the plug on the project.

Has shared two roles with Val Kilmer: Bruce Wayne/Batman and lawman John "Doc" Holliday. He also shares the latter role with his Batman cast mate, Cesar Romero.

His former "Batman" (1966) co-star, Burt Ward, made a cameo appearance on an episode of "The Simpsons" (1989), with him, in 2002.

Best known by the public for his starring role as the title character in "Batman" (1966).

Remained good friends with Burt Ward, during and after the original "Batman" (1966).

Father of Hunter Anderson, Jonelle S. Anderson, Nina West and Perrin West.

A movie and comic book buff.

His mother, Audrey Speer, of the Christian musical group, the Speers, died in 1969.

Moved with his mother and brother to Seattle, Washington, when he was only 15, this was after his parents' divorce.

Began his career as a contract player for Warner Bros. in 1959.

Graduated from Lakeside High School in Seattle, Washington, in 1946.

Was drafted into the United States Army, for two years.

Before he was a successful actor, he worked as a radio disc jockey, where he founded a military television station that his knack for deadpan comedy expanded.

Future comedians Conan O'Brien, Drew Carey, Bill Maher, Ross Shafer, radio disc jockey Howard Stern, "The Simpsons" (1989) Matt Groening and weatherman/game show announcer Rich Fields, all said West was their childhood television hero.

Is also very good friends with: Yvonne Craig, Clint Eastwood, James Garner, Robert Fuller, James Drury and the late Brian Keith.

Beat out 2 other actors, Lyle Waggoner and Ty Hardin, for the lead role in "Batman" (1966).

He has 11 hobbies: fishing, skiing, spending time with his family, golfing, traveling, riding motorcycles, reading, watching movies, swimming, surfing and dancing.

Was a spokesperson for America Online (AOL) in the late 1990s.

At Lakeside High School, he excelled in sports and served as school president of his graduating class, which he graduated from in 1946.

Graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, with a bachelor's degree in Literature and a minor in Psychology.

Before he was an successful, he also played water polo, ran track, skied and swam at Whitman College.

Married his first wife, Billi Lou Yeager, when she was 17.

Before he was a successful actor, he also worked as an Island tour guide.

Was one of the 3 actors to appear in every episode of the original "Batman" (1966) series.

His father, Otto West Anderson was a charismatic farmer, his mother, Audrey Speer was a singer

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