Adam West Batman

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Adam West, TV’s iconic ‘Batman’ star, dies at 88

A superhero has fallen.

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Andrew Couts

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Posted on Jun 10, 2017   Updated on May 23, 2021, 3:36 am CDT

Adam West, best known as the star of the original Batman television series, has died. He was 88 years old.

West reportedly died peacefully in Los Angeles due to complications related to leukemia, according to the BBC. News of his death was first reported by Variety. The West family confirmed his death on the actor’s Twitter account.

West’s portrayal of Batman and Bruce Wayne, the crime-fighting superhero’s alter ego, in the 1960’s series helped define the character in American culture. Its campy depictions of violence and use of “WHAM!” and “POW!” illustrations became iconic.

According to Variety, West became so connected to his role as Batman that it became difficult for the actor to find work playing other characters. However, West continued to embrace his Batman legacy, attending comic book conventions and tweeting about it. Most recently, West played the role of Mayor Adam West in the animated series Family Guy, which introduced him to a new generation of fans.

News of West’s death quickly spread on social media, where celebrities and fans alike commemorated the actor.

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*First Published: Jun 10, 2017, 11:26 am CDT

Andrew Couts

Andrew Couts is the former editor of Layer 8, a section dedicated to the intersection of the Internet and the state—and the gaps in between. Prior to the Daily Dot, Couts served as features editor and features writer for Digital Trends, associate editor of TheWeek.com, and associate editor at Maxim magazine. When he’s not working, Couts can be found hiking with his German shepherds or blasting around on motorcycles.

Andrew Couts