Burt Ward Remembers ‘Batman’ Star Adam West & Dangerous Stunts: “I Could Have Been Killed” (Exclusive)
Adam West, who is best known for playing Batman/Bruce Wayne in the 1960s Batman TV show, passed away 8 years ago on June 9, 2017, at the age of 88. Burt Ward, who played West’s sidekick as Robin, shared with ReMIND magazine a few fond memories of his good friend, including their first meeting, a scary stunt, and many hours laughing together on set.
On his very first meeting with Adam West
Everett Collection
“I had a fifty-some-odd-year friendship with my dear friend Adam West. I met Adam on set during my screen test for Batman. They handed me a single sheet of paper containing paragraphs labeled “Bruce” and “Dick,” referring to Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson — though I didn’t know that at the time.
Adam and I sat down, started talking, and, within five minutes, the two of us were laughing. We never stopped laughing for more than 50 years. He was the funniest person and such a kind man. We just had a great time.
When it came to our dialogue, we played off each other. Adam portrayed Batman with an authoritative, grand presence, speaking slowly and deliberately. I was the opposite — quick and eager. In the 120 episodes we filmed, with 32 different directors and countless scriptwriters, not once did any director ask me or Adam how to deliver our lines.”
Many of the show’s shocking stunts were even more harrowing in real life
20th Century Fox Film Corp.; Courtesy: Everett Collection
“Here’s a scary stunt Adam and I had to film. In the regular series, in the Bruce Wayne study, we would lift Shakespeare’s head – we run and slide on these poles, and we go down about 8 or 9 feet.
But for the Batman movie, they wanted Adam and me to slide down [the pole] from way up at the top of the sound stage. Now here’s the problem. We walked up to the top of the catwalk and the stunt guys explained to us, even though we had gloves and boots with rubber soles, they explained because of the speed of us coming down, that we couldn’t just hold on to that pole as we slide down. Adam and I had to hold the pole lightly and then tighten and then let go lightly and tighten again – otherwise the friction would burn right through our gloves and shoes.
The problem is when we got up there and there were the two poles and nothing for us to walk out to get to the pole. So, Adam & I had to jump from the catwalk onto the pole. What if we missed? There was nothing but a cement floor 80 feet down!
I’ve had nightmares thinking about what we did. It was crazy. I can’t believe Adam and I even did that, but we did. There are so many dangerous things that Adam and I had to do, and I mean now, in retrospect, I couldn’t even believe that I did some of these things. I could have been killed any number of times.”
The Batman set was HOT
20th Century Fox Film Corp.; Courtesy: Everett Collection
“There was a lot of fun. We were working under these arc lamps that I’m telling you could fry eggs under them, it’s so hot.
Every time before each shot, they put more makeup on and more makeup. You’re wearing handy costumes, and you put on these tights and in 5 minutes, you’ve got a film of water between your legs. Yet there were times that Adam and I would start laughing and we couldn’t stop laughing. Just get giggly when – it affects your brain under the hot lights. So, we had a lot of fun.”
Batman ran on ABC-TV from 1966 to 1968 for three seasons, airing twice a week with a total of 120 shows. The show became an overnight hit and still has a huge fan following today. Batman: The Complete Series is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and streaming.
Burt Ward today is known as the “Canine and Cat Crusader” due to his lifelong work with animal rescues. Burt and his wife Tracey have saved over 15,000 dogs and cats. The married duo has also created a healthier pet food called Gentle Giants. To find out more about Gentle Giants here.
Remind 