Julie Newmar, TV’s Original Catwoman, Remembers Adam West

This morning brought the unfortunate news that Adam West, the star of the classic Batman television series had passed away from leukemia at the age of 88. West’s co-star, Burt Ward, has already commented West’s passing, and now another classic Batman alum has added her voice to those remembering West at the time of his passing.

Julie Newmar, the actress who played Catwoman on the Batman television series, had nothing but fond memories of West to share.

“Adam set the bar so high for portraying the role of Batman,” the 83-year-old actress told Entertainment Tonight. “He was wonderful, spot on, with a twinkle in his eye. He had it all — looks, charm, intelligence, I could go on and on.”

“In conversation, he was very animated and once told me that Batman was the father that everyone wanted!” she added. “I never thought of it that way! He had a great way of playing that ‘tongue-in-cheek’ nature in so much of the dialogue.”

Newmar also remembered that she had seen West at a signing about a month ago and recalls him seeming “totally fine.”

“I had a long, engaging conversation with him and his wife, Marcelle, about their life in Montana,” she explained. “If I had to describe him in a word or two, they would be ‘stellar’ and ‘exemplar,’ qualities that we want to encourage in ourselves and in young people.”

Newmar reprised her role as Catwoman in last year’s animated movie Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, as did West his Batman and Burt Ward his Robin. A sequel was being planned but that has been no word as to whether recording had completed before West’s death.

West is survived by his wife, Marcelle, six children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. The family put a statement saying, “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.”

West became an icon by playing the Caped Crusader on ABC’s Batman television show, which became a surprise hit when it premiered in 1966. West’s Batman is known for its campy humor and though the character has taken a darker and more serious tone over the decades, the television series remains a fan favorite.

West celebrated the 50th anniversary of Batman with a guest appearance on the 200th episode of The Big Bang Theory. West reprised his role as the Dark Knight by voicing Batman, alongside his co-star Burt Ward as Robin, the 2016 animated movie Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders.

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