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Adam West, the actor who played the title role in the kitschy 1960's "Batman" television series, has died at age 88, Variety reported on Saturday, citing a family statement.
West, who was so closely identified with his tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the cartoon superhero that he had trouble landing other roles when the show ended, died on Friday evening after a struggle with leukemia, his representative told Variety.
“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,” they said in a statement published by The Hollywood Reporter.
Even though his stint as the caped crusader went on for only three years, a generation of children grew up watching Batman and his sidekick Robin, as the show continued having reruns for the next two decades.
When Adam West read the script of Batman for the first time he couldn’t resist the crazy mix of absurdity and action Batman personified.
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