(CelebrityAccess) — Adam West, an actor best known for his portrayal of Batman in the campy 1960s television series has died. He was 88.
According to a statement released by West's family, he died after a "short but brave battle with leukemia."
Born William West Anderson in Walla Walla, Washington, West earned a degree in literature and psychology from Whitman College but was drafted into the Army where he served as an announcer on American Forces Network television.
After leaving the service, he pursued a career in television, landing several early minor roles in the medium and in cinema before landing what became his signature role Batman in 1966. While the series was only broadcast for 3 years, it generated a full-length film but led to West being type-cast in the role.
West acted in numerous non-Batman projects after the series went off the air but was unable to fully escape from his association with the role and eventually embraced his fandom, becoming something of an ironic cult figure, reprising the role on numerous occasions.
More recently, he played himself in the animated Fox television series "Family Guy" where he was the Mayor of the fictional Rhode Island town of Quahog.
He is survived by his wife Marcelle, six children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
