American film actor Adam West is best known for playing the role of Batman in the 1960s television movie of the same name and for the voice acting of the mayor in the animated series "Family Guy".
Biography. early years
A future pet of millions and a city rescuer in a bat costume, was born in Washington, Walla Walla. In this small town, William West Adam Anderson spent most of his childhood. After the parents divorced, the mother of the future TV star Audrey Steer took the sons of John and William, and they moved to Seattle. Upon moving, the brothers entered Lakeside Private School. From childhood, William was attracted to images of various superheroes, but, as he himself admits, Batman comics were his favorites, he re-read them several times. It is not surprising that Adam West chose psychology to study at Whitman College, especially interested in the psychology of personality, and literature, which he had a penchant for since childhood.
The beginning of the creative path
Upon graduating from college, William West Adam, having successfully passed the entrance exams, was enrolled at Stanford University. During his studies, the guy was invited to work on the radio, they talk, he coped with it quite successfully, since he has a clear pronunciation and a memorable velvet voice with an inimitable, enveloping timbre.
In the early 1950s, William was recruited into the army, where he served for two years. Some time after the demobilization, young talented became interested in trying himself in acting. The role in the first picture was gained by the experience of a radio host. The debut was the project "Voodoo Island." In parallel, the actor is invited to take part in the TV show “Kini Popo Show”, which was filmed in the Hawaiian Islands. In the future, he will become the main character of this television show.
Having taken part in the filming of several minor roles, in 1959 Adam West and his family decided to move to Hollywood. Adam West is the pseudonym of an actor that he specially invented and then used in Hollywood. He did not have to wait long for the beginning actor to become interested in Worner Bros., with which a contract was subsequently concluded.
60s and the role of Batman
The role that lifted Adam to the peak of his acting career, he received after participating in advertising Nesquik. In the video, which was supposed to encourage parents to buy sweet breakfast cereal for their children, the actor acted as a spy. It was this appearance that contributed to the producer William Dozer select him among the other applicants. Seeing the artist’s portfolio, Dozer said: “Adam West - Batman” - and stopped the casting.
The release of the series was a huge success, the television movie became popular not only among the children, but also among the adult audience. The project gained such popularity that even the held Hollywood actors happily performed secondary roles. However, in 1968, when the third season came out, it was closed. And even the appearance of the new heroine Badgirl did not return the series to its former heights of success.
Life after Batman
After some time, when the shooting had already stopped, Adam's acting rating began to fall sharply. This is due to the fact that the viewer could not perceive the performer in a different way. Adam West films now chose low-budget, performed mainly secondary roles. And although in 1970 he was offered the role of James Bond, the actor did not accept the offer to play this role, as he was convinced that the American actor could not play the British spy.
Closer to the 1980s, most cartoon superheroes spoke in Adam's voice. So in the new cartoon "New Adventures of Batman" the main character was also voiced by the actor. Interest in the guy with the mouse on his chest grew again, and although Tim Burton decided to shoot another picture about Batman, unfortunately, Adam was not lucky for whom this role was intended. Soon, Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the cartoon "Family Guy," in his brainchild uses the texture of Adam, who became the prototype of the mayor and voiced this character.
Family relationships
As a fourth-year college student, Adam West is getting married for the first time. The young bride of the actor was Billy Lou Yeager. After some time, West fell in love with Frisbee Dawson, they met during the filming of the television show "Kini Popo Show" in Hawaii. Soon the girl became pregnant, and Adam, who quickly filed for a divorce, went down the aisle for the second time. So West had a daughter - Jonell, and a year later his second wife gave him a son - Hunter. Having been married for fifteen years, the couple divorced, and Adam again married the beautiful Marcella Tagard Lear, who gave West four beautiful children.
Some Interesting Facts About William Anderson
- Throughout his conscious life, the actor loves reading comics about Batman.
- Adam West created a website on which he regularly shares the news of his life, where you can also get an actor’s autograph.
- The film actor studied at the same school where Bill Gates and Paul Allen studied.
- In the two hundredth episode of the cult series The Big Bang Theory, Adam was invited to play a cameo for the birthday of one of the main characters. It was in this issue, characterizing each of the on-screen Batman, the actor put himself in first place in the ranking.
- Adam West, films with the participation of which every self-respecting film lover knows, from 1948 to the present day has starred in 2012 television and film projects.
- For significant services in television and film career, the American film actor has a personal star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.