Adam West, Gentleman Knight
Adam West and Batman image created for the documentary “Hanging With Batman” from the Batman: The Complete Television Series box set.
What defines a gentleman? The English dictionary tells us this is a “chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man”; perhaps it has something to do with social position, attainment of wealth, and leisure. Most of us have an idea of what gentleman means, at least the feeling the word conjures up, or perhaps an image that comes to mind in the postmodern sense. Alternatively, maybe the old English fellow in a top hat, or a socialite of the 1960s mad men era where a gentleman would engage the opposite sex with aplomb. Again, a term that is nebulous as the rules are unwritten, and the guidelines are formed in the collective sense before they are ever cast in iron as the codex to humanity’s interpretation of the word. It’s a special club that only a select few truly belong to in the truest sense. So, if we can agree that being a gentleman is something superlative to the rank and file, then we can agree that the world of the gentleman must be special, it must be unique. Adam West fits the gentleman archetype, earned through his many years defining his character through the crucible of his own triumphs and folly. Yet in his later years, he attained the rank and definition of the man that walks into the room redeemed with his social standing as the kindest, most humble, and chivalrous. He set the pace for the other men in the room. Adam West was that exact type of man from the moment I was able to make his acquaintance, his form of a gentleman was the zenith; you knew it the moment you saw him.
Image of Adam West as Bruce Wayne from an early screen test - from the documentary “Hanging With Batman” included in the Batman: The Complete Television Series box set.
When he entered that front door at Ralph Garman’s place, I could immediately tell Adam West was the man of that certain Hollywood generation where we can see that gentleman actor embedded deep in his spirit. Dressed impeccably in a suit yet without a tie and armed with that gentle demeanor he was every bit cordial as he was cool and immediately gregarious, equipped with his sharp wit, charm, and that infectious smile; I was spellbound and knew that all will be well with our project. We shared a few quips, a few story exchanges, and it dawned on me this was the long-lost grandfather of a best friend who I wanted to know, the uncle you hoped for who was the life of the room the moment he walked in. A couple of quick moments later and that glint in his eyes was sparked upon seeing the camera setup; our crew was ready and so was he. I knew this was Adam West the man, but it was also Adam West the Batman actor that I sat enthralled by on Saturday afternoons as I watched back-to-back re-run episodes of Batman. Star struck? perhaps a bit, but mostly trying my best to memorize every detail, every inflection in the voice, cadence, word choices, and finally the way Adam West made you feel. Like long-lost chums that discovered one another (again) at a Hollywood casting call. Simpatico and a bond between us that felt every bit vintage, strong, and comfortable is the way Adam West made you feel. The kind of connection where a filmmaker could only dream about, but here was Adam West ready to work, ready to commit to the camera.
Adam West in Ralph Garman’s room full of Batman ‘66 memorabilia.
Alex Gray (R) standing next to Adam West (L) holding his original script from the Batman pilot episode.
A gentleman is equipped with a shield and does his best to guard his emotions, so as not to belabor people with his own life’s vicissitudes. In the grand scheme, it’s acceptable as a modus operandi as it is on a lot of levels stoic. We see the classic gent showing his sensitivity through finding solutions to the tribulations of others. Adam was that type of man always placing his family first, always placing the needs of his friends first. This may or may not have come obvious to Adam in his younger years, but his current incarnation gave that earnest approach which admittedly was infectious. Although an actor likes to be front and center, Adam approached life with a verve for others; a penchant to help those in need. I think this helped Adam work through things that bothered him. Helping others created a way for him to navigate the juncture he was in, especially when life and art and the goals of his acting career were not adding up to the original dream. On a personal note, I was able to learn quite a bit from Adam and why dignity and poignancy to a man are earned through the stripes, not by advancing one’s agenda, but through helping others achieve their goals as well. There is a profundity to the man who lends that sense of direction, wisdom, help in some way that enriches the lives of others. Adam was not just preaching it; he was living it during the time I knew him. He made it a point to let me know how much he appreciated the fans, and how deeply indebted he was to their undying love for him and his art. He was their BATMAN to them, and he resolved himself upon placing others first that Batman was everything to these fans and being the personal embodiment of this character, it was Adam’s right and his justified duty to live up to the expectation of others as best he could. Adam was present, centered, and cognizant of the importance of where that fine line of art and life blur and out emerges a person that maintains a refined version of his deepest desire to be respected and loved again. Not too many have the chance as Adam did to come back into the fold and form that bond with an audience willing to forgive his absence and pave the way for them to share in that very special point of view.
A gentleman at times must suffer in silence, there is particular gallantry in that. Adam embodied this rule in his lifetime, he showed us that despite every goal or every avenue he may have traveled, Adam on stage or off always had the most powerful way of engaging people. He was beloved first as Batman, second as Adam. Interestingly this has a way to cause an actor to start to question what the next roles after an iconic performance will bring. Although not every turn in the road was a solid one for Adam, he quickly learned he too had to go through his own hero’s journey and embrace Batman once again. When that happened in the twilight of Adam’s life, the fans came out in droves to see him and acknowledge how happy they were with his connection. The outpouring of heart for Adam was electrifying, his culminating moment being at San Diego Comic-Con showed fans forthright that Adam West was proud to be considered among their finest; immortalized as the definition of a true gentleman, forevermore.
Alex Gray
For the full story of Alex Gray’s introduction to Adam West, check out his podcast.
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Batman images copyright DC Entertainment.
