I’m sure that Adam West can be a nice guy. He seems to be a fan favorite when he gives interviews or speaks in panels. I’ve even heard that he sends out free autographs in the mail. But from all personal accounts of meeting Adam West, who starred as Batman in the cult classic TV series from 1966-1968k, he is – oh what’s the word? – a prick. I had already met and gotten an autograph and picture from Burt Ward in 2005. I saw him again in 2007, this time with his counterpart Adam West at a Hollywood Show in attendance. My encounter with him then was not good, as he referred me to his equally pricky handler (who may or may not be his son, I’m not sure), who told me that Mr. West wasn’t ‘doing photos’ that day.
So for this, my last entry covering the Hollywood Show that occurred on October 8, 2011, I’ll be forced to admit that I finally acquiesced to the demands of Batman and purchased the photo op. And since I was already paying his exorbitant fee for the professional photo, I went ahead and tacked on the additional money to get a photo with both Batman and Robin together. Of course I asked the handler prick beforehand if there was any chance of getting a photo with Adam West outside of the professional photo op, and naturally there wasn’t.
I pre-purchased the photo with the $100 fee and had it taken at the end of the day. Adam West had to take a quick break before my photo was taken, so he joked unfunnily that his ‘son’ could step in and take his place. When he finally got around to getting his picture taken, I shook his hand just because it would most certainly be the one and only time that I did so.
Incidentally, Burt Ward (who has also been said by many to be a big jerk) has been friendly on both occasions when I met him. However I did note as he made his way to the photo op that with his chubby and lackadaisical swagger in his Hawaiian shirt as he sucked down on a soda through a straw while making his way to the photo op booth, it would be extremely difficult to recognize this guy on the street as the once toned Boy Wonder Robin.
It’s always troubling when celebrities are jerks, but it’s all the more troubling when the ones being jerks have portrayed heroes and superheroes, being seen as role models by kids or former-kids the world over.
Holy bank rip-off Batman! I’m glad I got this photo opportunity out of the way and can move on to other jerks… er celebrities.
This concludes the postings of celebrity encounters from the Fall 2011 Hollywood Show. Click here to return to the original posting…
Adam West certainly lives up to his aloof and quite unfriendly reputation. I met both of them on two different occasions, and had similar experiences both times. Burt Ward is a much more friendly man and definitely takes his sweet time. But both West and Ward were overshadowed by the incredible and lovely Julie Newmar at the second event!
Dave Chasteen
December 29th, 2012
The first time I met Adam West at a Hollywood show, I happened to be the first person waiting in line as he had arrived late. He sat down, looked at me and said, “Hey, how are you!” I paused and said, “umm, I’m fine.” And he said, “So, how have you been?” I was confused, was he messing with me or did he really think we knew each other. I replied, “Everthing is just fine” and he continued, “Everyone’s good? You’ve been good?” I didn’t know what to say to him, I just wanted him to sign my pic so I could leave. He was looking intently right at me, it was completely strange. I muttered another reply, got my pic signed and left. Weird guy.
Rick Greene
December 29th, 2012
For what you paid for a photo, at least Adam West could have taken off his sunglasses!
Jim Harwood
December 30th, 2012