RIP Adam West, TV's Batman Legend Dies At 88

The world of Batman fandom just got a little less joyful.

Adam West, star of the classic, kitsch Batman TV show from the 1960s has died at the age of 88 after a short battle with leukemia.

His family released a statement to announce the sad news:

“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."

Though he is rarely heralded among the best screen takes on the character, West's Batman was a product of his time, reflecting the conscious - if misguided - attempt to rebrand the character that was later mirrored in Warner Bros and Joel Schumacher's takes on the Dark Knight. And while the show is viewed best as a camp, kitsch delight that doesn't really reflect the reality of the comic book character, it has grown into a cult classic of its own right and it remains an important step on the Batman journey.

The show was responsible for basically inventing the cartoonish visual sound effects that met every fight scene, and some of the stories told are delightful additions to the canon.

West also played one of the best parts in Family Guy, offering a bonkers, brilliant performance as Quahog's Mayor West, and launched even more soundbites in the process.