On Thursday night Los Angeles transformed itself into Gotham City, as the Bat-Signal glowed at City Hall in honor of late actor Adam West. The original Batman.
This was one of the many tributes people paid to the late actor. On Sunday, Family Guy will air an episode in memory of the beloved actor.
Paying tribute to the one and only, Adam West
Before the people of Gotham relied on Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale or Ben Affleck, there was Adam West.He became an instant icon as the Gotham hero. The actor played the role by disposing bombs, dancing and making huge starbursts saying g things like “ZONK!” when he punched people.
West died Friday, June 9 at his Los Angeles home after a battle with leukemia.Both fans and the industry needed to say a candid goodbye. So Los Angeles decided to pay a heartfelt tribute to the pop icon.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck channeled Mayor Linseed and Commissioner Gordon respectively on Thursday.The pair switched on the iconic signal and splashed a yellow oval with a bat silhouette high up on the wall of City Hall. The light was courtesy of Warner Bros. and D.C. Comics
Everyone was there to celebrate the late Batman
Before the lighting, people lined up to take photos with two red-and-black, Batmobiles parked on the sidewalk. Some wore Batman masks and others wore capes, T-shirts, and hats adorned with the Batman logo.Once the Bat-light turned on fans cheered as they paid tribute to the idol.
There were also some special guests there. West’s wife and family were there and also Burt Ward, who played Robin on the show. Lee Meriweather, one of the several actresses who played Catwoman, both made an appearance.
“He loved humanity. He loved his fans,” Ward said. He also called the actor a “family man.”
“My friend Adam would want every single one of you to be incredibly happy and to be joyous because he spent his entire life as a performer making people happy, making people laugh and trying to make this world a better place,” Ward told the crowd.
“You don’t have to wear a cape, you don’t have to be a movie star, you don’t have to wear a badge or get elected mayor to make a difference and to be a hero,” Garcetti told the crowd, many of whom were in costume.
“Adam West taught us that each one of us had a heart of gold. And that we could have a fun time doing it too.”
Family Guy honoring the Mayor West
The animated Fox series will pay tribute to Adam West by re-airing the episode “The Dating Game.” Featuring the late actor in his recurring role of Mayor Adam West. Which was a fictionized version of the actor. The episode features the Quahog mayor winning an auction for Medieval Castle.
Former costar Julie Newmar posted a heartfelt letter to the late actor. While many of the fellow men who suited up as Batman also shared kind words about the late actor.
“Adam West exemplified heroism. Kind, funny and all-around great guy,” Affleck tweeted. “Thank you for showing us all how it’s done.”
Kilmer, who played the title character in 1995’s Batman Forever, shared, “Ah dear Adam West. He was always so kind when we met. A real gent. Once when I was a kid we found ourselves in front the batmobile. I got in.”
For Arnett, West “will always be Batman.” For his LEGO Batman Movie producer Phil Lord, he lost “a childhood hero who showed us Batman was kind and good and flawed and funny.”
DC Entertainment President and Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns released a heartfelt statement highlighting how Batman’s popularity will be forever linked with the actor. “He brought joy to legions of fans around the world and was the gateway for many of them to discover or in some cases rediscover their love of comic books,” he added.
DC Comics also announced plans for a special tribute to the actor.
West family urged fans to become heroes themselves by making a donation to the Adam West Memorial Fund for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or by giving to the Idaho-based children’s cancer charity Camp Rainbow Gold.
Source: CBS