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'You will always be Batman': Adam West dies at 88

In this Jan. 27, 1989, file photo, actors Adam West (left) and Burt Ward dress as their characters Batman and Robin, respectively, during an appearance at the "World of Wheels" custom car show in Chicago. West died on Friday night at age 88.
In this Jan. 27, 1989, file photo, actors Adam West (left) and Burt Ward dress as their characters Batman and Robin, respectively, during an appearance at the "World of Wheels" custom car show in Chicago. West died on Friday night at age 88.Read moreAP Photo/Mark Elias, File

Adam West, who stared as Bruce Wayne in the campy 1960s series Batman, died Friday night in Los Angeles. He was 88.

"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," his family said in a statement.

West played Batman straight for kids and funny for adults. He initially chaffed at being typecast after the show was canceled after just three seasons, but in later years he admitted he was pleased to have had a role in kicking off a big-budget film franchise by showing the character's wide appeal.

"You get terribly typecast playing a character like that," he told The Associated Press in a 2014 interview.

"But in the overall, I'm delighted because my character became iconic and has opened a lot of doors in other ways, too."

West was a source of inspiration for not only fans, but other actors who took on the role of the Caped Crusader.

Ben Affleck, the most recent actor to don the cape and cowl in Batman vs. Superman and the upcoming Justice League:

Val Kilmer, who played the Dark Knight in 1995's Batman Forever

Will Arnet, who voiced Batman in the blockbuster hit The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie:

Kevin Conroy, who provided the crimefighter's iconic voice in Batman: The Animated Series and several other Warner Bros. cartoons:

West's film television career spanned six decades, and the actor appeared in over 50 films and shows. Recently, he lent his voice to Family Guy as Mayor Adam West, and has been a guest star on The Big Bang Theory, The Simpsons and a host of other shows.

"Family Guy has lost its mayor, and I have lost a friend," MacFarlane said in a statement on Twitter, calling the late actor "irreplaceable"

In an episode of Batman: The Animated Series, West provided the voice for Simon Trent, an actor who portrayed a superhero called The Gray Ghost that a young Bruce Wayne idolized. When the older Wayne as Batman seeks his help to solve a crime, he finds Trent unemployed and short of money, unable to land new roles due to being typecast, something West experienced first hand.

"There was a time when Batman really kept me from getting some pretty good roles," West said in an interview with Variety.

West is survived by his wife Marcelle, six children, five grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

"He was bright, witty and fun to work with," Julie Newmar, who played Catwoman on Batman alongside West, said in a statement. "I will miss him in the physical world and savor him always in the world of imagination and creativity."

Here are more reactions from celebrities, actors and reporters West has touched over the years.

Mark Hamill: 

Edgar Wright, director of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz:

Dave Itzkoff, New York Times television writer: 

Robin Lord Taylor, who plays Penguin on FOX's Gotham: 

Tara Strong, voice of Batgirl on Batman: The Animated Series:

The Associated Press contributed to this report.