List of Batman (TV series) characters

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The following is an overview of the characters who appeared in the 1966–1968 live-action Batman television series.

Main characters[]

  • Burt Ward as Robin (left) and Adam West as Batman (right)

  • Yvonne Craig as Batgirl

Character Actor Description Episodes
Bruce Wayne/Batman Adam West Based on the comic book character of the same name. In the first episode, it is twice briefly mentioned that his parents were killed by criminals when he was a boy; this is mentioned once more in the episode "The Joker's Epitaph". He is presented as a well established superhero and legally deputized member of law enforcement. All
Dick Grayson/Robin Burt Ward Based on the comic book character of the same name, no actual origin is provided for the character in the series. He is presented as well established as Bruce Wayne's ward and Batman's sidekick. All
Barbara Gordon/Batgirl Yvonne Craig Commissioner Gordon's daughter who works at the Gotham Library. Created in conjunction with the character introduced in the comic books the same year.[1][2][3] Unlike the comic books, no actual origin is provided within the series. 95-120

Supporting characters[]

Recurring[]

Character Actor Description Episodes
Alfred Pennyworth Alan Napier Bruce Wayne's faithful butler who is based on the comic book character of the same name. If Bruce was in occasional danger, Alfred would secretly don the Batman costume. This emergency situation occurred in some episodes. 1-11, 13–15, 17–23, 25–28, 30–71, 73–76, 78, 79, 81-92 & 94-120
Commissioner James Gordon Neil Hamilton The commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department who is based on the comic book character of the same name. All
Chief Miles Clancy O'Hara Stafford Repp The chief of police at the Gotham City Police Department who is always seen with Commissioner Gordon. Created specifically for the series, the character would later be mentioned and adapted to DC Comics publications. A female version of the character was created for The Lego Batman Movie. 1-19, 21-43 & 45-120
Aunt Harriet Cooper Madge Blake Based on the comic book character of the same name, she is the aunt of Dick Grayson. While the character began as a regular supporting character, her appearances became less frequent during the second season and almost nonexistent in the third, being reduced to just two cameo appearances. This was due to Madge Blake's declining health.[4] 1-15, 17–30, 32–40, 43–48, 50, 51, 53, 54, 56–59, 61–71, 73, 74, 76, 78, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89 & 91-94 (Main)
96 & 107 (Recurring)

Guest[]

Character Actor Description
Mayor Linseed Byron Keith The Mayor of Gotham City. Linseed was a pun on the name of then-New York City mayor, John Lindsay; the unseen character, Governor Stonefellow, was a similar play on New York's then-governor, Nelson Rockefeller. Likewise "Hexagon" was mentioned as the military headquarters of the United States, a play on Pentagon.
Warden Crichton David Lewis The Warden of Gotham City Penitentiary.
Britt Reid a.k.a. The Green Hornet Van Williams Based on the radio character of the same name, he appeared in a "crossover" from the production company's second comic book-themed series The Green Hornet
Kato Bruce Lee Based on the radio character of the same name, he appeared as the Green Hornet's sidekick.

Antagonist characters[]

Recurring[]

  • Burgess Meredith as The Penguin (left), Frank Gorshin as The Riddler (center), and Cesar Romero as The Joker (top)

  • Julie Newmar as The Catwoman from the show, in 1966

Character Actor Description Episode Appearances
The Catwoman
  • Julie Newmar
  •  (season 1 & 2)
  • Lee Meriwether
  •  (film)
  • Eartha Kitt
  •  (season 3)
 Based on the comic book character of the same name, no origin for the character is provided within the series.

Meriwether was cast for the film role when producers learned that Newmar would not be available for filming after the production of the first season wrapped because of a back injury.[5]

19, 20, 37, 38, 44 (cameo), 63, 64, 67, 68, 74, 75, 83, 84, 108, 110, 111 & 119 (cameo)
Egghead Vincent Price Egghead was created specifically for the series and is presented as a master criminal with a fixation on eggs.

Egghead made his first in Batman: Shadow of the Bat.

Egghead, among others created for the series, was adapted for a 2009 episode of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

47, 48, 102, 103, 109 & 119 (cameo)
The Joker Cesar Romero Based on the comic book character of the same name, no origin for the character is provided within the series.

Since Cesar Romero refused to shave his trademark mustache, his white pancake makeup was applied over it. However, it was still visible in many screen close-ups.[6]

5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26, 55, 56, 71–73, 81, 82, 91, 92, 104, 110, 111, 118 & 119 (cameo)
Professor William McElroy a.k.a King Tut Victor Buono King Tut was created specifically for the series and was provided with an origin story.

Within the episodes, Professor William McElroy is an Egyptologist at Yale University. He suffers a blow to the head during a student riot that results in amnesia. His subconscious creates a new personality as the reincarnation of King Tut. Each time he is struck on the head, his personalities reverse.

According to Batman Forever and Batman & Robin director Joel Schumacher, King Tut was one of the lead choices considered by Mark Protosevich to be the main antagonist of his cancelled fifth Batman film Batman Unchained, along with Egghead, the Mad Hatter and the Scarecrow.[7]

King Tut, among others created for the series, was adapted for the 2009 episode "Day of the Dark Knight!" of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold voiced by John DiMaggio. Due to FOX holding the rights to the King Tut name, the character was renamed "the Pharaoh".[citation needed]

Later that year, the character was adapted to the comics where he had the alias of Victor Goodman.

In the 2016 film Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, King Tut is released from prison thanks to Robin and Catwoman along other villains, and he along his friends later help them to defeat Batman (under the control of Catwoman's kiss) and his Batmen. The character also had a minor role in the 2017 film The Lego Batman Movie as one of the many villains who helped the Joker during his heists.

27, 28, 41, 42, 87, 88, 100, 117 & 119 (cameo)
Jervis Tetch a.k.a The Mad Hatter David Wayne Based on the comic book character of the same name, no origin for the character is provided within the series.

This version was based on the Impostor Mad Hatter.[citation needed]

In Batman '66, it is revealed that the Clock King is the Mad Hatter's brother Morris Tetch.[8]

12, 13, 69 & 70
Dr. Art Schivel a.k.a Mr. Freeze
  • George Sanders
  • Otto Preminger
  • Eli Wallach
 Based on the comic book character originally known as Mr. Zero but later changed to match the new name from the show,[citation needed] an abbreviated origin for the character is provided within the series. What is related is that Batman had accidentally spilled cryonic chemical on him during a previous arrest. This renders him incapable of living in temperatures above −50 °F.[9] 7, 8, 53, 54, 93 & 94
The Penguin Burgess Meredith Based on the comic book character of the same name, no origin for the character is provided within the series. The Penguin quickly became a very popular archvillain, so much so that the show's producers always had a script ready for Burgess Meredith whenever he was available. 3, 4, 21, 22, 33, 34, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 73, 76–78, 95, 98, 99, 114 & 119 (cameo)
The Riddler
  • Frank Gorshin (season 1 & 3)
  • John Astin (season 2)
 Based on the comic book character of the same name, no origin for the character is provided within the series.

Leading into the production of the second season, Gorshin held out for higher wages. This resulted in the writers putting off Riddler-themed episodes until the issue was resolved. Late in the production, they reworked one script to use the Puzzler[10] and finally produced a Riddler story for which John Astin was cast. The issue was resolved before the third season, with Gorshin returning to the role one last time.[citation needed]

1, 2, 11, 12, 23, 24, 31, 32, 96 & 119 (cameo)
Shame Cliff Robertson Shame was created specifically for the series. The cowboy motif was patterned as a parody of the film Shane.[11] His partners in crime included henchman Messy James (Timothy Scott), whose name was a parody of Jesse James; girlfriend, Okie Annie (Joan Staley), whose name was a parody of Annie Oakley; girlfriend Calamity Jan (Dina Merrill), whose name was a parody of Calamity Jane; and her mother, Frontier Fanny (Hermione Baddeley).

Shame, among other characters created for the series, was adapted for the 2009 episode "Day of the Dark Knight!" of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

59, 60, 115 & 116

Guest[]

Character Actor Description Episode Appearances
The Archer Art Carney By company records, the Archer was created specifically for the series by writer Stanley Ralph Ross and not related to the previous comic book character of the same name.[12]

The character is presented as a skewed version of Robin Hood, with his henchmen reflecting the Robin Hood motif.

The Archer, among other characters created for the series, was adapted for a 2009 episode of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

35 & 36
The Black Widow Tallulah Bankhead An original character created for the series, Black Widow is a bank robber who uses a spider motif. No actual origin is provided in the series.

The Black Widow, among other characters created for the series, was adapted for a 2009 episode of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

89 & 90
The Bookworm Roddy McDowall An original character created for the series, Bookworm bases his crimes on books and literary tropes.

The Bookworm, among other characters created for the series, was adapted for a 2009 episode of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

Bookworm appeared in Batman vs. Two-Face voiced by Jeff Bergman.

McDowall would later narrate the audiobook edition of the 1989 film and provide the voice of the Mad Hatter on Batman: The Animated Series.

29 & 30
Chandell and Harry Liberace An original character created for the series, Chandell is a pianist who is blackmailed into a life of crime as the criminal Fingers by his twin brother Harry upon Chandell using a player piano in his White House performance after he hurt his hands.

Chandell, among other characters created for the series, was adapted for a 2009 episode of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

49 & 50
Nora Clavicle Barbara Rush Nora Clavicle was created specifically for the series. She is presented as a women's rights activist who attempts to destroy Gotham City in order to collect on an insurance policy she had taken out on it. She manipulates Mayor Linseed's wife in order to have the mayor replace Commissioner Gordon with her and all the male police officers with women. 113
The Clock King a.k.a. Morris Tetch Walter Slezak Based on the comic book character of the same name, no origin for the character is provided within the series.

In Batman '66, he is revealed to be the Mad Hatter's brother Morris Tetch.[8]

45 & 46
False Face Malachi Throne Based on the Silver Age version of the comic book character of the same name, no origin for the character is provided within the series.

In Batman '66, False Face's true identity is Basil Karlo, where the issue that revealed this identity had him becoming that comic series' version of Clayface.

This version of False Face was adapted for a 2009 episode of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold voiced by Corey Burton.[citation needed]

17 & 18
Lord Marmaduke Ffogg Rudy Vallee Ffogg was created specifically for the series. He is presented as an upper-class member of Londinium society who runs a school for thieves and uses homemade fog to cover up his crimes. Often assisting him in his criminal doings was his sister Lady Penelope Peasoup (Glynis Johns). 105-107
Colonel Gumm a.k.a. Perry Rose Roger C. Carmel Gumm was created specifically for the series. He is presented as a stamp factory foreman who is using the company to produce forged stamps in the episodes featuring the Green Hornet and Kato. 85 & 86
Lola Lasagne a.k.a. Lulu Schultz Ethel Merman Lola Lasagne was created specifically for the series. She is presented as a childhood friend of the Penguin's who owns a racehorse, the only thing her husband Luigi left her when he disappeared. The pair use the horse in a racing scam. 98 & 99
Louie the Lilac Milton Berle Louie was created specifically for the series and was presented as a gangster using a flower motif. He is a gangster who plotted to take over the minds of Gotham City and then take over the perfume and flower markets.

Louie the Lilac, among other characters created for the series, was adapted for a 2009 episode of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

101 & 112
Ma Parker Shelley Winters Ma Parker was created specifically for the series. She is presented as an elderly woman and master criminal who runs a gang consisting of her and her children. She allows herself to be captured so that she can take over Gotham State Penitentiary and form a gang from its inmates.

Ma Parker, among other characters created for the series, was adapted for a 2009 episode of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold’'.

Play on the infamous criminal Ma Barker, whom Winters herself later played in the film Bloody Mama.

43 & 44
Marsha, Queen of Diamonds Carolyn Jones Marsha was created specifically for the series. When originally introduced, she plots to gain access to the diamond that powers the Batcomputer. She later collaborated with the Penguin in a movie plot. 57, 58 & 76-78
Minerva Zsa Zsa Gabor Minerva was created specifically for the series. She is introduced as a spa owner catering to Gotham City's wealthy. Minerva uses a modified hair dryer to scan her client's minds to find out where they hide their fortunes. 120
The Minstrel Van Johnson The Minstrel was created specifically for the series and was presented as a genius in the field of electrical engineering and styled himself as a medieval troubadour. 39 & 40
Pussycat Lesley Gore A henchwoman of the Catwoman's, she is a rock singer with a crush on Robin. The Catwoman manipulates Pussycat into turning Robin against Batman. 74 & 75
The Puzzler Maurice Evans Based on the comic book character of the same name, no origin for the character is provided within the series. He attempts to steal the "Retsoor", a supersonic plane owned by Artemis Knab.

The season two episodes where the Puzzler appeared were originally written for the Riddler and were going to be called "A Penny For Your Riddles" and "They're Worth A Lot More". Due to Frank Gorshin holding out over salary issues and no longer wanting to play the Riddler, the scripts were re-written and Evans cast in the role.[10]

65 & 66
The Sandman a.k.a. Dr. Somnambula Michael Rennie This version of the Sandman was created specifically for the series and is unrelated to the Golden Age comic book character of the same name. Presented as an international criminal who uses hypnotic sand to control sleepwalkers, he partners with the Catwoman and uses the alias Doctor Somnambula in an attempt to steal J. Pauline Spaghetti's fortune. 67 & 68
The Siren a.k.a. Lorelei Circe Joan Collins The Siren was created specifically for the series. She is presented as Lorelei Circe, a chanteuse who is able to sing notes so high that they place men under her control.

The Siren, among other characters created for the series, was adapted for a 2009 episode of the animated television series Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

The Siren appeared in issue #2 of Batman '66 where she collaborated with Chandell.[13]

96 & 97
Dr. Cassandra Spellcraft Ida Lupino Dr. Cassandra Spellcraft was created specifically for the series. She is presented as a world-famous alchemist, occultist, and criminal. 119
Zelda the Great Anne Baxter Zelda was created specifically for the series. She is shown to be a world-famous magician and escape artist who once a year pulls off a major robbery to pay Eivol Ekdol for the equipment she uses in her act. 9 & 10

"Batclimb" cameos[]

Aside from the super-criminals, another coveted spot was the Batclimb Cameo. In 14 episodes of the first two seasons and the 1966 film, a window would be opened by a celebrity for a short conversation as the Dynamic Duo scaled a building using Batarangs and Bat-ropes. The scenes were actually filmed on a horizontal surface with the camera rotated by 90 degrees to give the illusion that the Duo were on a vertical wall. Their capes were held up by strings (usually off-camera, but on occasion visible). The Batclimb cameo scenes were discontinued for the third season.[10]

  • Jerry Lewis – Appeared in "The Bookworm Turns" (April 20, 1966).
  • George Cisar – Drunkard (in the theatrical feature released July 30, 1966).
  • Dick Clark – Appeared in "Shoot a Crooked Arrow" (September 7, 1966).
  • Van Williams and Bruce Lee as Green Hornet and Kato – Appeared in "The Spell of Tut" (September 28, 1966).
  • Sammy Davis Jr. – Appeared in "The Clock King's Crazy Crimes" (October 12, 1966).
  • Bill Dana as José Jiménez from The Bill Dana Show – Appeared in "The Yegg Foes in Gotham" (October 20, 1966).
  • Howard Duff as Sam Stone from Felony Squad – Appeared in "The Impractical Joker" (November 16, 1966).
  • Werner Klemperer as Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes – Appeared in "It's How You Play the Game" (December 1, 1966).
  • Ted Cassidy as Lurch from The Addams Family – Appeared in "The Penguin's Nest" (December 7, 1966).
  • Don Ho – Appeared in "The Bat's Kow Tow" (December 15, 1966).
  • Andy Devine as Santa Claus – Appeared in "The Duo is Slumming" (December 22, 1966).
  • Art Linkletter – Appeared in "Catwoman Goes to College" (February 22, 1967).
  • Edward G. Robinson – Appeared in "Batman's Satisfaction" (March 2, 1967).
  • Suzy Knickerbocker (pen name of Aileen Mehle) – Appeared in "King Tut's Coup" (March 8, 1967).
  • Cyril Lord as the Carpet King – Appeared in "Ice Spy" (March 29, 1967).

References[]

  1. ^ Daniels, Les (2004). Batman: The Complete History. Chronicle Books. p. 113. ISBN 0-8118-4232-0.
  2. ^ "Batgirl and the Batman Phenomenon". 1967. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  3. ^ Fitzgerald, Michael (2007). "Carmine infantino: decades at dc and beyond". Archived from the original on November 24, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  4. ^ "Batman". TV.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
  5. ^ Smith, Ronald L. (2004). "Julie Newmar: The Very Last How to Book::Biography". Archived from the original on 2007-05-28. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
  6. ^ "Cesar Romero - The Joker :: Villains :: Bat-Mania - The 1966 Batman Tribute Website". bat-mania.co.uk.
  7. ^ https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2016/08/remember-when-courtney-love-nearly-played-harley-quinn-in-the-sequel-to-batman-robin/
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Batman '66 #4
  9. ^ "Batman (1966): Instant Freeze". TV.com. Retrieved 2008-05-10.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c Eisner, Joel (1986). The Official Batman Batbook, revised edition: 2008. Bankside, London, England, United Kingdom (revised:Bloomington, Indiana): Titan Books (revised:AuthorHouse). ISBN 978-1434340856.
  11. ^ Bill van Heerden (1998). Film and Television In-Jokes: Nearly 2,000 Intentional References, Parodies, Allusions, Personal Touches, Cameos, Spoofs and Homages. McFarland. p. 162. ISBN 9781476612065. Cliff Robertson appears as the villain Shame (a takeoff on Alan Ladd's western hero, Shane, 1953)
  12. ^ (February 1994). "Batman". Cinefantastique. (a special double-issue). . 24–25 (6–1): 45.
  13. ^ Batman '66 #2

External links[]

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