Adam West; Being Batman
He was a working actor, maybe not working enough. He had several guest roles in series, even a supporting role in a series, and supporting roles in movies but nothing that broke him out of the herd of other handsome actors in his age range... until Batman. He was a smart and talented actor with the sense of humor and innate ability to 'get' what William Dozier and Lorenzo Semple Jr. were after in the pilot script. He nailed it. See the screen tests done by Adam and his competition for the role Lyle Waggoner. Lyle plays a man who believes what he is saying, Adam plays one who believes, but is in on the joke. It's a fine line and not easy to play, but one that is bright as day when you see. Adam got the part.
And therein lies the tale doesn't it?
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