1960s Batman and Family Guy mayor Adam West has died

Adam West, the star of the classic 1960s Batman TV show, has died aged 88.

According to a spokesperson for West's family, the actor passed away in Los Angeles after battling leukaemia.

While Bat-fans will argue forever about which actor was the greatest Caped Crusader, West will always be Batman to a certain generation.

Newer interpretations of the Dark Knight have cast him as a grim, troubled avenger but the TV series defined the character for decades and perfectly struck a balance between genuinely exciting adventures for children, and sly parody for older audiences.

A massive part of that was West’s performance, delivering ludicrous lines with completely straight-faced, which only made them even funnier. Running for three years and a movie, the show remained in circulation for decades and enjoyed by many subsequent generations.

While he will always be best remembered as Batman, in later years he embraced his cult status. He made a brilliant cameo in one of the greatest Simpsons episodes ever, Mr Plow, and also voiced The Grey Ghost, a movie hero idolised by the young Bruce Wayne in the 90s Batman animated series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJdXMrFRDGk

His most notable role in recent times, however, was playing the mayor of Quahog in Family Guy. In a show that was already known for its random cutaways, he used his trademark deadpan delivery to drop non-sequiturs better than anyone else in the voice cast.

Rest in peace, and have a safe journey to the big Batcave in the sky.