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Yvonne Craig
Craig filled the role of Batgirl for years
on the T.V. show Batman, and like her

co-stars, had trouble shaking the role
when the popular program ended. Now
71, Craig has kept up with her character
by continuing to read Batman comics.
After Batman, and unlike Adam West
and Burt Ward—both of whom attempted
to make as many movies as possible, no
matter how bad—Craig slowed down. She
appeared primarily in guest appearance
roles on television, and secured a few
low-key roles in insignificant movies.
Craig would slowly leave acting behind;
her last role came in 1971, but she
remained connected to the entertainment
business by becoming a co-producer

in industrial shows for a time. After

that, however, she left film behind her
completely and became a successful real
estate agent. Craig still does occasional
autograph signings. In 2000, a biography
of Craig was released.

 

 

 

Alan Napier

Alan Napier, who played Bruce Wayne’s
loyal butler, Alfred, in the original
Batman show, came from famous

stock. He was the great-great grandson
of Charles Dickens and the cousin of *
Neville Chamberlain. When he took the
job as Alfred, Napier had never heard of
Batman before. When the series ended,
it would prove to be his career highlight.
He would continue with television work;
however, none of it proved particularly
noteworthy. After finishing up with
acting, Napier passed away at the age of
85 from a stroke in 1988. However, the
people working on Batman paid him a
final tribute. When the first feature length
Batman movie was released in 1989, the
primary villain was the Joker, played by
Jack Nicholson. In comics, the Joker’s
true identity is never revealed. But in the
film, he was named Jack Napier, in honor
of Alan Napier.

 

 

 

 

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Burt Ward

Another typecast former Bat-character,
Burt Ward, 63, played Robin in the 1960s
show. Just like West, he couldn’t escape
from his attention as Robin, and his
career suffered for it. Post-Batman, he
made around 30 television movies, none
of which ever took off. He would later
go on to write a detailed autobiography,
which showed how nuts he was. Aside
from blaming West for all his problems,
he went on to say how he could run on
walls and read full novels in just a few
seconds. Since 1994, Ward and his wife
have been very active in aiding dogs, as
they have established their own charitable
organization. He has also started up

his own company, Boy Wonder Visual
Effects, which has worked with 25 feature
films and ten independents. Like West,
the majority of Ward’s income today
comes from numerous appearances at
comic book conventions and autograph

signings.

 

Adam West

If you want to find the perfect example of typecasting, look no further than Adam West, who is now 80. Famous for playing the
role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in the old 1960s T.V. show, West tried, and failed, to get out from under the shadow of the bat. When
Batman concluded in 1968, West performed in a number of low-budget movies that weren’t exactly Oscar-worthy. While he
was at one point offered the role of James Bond in Diamonds are Forever, he turned it down. Being so heavily typecast
was crippling to West’s career, and he now lives off of his past success, usually making promotional appearances and
autograph signings. He has made several guest spots in shows such as The Simpsons, The King of Queens, Kim
Possible and a few others. His most famous guest work has come on Family Guy, where he plays the half-crazy
mayor Adam West.