For two years, from 1966 to 1968, prime time TV was graced by the presence of the hero Batman. Two nights a week, on ABC, Batman and his sidekick Robin would face off against villains like the Joker or the Penguin. The series enjoyed a quick rise to popularity, but creative differences and concept stagnation led to the untimely cancelation of the show. However for some of the cast members the show left a lasting and sometimes inescapable mark on their career.

Adam West was the actor who played Batman during the series. After the series ended West found it hard to escape the shadow of his Batman character. He became the voice of Batman again in the late 1970's for an animated show called The New Adventures of Batman. Then again for the animated show Super Friends. In 2003 he starred in a Batman reunion/ parody titled Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt. He has made many non-Batman related appearances on numerous movies and television shows as well. He is now the voice of Mayor Adam West on the popular animated TV series Family Guy.

Batman's sidekick, Robin, was played by the actor Burt Ward. Like West, Ward found it difficult to escape the reputation that the Batman TV series gave him. Although there was reportedly tension between the two actors during the making of the TV series, they have remained friends and worked together many times since the show's end. Ward lent his voice to the Robin character, along with West as Batman, in The New Adventures of Batman animated series. The two also worked together on the 2003 Batman reunion/ parody film mentioned above. Acting work not associated with the Robin character has been extremely hard for Burt Ward to come by.

Other notable stars of the original TV series include Neil Hamilton who played commissioner Gordon. His other work includes many movie roles through the 30's and 40's. Alan Napier played the role of Alfred the butler in the show, in addition he had roles in many movies during the 40's. Yvonne Craig gained notoriety as the actress who played Batgirl during the TV series.