One of the top reasons I became a cartoonist was the influence that Adam West's Batman had on me when the show appeared on television in 1966. The first episode was a big event in our neighborhood, and reception we gave it was loud and energetic. I got to meet Adam West some years back, and when I told him I knew I would become an artist when I saw him as Batman, he smiled, leaned back in his chair with a smile, and said, "That's very refreshing to hear. Over the years, I've had a lot of people tell me they became a private detective or a policeman because of me, but this is the first time anyone has told me they became a cartoonist because of me." We chatted for about ten minutes. I'm glad I had the chance to tell him that, RIP, Adam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OArNisTaVlY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OArNisTaVlY