Actors Who Played Batman

Adam West: Adam's campy portrayal of the caped crusader during the 1960's Batman TV series was a hit but has been typed cast ever since. He has found more success doing voice work for animated series like Super Friends, Batman: The Animated Series and, more recently, The Family Guy. Adam was first considered for the part of Batman after producers saw him playing a secret agent in a Nestle Quick commercial.

Michael Keaton: When Warner Bros. studios decided to make a Batman feature film, in the late 80's, they were looking for actors who they thought could play someone crazy enough to put a bat suit on and fight crime. On their short list were such actors as Bill Murray, Alec Baldwin and even Mel Gibson. The actor they finally settled on was comedian Michael Keaton. Michael had become a star in such films as Night Shift, Mr. Mom and Gung Ho. He had even worked with Batman director Tim Burton on the movie Beetlejuice.

Val Kilmer: After the success of Batman (1989) and it's sequel Batman Returns (1992) Michael Keaton left the series. The studio had to find a new Bruce Wayne / Batman, and they chose Val Kilmer of Top Gun fame. Kilmer's biggest role up to that date had been playing Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's film bio of the Doors. Batman Forever was a hit (more successful than Batman Returns) but Kilmer did not return for a second film because he and the director Joel Schumacher did not get along.

George Clooney: Val Kilmer's replacement for the fourth film, Batman And Robin, was George Clooney. After paying his dues for many years with such films as Combat Academy and Return Of The Killer Tomatoes, Clooney finally got his big break on the TV series ER. He has since gone on the be one of the biggest stars of his generation. Unfortunately Batman And Robin, made early in his rise to movie stardom, was not one of his brighter moments.

Christian Bale: After the failure of Batman & Robin (1997) the franchise sat dormant for eight years. A new director was chosen, Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia), and the search was on for a new Batman. Former child actor Christian Bale was eventually chosen for the new film Batman Begins (2005) and it's sequels The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). The trilogy made by Nolan and Bale have been hugely Successful.