Robin
- Burt Ward
Burton Gervis AKA Burt Ward Screen Test
Burt Ward's first appearance as Robin. This was shot in a temporary Batcave set as the set was not completed. Notice Adam's insignia on his chest is similar to the Batman of the 1940's !
(311KB)
Robin,
The Boy Wonder. After watching the show, you wondered what he would
get into next. He was Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne's youthful ward.
Taken in by the millionaire when his parents were killed , He was
following in Batman's footsteps as a crime fighter. He spent much of
his time tied up, or in some other jam that Batman had to get him out
of. He was famous for his Holy this or that used to describe things.
Enter into the
formula a unknown 19 year old young man who most recently sold real
estate on the weekends while studying
acting at UCLA. This opened the door to his role as Robin, he sold a
home to a a producer at 20th Century Fox. Burt finally got a break,
as he auditioned for the role as Robin. The first time he went to the
studio he had no idea what he was auditioning for.
"To
be perfectly honest, I didn't even know what I was trying out
for," he recalls. "The producers didn't tell me. I remember
that I went in for my screen test and two guys pulled off my pants
and pulled on these leotards. I was afraid I was auditioning for a
porno flick."
When asked if
given a role would he outgrow it, "
Oh, No !! I promise you, I wont grow"
he replied. however he still did not know what the project was going
to be as the studio was keeping the details secret. He was called
back again to test with Adam 
West
in costume . They finally had to tell Burt that Robin was a comic
book character because he had never read a Batman comic before and
had no idea who Robin was. There was some miscommunications with the
studio and poor Burt kept coming
back to the studio for test fitting but no one had told him he had
been awarded the part ! He finally did find out and he became the
second part of the Dynamic Duo.
Burt was not
new to show business, at the age of 2 he was shown in the magazine
" Strange As It Seems" as the worlds youngest professional
ice skater ! Both of his parents were in show business and he
traveled in his fathers ice show. Burt studied acting at UCLA ( Rob
Reiner was also there at that time) He also was a black belt in
karate which in his screen test he showed the producers.
He was to later in the series go face to face with Bruce Lee as Kato. In real life and not Gotham City, Bruce lived several floors below him at the Barrington Plaza apartments in West Los Angeles. Bruce and Bert were friends and they sparred together. That fighting was much rougher than the little scene on Batman where both of them were instructed NOT to hit each other. Bruce and Bert and their wives went to dinner often down in Chinatown together.
He
was at a distinct disadvantage to Adam West in the respect of the
stunts and special effects. Due to his costume , the mask he wore
covered much less than Adam's cowl, He was required to sit through
more of the dangerous scenes. In this photo
Burt
received
third degree burns to his arm. Burt on his mishap
" I was new. This was my first job. One of the scenes was in the same show, where The Riddler shoots me with a dart in the arm and I fall down and he presses a button in the Batmobile and all these fireworks go off. They said it was a one take thing and nobody could move. Well here I didn't move and the ashes burned through my cape and I had third degree burns and scars on my arm because I didn't want to make any noise and ruin the shot."
Burt
was injured more than a few times, the art of special effects had
not been refined as much as today. Wow was he under paid ! for the
first season he received only $350.00 per week.
Like Adam West, Burt thought that the starring role he played would open the door for new and exciting screen work but also like Adam, people could not shake the notion that he was Robin the Boy Wonder. Burt's thoughts on the series in 1996,
"Playing
Robin was everything I could want. It was me being allowed to be
myself. I was exactly what the producers imagined Robin would be like."
After the series ended, Burt has occasionally appeared in lower-budget, direct to video films like Kill crazy, Robot Ninja and Virgin High, but he admits that Robin, to a large extent killed his acting career.
Short Burt Ward Interview in 1989
Burt Ward and Adam West in costume in 1989. Shortly after, The studio felt their appearance of the Dynamic Duo detracted from the new Michael Keaton version and both were told- no more public appearances in costume !
"I tried to get other work after 'Batman,' but I was hopelessly stereotyped. Maybe I was overly optimistic, but I was never really bothered by it. I've had a great time as Robin, but my life never depended on acting again. I knew I would find something else to do."
Burt has made many personal appearances with and without Adam West. And still does now. Burt is married and lives on a ranch in California He married Tracy Posner the daughter of a multi millionaire in 1990 and is doing fine! He has published a book called "Boy Wonder my life in tights " Beware Batfans, this is a tell all Bat sex book not for children !! It is a great read if you are a mature Batfan !
Burt and his wife Tracy
Below are some photos I had, click to view a larger image !
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Four
against one... Four against two Batman !! Robin !! I couldn't resist
, you were taken in by her but, I'm too young for that sort of thing.
