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BATMAN, from left, Adam West, Burt Ward, 1966-68

Winter

The many faces of Batman

From 1940s movie serials to the “Batman v. Superman” movie coming in 2016, Batman has been portrayed many different ways on the screen. Take a walk through our Bat-archive.

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BATMAN, Lewis Wilson (as Batman), movie serial, 1943.

Lewis Wilson

When Batman was introduced in Detective Comics in 1939, he captured the public imagination right off the bat. Have a look at the actors who have played him.

Lewis Wilson may not be the most famous actor to don the cape and cowl, but he was the first, in the 1943 Columbia movie serial "Batman." The New York City actor was also the first husband of novelist and actress Dana Broccoli, who went on to marry James Bond film producer Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli -- and was reportedly key in the decision to cast Sean Connery as 007.

NEW ADVENTURES OF BATMAN AND ROBIN, Robert Lowery, (as Batman), etc, 1949.

Robert Lowery

Second in the batting order was Missouri-born Robert Lowert, who played the Caped Crusader in Columbia's 1949 "Batman and Robin" serial, pitting the Dynamic Duo against the mysterious Wizard. Batman was far from Lowery's only action part -- his other films included "The Mark of Zorro" and "The Mummy's Ghost." He went on to television roles in such series as "Wagon Train" and "Playhouse 90."

Adam West Is Batman

Adam West

The previously little-known actor became a pop-culture sensation with his deadpan interpretation of Batman in the campy 1966-68 series of the same name, as well as a quickie theatrical feature. Big-name stars virtually lined up for guest roles on the show, but Bat-mania faded fast, and West struggled with being typecast in subsequent years. He did get a number of TV guest roles sending up his own image, however, and co-wrote a 1995 autobiography, "Back to the Batcave."

Hulton Archive / Hulton Archive
Batman (1989) Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton

Many Bat-fans were skeptical when Keaton, previously best known as a comic actor and not particularly imposing physically, teamed up with director Tim Burton for the stylish 1989 feature film "Batman." But Keaton won them over with his brooding interpretation of the Dark Knight. The film was the highest-grossing of the year, and Keaton and Burton reteamed for "Batman Returns" in 1992.

BATMAN FOREVER, Val Kilmer, 1995

Val Kilmer

Michael Keaton was ready to re-don the cowl for a third feature, but when director Tim Burton was replaced, Keaton fled the project like a bat out of hell. That cleared the way for Val Kilmer, previously best known for comedies and playing Jim Morrison in "The Doors," to star in 1995 feature "Batman Forever," along with Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones and Chris O'Donnell as Robin. Lighter in tone than the two Burton films, "Batman Forever" was a hit.

BATMAN AND ROBIN, George Clooney, 1997.

George Clooney

Because he felt that Batman played second banana to the villains in "Batman Forever," Val Kilmer declined to return for the next feature in the franchise. Instead, George Clooney, then riding high as star of TV's "ER," was chosen to star in 1997's "Batman & Robin" along with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze. Intended to be even kid-friendlier than "Batman Forever," the film was a disaster with critics; Clooney himself reportedly offered to refund the ticket price to any fan who paid to see it.

Christian Bale

The failure of "Batman & Robin" in 1997 prompted a return to the character's roots as a menacing figure of retribution when the film franchise restarted in 2005 with "Batman Begins." Welsh-born Christian Bale, who'd lost much of his body weight for the 2004 film "The Machinist," had to bulk up quickly for the role. But he supplied both the physical and emotional heft it required, winning the approval of critics and fans alike -- so much so that Bale returned for two sequels: 2008's "The Dark Knight" and 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises."

Warner Bros. / Courtesy of Warner Bros.
JUSTICE LEAGUE

Animated Batman

Animated versions of Batman have been a television staple since the 1960's. Among the actors who have supplied the voice of the cartoon Caped Crusader over the years are Olan Soule, Kevin Conroy, Rino Romano and TV's original live-action Batman, Adam West.

Ben Affleck

Director Zack Snyder released the first official photo of Ben Affleck in costume as Batman in May 2013 as the actor stood alongside his new Batmobile in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." The black-and-white shot shows the new Batsuit, which appears more sculpted and comic-book-like than the armor-plated version worn by Christian Bale.

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