Holy cow, folks! Let me tell you about the legendary Burt Ward, the man who played Robin in the iconic 1960s TV series Batman. In an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, Burt shares incredible stories about his life on and off the screen. Back when the show premiered on January 12, 1966, it was an absolute phenomenon. "That night, we had a 55 share," Burt recalls. "That means 55 percent of all televisions in North America were tuned into Batman. Can you believe it? We were everywhere!"
Fast forward to today, and Burt, now 76 years old, has traded crime-fighting in Gotham City for a different kind of heroism. Alongside his wife, Tracy Posner, he runs Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehoming large-breed dogs. "People often ask me how I went from being Robin to saving animals," Burt says with a smile. "If you think about it, both roles are about saving lives. I may not be swinging from rooftops anymore, but I'm still a crusader—just for dogs and cats now!"
From Ice Skating Wunderkind to Hollywood Star
Burt's journey to becoming Robin didn't start in Gotham; it began on the ice. His father owned the largest traveling ice show in the U.S., called Rhapsody on Ice, which later inspired the famous Ice Capades. "My dad believed in hard work," Burt explains. "He had me performing in the show from the age of two! I was even featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not as the world’s youngest professional ice skater. Crazy, right?"
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Despite his early success on the ice, Burt's childhood memories are hazy. "I don't remember much from those days," he admits. "But I do recall the bright lights and the feel of my tiny skates under my feet. They were maybe six or seven inches long—imagine that!"
Dreaming of Superhero Stardom
Even as a little boy, Burt knew he wanted to be a superhero. "I used to daydream about becoming Super Boy," he says. "I have pictures of myself at age three, riding a tricycle with a cape held on by clothespins. I truly believed that thoughts could become reality, and I guess they did!"
Burt's big break came while he was studying acting at UCLA and helping his father sell real estate. "A producer walked into our office, and I asked him if he'd watch me perform a scene," Burt recounts. "He liked what he saw, got me an agent, and my first audition was for Batman. Talk about beginner's luck!"
The Dynamic Duo: Burt and Adam West
When Burt met Adam West, who played Batman, it was love at first sight—or at least laughter. "Adam and I hit it off immediately," Burt says. "We were laughing so hard during our first meeting that they had to tell us to quiet down. He was the funniest guy I've ever met." Their friendship extended beyond the set. "On weekends, we'd play tennis together," Burt recalls. "People would stare and say, 'It's Batman and Robin playing tennis!' Of course, I was faster than Adam, but he'd always try to make the games more even by claiming things like, 'No, my shot!' or 'We can't count that one.' Classic Adam."
Stunt Work and Hazards on the Set
Playing Robin wasn't all fun and games. Burt performed many of his own stunts, often putting himself in dangerous situations. "One time, I was tied to a table while Batman was supposed to blow a hole through the wall," he says. "The studio forgot to build a breakaway wall, so they used real dynamite. The soundstage blew apart, and I couldn't hear anything for a week after that!"
Burt's injuries became so frequent that the studio took out a $3 million life insurance policy on him. "My doctor kept telling me I should consider a different career," Burt jokes. "But by the end, I think the studio was hoping to collect!"
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Missing Out on The Graduate
Despite his fame, Burt faced missed opportunities. "There was a young producer at Fox who wanted me to star in his movie," he says. "The studio approved it, but ABC stepped in and said they didn't want me doing anything but Batman. That movie turned out to be The Graduate, which made Dustin Hoffman a star. Every now and then, I'd run into that producer, and he'd always say, 'Burt, I always wanted you.'"
Avoiding Typecasting
After Batman ended, Burt didn't let typecasting get him down. "It never bothered me," he insists. "I still got plenty of chances to try new things. I've done 40 movies for television, played the pope, and even portrayed a demonic character. Life is all about having a positive outlook. My glass is always half full!"
Gentle Giants and Giving Back
Burt and Tracy's passion for animals led them to found Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions. "We've had over 15,500 dogs live in our home over the past 27 years," Burt says proudly. "Every single one would have been euthanized, but we gave them a second chance. We're the largest giant-dog rescue charity in the world!"
In addition to their rescue work, Burt and Tracy launched Gentle Giants pet food, available in major retailers like Walmart and Target. "All the profits go back to the charity," Burt explains. "We want to make high-quality pet food affordable for everyone. It's all about giving back."
Living by Three Essentials to Happiness
When asked about his philosophy on life, Burt shares his wisdom. "There are three essentials to happiness," he says. "To love someone, to have something to do, and to have something to look forward to. If you have those three things, you've got happiness."
— Reporting by Lindsay Hoffman
For more on this story, pick up the latest issue of Closer magazine, on newsstands now.
