Noted actors Adam West and Burt Ward, who created the roles of Batman and Robin in the 1960s Batman TV series, will appear at this year's Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) along with legendary actress Julie Newmar who famously appeared as Catwoman in the same series.
The three actors will be reunited at C2E2 where they will be Spotlight Entertainment Guests appearing together on a panel as well as signing in the Autographing Area for all three days of the show. C2E2, which is organized by the producers of New York Comic Con (NYCC), is a celebration of pop culture embracing timeless products and creations and attracting famous and successful artists, creators, writers, actors and musicians from every walk of life. Organizers recently announced that the multi-talented artist Kevin Smith will be making a special appearance at C2E2 this year where he will appear in an exclusive engagement at the show.
C2E2 is the largest pop culture event to take place annually in the Midwest and show officials are anticipating that this year's event will be the biggest since it was launched in 2010. C2E2 will be held April 26 - 28 in the West Building at McCormick Place Convention Center.
In addition to his role as Batman, Mr. West has made nearly 50 other movies and has had starring roles in several TV series including The Detectives, The Last Precinct, and The Clinic. Notably, he is currently recognized for his voice work playing the fictionalized character Mayor Adam West on the animated series Family Guy. Burt Ward has had numerous acting jobs and has appeared in several reunions with co-star Adam West through the years. Ward is also tirelessly devoted to rescuing dogs and both he and his wife operate the largest giant breed dog rescue in the world, Gentle Giants Rescue. Ms. Newmar is a Tony Award-winning stage actress widely known to a generation of TV viewers for her guest-starring appearances in many iconic TV programs in the 1960's and 70's including The Monkees, Columbo, Get Smart, Star Trek, F Troop and The Beverly Hillbillies, among many others. She is widely credited for creating the quintessential Catwoman in the Batman TV Series.
"Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar enjoy an immense following in the pop culture community and we are proud to be making this early announcement about their appearance at C2E2," notes Lance Fensterman, Group Vice President for ReedPOP and Show Manager for C2E2. "We will be revealing many more guests in the coming months all of whom will reflect the range and diversity of our audience and the depth of our programming. Our goal is to bring together top talent from many fields who have one thing in common - they are loved and respected by the pop culture community. Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar certainly meet this criteria and I am grateful to them for agreeing to be at our show for three full days."
Tickets for C2E2 are currently on sale at www.C2E2.com . Anyone interested in exhibiting at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo should contact Larry Settembrini, Larry@ReedPOP.com . Many more guests and activities will be announced in the months ahead and fans should keep their eyes on C2E2's website for additional comics and entertainment announcements.
ADAM WEST: Adam West is a true American icon. From his humble beginning on a wheat ranch in Walla Walla, Washington, Adam skyrocketed to fame in Hollywood, pursuing an extraordinary career in entertainment that has spanned half a century. His role as Batman in the classic television series and feature of the same name continues to be seen throughout the world more than 40 years after its debut. While Batman, and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, remains his signature role, Adam has a multitude of motion picture, theater, and TV credits to his name.
He has made nearly 50 movies, including starring or co-starring roles in Drop Dead Gorgeous, The New Age, The Young Philadelphians, An American Vampire Story, Soldier in the Rain, Robinson Crusoe on Mars, and Nevada Smith.
He has had starring roles in several TV series other than Batman, including The Detectives, The Last Precinct, and The Clinic. His theater credits include Volpone at the Mark Taper Forum at the Los Angeles Music Center.
Adam West has also lent his voice to animated characters in such well-known series as Family Guy, The Simpsons, Rugrats, Batman, Animaniacs, Jonny Bravo, Spydogs, The Super Adventure Team, and many others. His voice-over work in animated film includes the roles of "Ace, Hollywood Chicken Little" in Disney's Chicken Little, and "Uncle Art" in Disney's Meet the Robinsons. In 2000, he also contributed the voice of "Leonard Fox" to the animated short, Redux Riding Hood, which went on to win an Academy Award nomination.
Adam West is the author of two books, Back to the Batcave and Climbing the Walls. He lends his support to numerous charities and won $250,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, on behalf of an organization supporting underprivileged women and children in Idaho. Adam splits his time between homes in Palm Springs, California, and Ketchum, Idaho.
More than 50 years after starting his career in Hollywood, Adam West continues to work consistently in TV and film. His most recent work includes a guest starring role on the hit series 30 Rock and a viral video for Funny or Die. His undeniable talent and unique brand of humor have become truly iconic in entertainment and he continues to entertain fans around the world.
BURT WARD: At the age of 20, Ward auditioned for the part of Robin. After beating out over 1,100 other kids for the part, Ward was cast alongside Adam West in the title role, and the two would go on to become pop culture icons. First airing as a mid-season replacement, Batman took the ratings - and world - by storm with its vivid colors and larger than life villains, played by some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
The series went on to produce 120 episodes and a full length feature film. The multi-level appeal of the show made it a life-long favorite for fans young and old. The show still airs today in 50 countries worldwide. Burt Ward and Adam West quickly became household names and remain that way today.
Today, Burt and his wife operate the largest giant breed dog rescue in the world, Gentle Giants Rescue. Over the past 18 years, they have rescued over 14,000 dogs. Having dedicated his life to saving the lives of thousands of dogs, it really shows that Burt Ward has gone from the "Caped Crusader" to the "Canine Crusader".
JULIE NEWMAR: Born in Hollywood ... known for being the quintessential Catwoman. Julie Newmar dropped out of college to become a choreographer/ dance director for Universal Studios. Her early appearances are often seen on YouTube, including her role as the golden statue-come to-life in the film Serpent of the Nile. She was next cast as one of the brides in the classic MGM musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Like her mother, a former Ziegfeld girl, Julie made the New York stage her next horizon at age 19.
She soon became an overnight sensation as the one and only Stupefyin' Jones in Li'l Abner. Julie would recreate the same role on Broadway 42 years later, in the same costume. Subsequent to the original performance, her legs were insured for 10 million dollars (not however, in the event of theft).
Julie won a Tony for her acting role on Broadway in the hit comedy Marriage-Go-Round, and she was immediately accepted by the prestigious Actors Studio. Loving dance, she continued to star in Bob Fosse's musicals on and off Broadway. She toured nationally with Joel Grey in Stop the World I Want to Get Off.
She guest-starred in many now-favorite TV episodes, on shows such as The Monkees, Columbo, Love American Style, Get Smart, Star Trek, F Troop, The Beverly Hillbillies, Twilight Zone and Route 66. The part she's most fondly remembered for is Catwoman, in the original Batman television series.
In 1995, Universal Pictures and Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment produced a movie named after her, To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar. In the film, Julie appeared as herself.
With cutting-edge sensibility, Julie retrained herself into the Internet world of social media. Active on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jnewmar, Julie is currently working on four books, and various videos to be seen on the media section of her website, www.JulieNewmar.com .
An avid gardener, Julie's gardens are renowned. There is a rose, daylily and begonia named after her. See: http://JulieNewmar.com/videos/julie_newmar_garden/
Julie has a disabled son who "sparks love and a high level of creativity" in her life.
