A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled Thursday honoring Burt Ward, best known for his portrayal of Robin on ABC's campy 1960s version of “Batman.''
Filmmaker Kevin Smith and television personalities Maria Menounos and Nancy O'Dell joined Ward in speaking at the 11:30 a.m. ceremony in front of the Guinness World Records museum on Hollywood Boulevard.
The Batmobile were on site of the ceremony along with people dressed as Batman, the Riddler and Catwoman, according to Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, who said she hopes “everyone dresses up as their (favorite) ‘Batman' character.''
The star will be next to the star of Adam West, who starred as Batman opposite Ward in the 1966-68 ABC series. West received his star in 2012, five years before he died.
According to a biography supplied by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which oversees the Walk of Fame, “Batman'' executive producer William Dozier told Ward he was chosen out of more than 1,100 actors who auditioned for Robin because the producers believed that ``If there really was a real Robin, The Boy Wonder, then Burt would be it,'' so they requested him to “just be himself and be enthusiastic.''
All the mannerisms Ward exhibited as Robin, such as punching his fist into his palm and jumping over the door in and out of the Batmobile that were not scripted, were created by Ward.
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Born Bert John Gervis Jr. on July 6, 1945 in Los Angeles, Ward skated in the “Rhapsody On Ice'' show owned by his father beginning when he was 2 years old, making him the youngest professional ice skater.
Ward's father was also a prominent real estate broker in Beverly Hills and he became one of California's youngest real estate agents. As a real estate agent, Ward met producer Saul David, who arranged for him to sign with a Hollywood agent. His first interview was set up at 20th Century Fox and a few weeks later, and Ward was called back for a screen test with West.
Ward also supplied the voice of Robin for the 1977 CBS animated series “The New Adventures of Batman.''
Along with his wife Tracy, Ward operates the Norco-based Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions, which has rescued and adopted more than 15,500 giant breed, medium breed, and small breed dogs during its 23 years of operation.
