Adam West and Burt Ward to be Spotlight Guests at New York Comic Con

ADAM WEST AND BURT WARD TO BE SPOTLIGHT
GUESTS AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

Dynamic Duo will Autograph and Appear on Panel Together!

Norwalk, CT, July 30, 2012: Noted actors Adam West and Burt Ward will be Spotlight Guests at New York Comic Con (NYCC). The acting team best known for their roles as Batman and Robin in the 1960s Batman TV series and the 1966 Batman feature film, will be appearing together on a panel as well as signing in the Autographing Area. Show officials note that the addition of West and Ward to the roster of guests appearing at NYCC once again underscores the range of talent which is embraced by the pop culture community. NYCC not only attracts talent from many artistic endeavors including artists, creators, writers, actors and musicians, but it also provides a home for timeless products and creations which are enjoyed as much today as when they were first created. The original Batman is an iconic program which helped define popular culture for a generation of TV viewers in the 1960s.

New York Comic Con is one of the largest annual conventions to take place in New York City. Attracting over 100,000 fans, the event will be held at the Javits Center October 11 – 14, 2012.

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. Both Adam West and Burt Ward will be available to meet and greet fans for the entire weekend beginning Friday, October 12 – Sunday, October 14. As noted, they will be signing in the Autographing Area. Further details about their panel appearance will be revealed in the near future.

“This appearance by Adam West and Burt Ward at New York Comic Con is a great addition to our programming,” notes Lance Fensterman, Group Vice President for ReedPOP and Show Manager for NYCC. “We will be making lots of guest announcements in the next month or two, all of which will reflect the range and diversity of our audience. Adam West and Burt Ward have deep roots in the pop culture community and they enjoy an immense following. I know that they will attract a large audience of fans over the course of the weekend and I’m very grateful that they have agreed to be at the show for three full days. Our fans will want every second of their time!”

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: "This will be a real treat for me as it will be the first time I have ever been to New York Comic Con,” said Ward from his home in Norco, California. “I’m looking forward to meeting all the great fans in New York." 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 their vivid colours 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".

Tickets for New York Comic Con in 2012 are currently available for purchase at www.NewYorkComicCon.com. Anyone interested in exhibiting at New York Comic Con should contact Larry Settembrini, lsettembrini@reedexpo.com. Other information about the show, as well as news about ReedPOP, which organizes a range of pop culture events, is available at Lance Fensterman’s blog, www.mediumatlarge.net. As noted, many more guests will be announced over the next few weeks and months and fans should keep their eyes on NYCC’s website and blog for additional comics, entertainment and anime announcements.

~~~

New York Comic Con Press Release