If you've ever watched "Family Guy," you'll know that Mayor West (voiced by none other than the original Batman, Adam West) is a little off the wall.
In real life, at 85 years of age, the real Adam West isn't far off. When I spoke to him a couple of years ago, he went on about the moose that was at his door in Idaho. So this year, when I chatted with him again for his appearance at Fan Expo Canada, I knew what to expect.
HuffPost Canada TV got slightly more serious this time around, and a jovial Mr. West sounded off on everything from the Malaysian Airlines disappearance to the spread of Ebola, and he admitted, point blank, that he used his Batman role to get women. (We're not judging.)
HuffPost Canada TV: Last time I spoke to you a few years ago, there was a moose at your door.
Adam West: Yes! Let me go look now. [Puts down phone] Oh my God, it's an elk being chased by a bear. [Laughs] Up here in Idaho, we have a lot of animals. Some of the local ladies.
I thought, for this interview, we'd do something different. Instead of asking you all the same boring questions about Batman (which I've already asked you), I thought, since you're 85, you've been around the block ...
I've been around several times, dammit! I'm hoary with age!
... you've lived. You know stuff, you've experienced stuff. So I thought who better than Adam West to comment on current events?
Well, we can try that, sure! I don't only watch "Batman," you know. I don't know what the hell you're doing, but I love it. Go ahead. [Laughs]
What are your thoughts on the Ebola virus?
Ebola, stay away from my dog! [Laughs] Every century, every 10 years or whatever, there's a new disease. Or an old disease that revives for some reason; it almost always has to do with bodily fluids. I'm trying very hard not to spill my bodily fluids in the wrong places. [Laughs] If I could help, I would, but I ain't going to West Africa tomorrow.
But no, I am concerned for those those poor folks in West Africa. What can we do about it? What are we doing about it? This is an irony that certain people and certain areas are struck down. I'm not going to put it on God and balancing the population and those crazy theories. It just pops up.
When I go out of this house, into the hills and the mountains ... when I travel on an airplane, I always feel susceptible, don't you?
All the time. I'm an absolute hypochondriac.
Well, good. You don't have to be a nut, but you have to be somewhat self-protective and thoughtful! These are the people who survive this. I'm not talking about building a bomb shelter and having 20 machine guns. You just have to think a little. Take care of the kids. Watch where you're driving. Watch who you sleep with.
People need to be careful about that. Especially in your industry.
There are some, I guess. I was, at one time, I suppose ... this is not an earth-shattering admission or one that gets me in the tabloids, but I was careless. Except I wasn't, in that I used beauty and desire as the criteria... [Laughs]
So are you telling me that the original Batman slept around?
[Long pause] Yes.
What are your thoughts on the Malaysian Airlines disappearance?
Well, you know, I've had a lot of thoughts about that. I've never been a conspiracy theorist addict. Ever. And I feel that whatever happened, happened. There were probably completely logical reasons. I used to fly an airplane quite a bit, and there are things that happen, and once they do happen and the unknown factors in, people come up with all these theories. "Oh my God, it was aliens and that plane is now out in the universe on another planet!" I say to that: "Oh, really? Why would you ever think that?"
I think it just plain disappeared. What about all the Bermuda Triangle planes? You forget how amazingly powerful nature is. If you're flying at the wrong altitude at the wrong time, something could happen at random. I'm a believer in randomness. Randomness in this universe is rampant!
Let me just go back to something: you said you flew planes. They gave you a pilot's licence?
Yes. [Laughs] It's just amazing. Years ago, when I was working at CBS in Hawaii, I bought a little airplane and I used to fly around the islands. I was so stupid, I kept taking chances and got lucky. So you see, the randomness may be protective in certain cases. You just flew by the seat of your pants over the shark-infested waters. I sound so brave! So young and foolish! So lucky!
Well, I'm glad you're alive. You're loved, man.
Thank you. I'm still so lucky, and you know it. Or else I wouldn't be doing this! I feel so fortunate. Let me put it this way: how many actors get to create a character that becomes iconic and lives on? I'm the luckiest actor alive.
A lot of people will be coming to see you at Fan Expo.
I love coming to Toronto for this. The people there are wonderful, and the way they turn out to see me, I'm impressed and gratified.
Are you ready to deal with Rob Ford?
Who?
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford?
Oh. Right. I was hoping that if I go up, some night, I could see him dance. I might teach him a few moves with the Batusi. He would enjoy that. [Laughs]
His dancing is ... not the best.
[Laughs] Oh, I know. But I understand he's gotten calls from the Russians and the Bolshoi ballet -- which he's managed to fend off. [Laughs]
