Wow, folks, let me tell you a story. Back in the day, when Batman and Robin were swinging from rooftop to rooftop, Burt Ward was the guy under the mask. From 1966 to 1968, he played the Boy Wonder in the legendary TV series, Batman. Burt tells Closer Weekly that the show was nothing short of a phenomenon. "The night we premiered, January 12, 1966, we had a 55 share," Burt says. "That means 55 percent of all televisions in North America were tuned in to Batman. It was insane!"
Fast forward to today, and Burt, now 76, is still saving the day, just in a different way. 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 how I went from being Robin to rescuing animals," Burt explains. "If you think about it, in Gotham City, we were saving lives. Now, I'm just the canine and cat crusader. The mission is still the same—saving lives."
Early Life and Dreams of Superhero Stardom
So, Burt, what was your childhood like?
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Burt's early life was anything but ordinary. His father owned the largest traveling ice show in the U.S., called Rhapsody on Ice, which later inspired the Ice Capades. "My dad believed in hard work," Burt recalls. "He had me performing in the show at the age of two. I even made it into Ripley’s Believe It or Not as the world’s youngest professional ice skater. My childhood was all about performing and dreaming big."
What do you remember most from those early years?
Not much, actually, but the memories he does have are vivid. "I remember the bright lights and the feel of my skates, which were enormous compared to my tiny feet," he says with a laugh. "It was a magical time."
What did you want to be when you grew up?
From a young age, Burt had his sights set on becoming a superhero. "I wanted to be Super Boy," he says. "I have photos of me at age three, riding a tricycle in a cape held on by clothespins. I would daydream about becoming a superhero. I truly believe that thoughts can become reality, and that’s exactly what happened."
The Road to Becoming Robin
How did you land the role of Robin?
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Burt was studying acting at UCLA and helping his father sell real estate when fate intervened. "A producer came into the real estate office, and I asked if he'd watch a scene I'd prepared," Burt explains. "He liked what he saw and got me an agent. My first audition was for Batman, and the rest is history."
What was your first impression of Adam West, who played Batman?
Burt and Adam hit it off instantly. "We got along so well," Burt says. "Within five minutes of meeting, we were laughing so hard they had to tell us to quiet down. He was the funniest guy I've ever met. We clicked right away."
Did your friendship extend beyond the set?
Absolutely. "On weekends, Adam and I would play tennis together," Burt recalls. "We'd go to public courts, and people would stop and say, 'It's Batman and Robin playing tennis!' It was quite the sight."
The Dangers of Being a Superhero
Did you do your own stunts, and were there any close calls?
Oh, absolutely. "Every single day was an adventure," Burt says. "One time, I was tied to a table while Batman was supposed to blow a hole through the wall. The studio forgot to build a breakaway wall, so they used real dynamite. The explosion was so loud that I couldn't hear for a week afterward."
That sounds painful! Did you get hazard pay?
Burt chuckles at the memory. "It was dangerous work. I kept seeing the same doctor at the hospital. He told me I should consider a different line of work because I was in practically every week with something broken or burns. The studio even took out a $3 million life insurance policy on me. By the end, I think they were trying to collect!"
Did playing Robin open any other doors for you?
Burt had a chance to star in a movie, but ABC nixed it. "It was called The Graduate, and you may have heard of it," Burt says with a smile. "Every now and then, I'd run into that producer, and he'd say, 'Burt, I always wanted you.'"
Was it tough to avoid being typecast after Batman ended?
Not really. "I never let it bother me," Burt says. "I've had the chance to do all kinds of things. I've acted in 40 movies for television, played the pope, and even played a demonic character. I look at life as my glass always being half full."
Life After Batman: Gentle Giants Rescue
You and your wife, Tracy, founded Gentle Giants Rescue. What’s that like?
"Tracy and I are together 24/7, but we love each other very much," Burt says. "We don’t always agree, but we think alike a lot. We support each other, and we believe in each other. It’s a beautiful partnership."
What drives your passion for animal rescue?
"I tell everyone I've gone to the dogs—literally!" Burt laughs. "Over the past 27 years, 15,500 dogs have lived in our house. All of them would have been put to death, but we were able to save them and place them in loving homes. We’re the largest giant-dog free rescue charity in the world."
You also started a pet food line. Tell us about that.
"Yes, it’s called Gentle Giants and Gentle Cat, and it’s available in Walmart, Target, and grocery stores," Burt explains. "My wife and I don’t take a salary. It’s all about the charity. We want to make the best dog food in the world affordable for everyone."
Do you have any life philosophies?
"I do! There are three essentials to happiness: to love someone, to have something to do, and to have something to look forward to," Burt says. "If you’ve got all three, you’ve got happiness."
