"Our dad always saw himself as The Bright Knight, and aspired to make a positive impact on his fans' lives. He was and always will be our hero," his family said in a statement.

West became known to a new generation of TV fans through his recurring voice role on Fox's "Family Guy" as Mayor Adam West, the horribly corrupt, inept and vain leader of Quahog, Rhode Island. West was a regular on the show from 2000 through its most recent season. West in recent years did a wide range of voice-over work, on such shows as Adult Swim's "Robot Chicken" and Disney Channel's "Jake and the Neverland Pirates."

But it was his role as the Caped Crusader in the 1966-68 ABC series "Batman" that defined West's career.

With its "Wham! Pow!" onscreen exclamations, flamboyant villains and cheeky tone, "Batman" became a surprise hit with its premiere on ABC in 1966, a virtual symbol of '60s kitsch. The half-hour action comedy was such a hit that it aired twice a week on ABC at its peak. But within two seasons, the show's popularity slumped as quickly as it soared.