Fighting crime may be a seriously dangerous occupation, but portraying a fictional superhero is no easy feat either. Burt Ward found that fact out the hard way during his time as Robin on the set of the classic Batman TV series alongside Adam West. In fact, the TV icon recently sat down for an interview with THR ahead of his appearance at LA Cookie Con and Sweets Show and talked about an incident in which he dislocated his finger during a high-speed Batmobile stunt -- which was one of many injuries sustained on the set of the show. Ward explained:
I got to the emergency hospital at noon. That was the first of four days in a row. Each day I came back and it happened to be the same emergency room doctor. 'Are you accident prone? Whatever you are doing, this is dangerous stuff. You need to be more careful!'
The irony of the situation is the fact that Adam West did not have to go through nearly as much hell during his time as Batman. West was the face, heart, and soul of the 1966 Batman series, so the network made sure to keep him as safe and comfortable as possible. This disparity in treatment would lead to Burt Ward doing stunts alongside West's stunt double (who reportedly made more money for getting hurt), because the Robin double simply didn't look enough like Ward for a given shot. As a result, Burt Ward revealed to THR that he wound up going to the emergency room four out of his five first days on the set of Batman.
Despite the brutal circumstances surrounding his time as Batman's trusty ward, sidekick, and best friend, Burt Ward definitely seems to look back fondly on his time as Robin. The actor is known for making regular convention appearances, and he even recently returned to the role that made him a household name (albeit in voiceover form) to once again work with Adam West and Julie Newmar in the animated film Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. Dislocating a finger and going to the emergency room multiple times sounds like a small price to pay in order to carve out that kind of legacy.
All's well that ends well, I suppose. Burt Ward never sustained any life-threatening injuries during his tenure as The Boy Wonder on the classic Batman series, and he has subsequently gone on to become an absolute icon in the world of television. He is the standard to which all other live-action Robins are currently compared, and that legacy has been secured through blood, sweat, and dislocated fingers.
Looking for more information related to all of the most highly anticipated premieres still slated to debut on the small screen this spring? Check out our comprehensive midseason premiere guide and fill out your TV viewing schedules accordingly!
