The 1960s Batman TV show is a classic and was the first screen appearance for Catwoman; here's why she ended up played by three different actresses. While its campy and comedic nature is today sometimes the butt of jokes, it's important to remember just how big a deal the Adam West-fronted show was during its run. This was an age before Batman had dozens of live-action adaptations, and West's performance helped solidify The Caped Crusader as one of DC's most iconic superheroes in wider pop culture.
The Batman TV show also helped establish what would become Gotham City's most famous criminals, including The Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and of course, Catwoman. While not specifically identified as Selina Kyle, the TV Catwoman purred her way into many viewers' hearts, pulling off what has become a standard combination for the character of playfully flirting with Batman while being perfectly willing to give him the business end of her claws if he stands in her way.
That's despite the fact that Catwoman's feline face changed twice over the course of Batman 1966's time on the air. While The Riddler also changed actors at one point, Catwoman is the only villain in the series to be recast twice. Thankfully, all three performers proved up to the task.
Why Batman 1966 Had 3 Catwomen
In season 1 of the Batman TV show, Catwoman was played in two episodes by Julie Newmar, the actress arguably most identified with playing the role opposite Adam West's Batman. Newmar would reprise the role in eleven episodes of season 2 too. However, between the airing of season 1 and season 2, a tie-in theatrical movie called simply Batman: The Movie was released, which featured Batman and sidekick Robin (Burt Ward), tangling with the fearsome foursome of Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman. In that movie, Lee Meriwether played Catwoman, as well as her alter ego Miss Kitka.
Oddly, there are conflicting accounts of why exactly that change was made. Some say the Batman movie was originally intended as a pilot for the show, shot before it premiered, and Meriwether's Catwoman didn't return for the actual show because she had other commitments. The more common version is that the movie was made due to the show's success, and when it came time to shoot, Newmar was busy working on the racy detective spoof movie Monsieur Lecoq, which ended up unfinished and abandoned. With Newmar out, Meriwether was brought in, then Newmar was later available again for season 2 and returned to the part.
As for season 3, the story there is much more straightforward, albeit similar. Newmar was busy working on the western Mackenna's Gold and unavailable to return, so Eartha Kitt was hired to take over. To her credit, Kitt made the character her own, and her portrayal has been referenced and imitated many times since. In a bit of a strange twist though, Penguin actor Burgess Meredith also appeared in Mackenna's Gold, while making appearances during Batman season 3. Perhaps his particular filming dates didn't conflict.