Adam West's Batman remains one of the most iconic adaptations of the Caped Crusader, with the cartoonish show codifying a specific era of the characters' existence. The show was a massive hit when it aired, introducing audiences to many of Batman's most iconic foes in the process. This includes Catwoman, who was quickly elevated within the villainous pantheon of Gotham City. Across the course of three seasons and a tie-in film, three different actors played Catwoman opposite West and Burt Ward's Batman and Robin, and there's a reason why this happened.
Julie Newmar Was the First Catwoman
Debuting in Season 1's "The Purr-fect Crime/Better Luck Next Time," Julie Newmar's Catwoman became one of the show's most consistent foes, especially in the show's second season, appearing more than any other single villain. A master criminal whose attraction to Batman couldn't convince her to halt her life of crime, Catwoman was one of the craftier of the Caped Crusader's foes.
Alongside the Joker, Riddler and Penguin, Catwoman became one of the show's most popular antagonists -- to the point where her costume can now be found at the Smithsonian Institution. Newmar is solid in the role, developing a pitch-perfect rapport with Adam West's Batman. In a series that frequently downplayed the female criminals, Catwoman was a breath of fresh air.
Lee Meriwether's Time in Batman Was Short Lived
Series creator William Dozier had initially wanted to use a feature-length film to draw attention to Batman -- but a wary 20th Century Fox didn't agree. The movie wasn't formally green-lit until after the success of the show's first season, and it was filmed between Season 1 and Season 2. Batman: The Movie focused on an alliance between Joker, Catwoman, Penguin and Riddler, so Batman and Robin are forced to endure some of their most dangerous enemies all at once.
While most of the show's cast reprise their roles, Newmar was unavailable during the shooting window -- with conflicting accounts largely claiming it was a result of her prior commitment to another project. In her stead, Lee Meriwether played Catwoman in Batman: The Movie. Meriwether is good in the role, but didn't reprise the character in the second season of the show -- but she did reappear in the Season 2 storyline "King Tut's Coup/Batman's Waterloo" as Lisa Carson, a target of the titular villain.
Eartha Kitt Was Purr-Fect As Catwoman
Ahead of Batman's third season, Newmar ended up being cast in the film Mackenna's Gold alongside Gregory Peck. Due to this new commitment, Newmar was forced to vacate the Catwoman role once again -- this time for good, as Batman would ultimately be canceled at the conclusion of the third season. Doizer ultimately recast the part with Eartha Kitt, whose delivery of Catwoman's dialogue was so instantly memorable.
However, due to the more openly racially insensitive politics of the time (especially in southern states across the United States), Catwoman's flirtations with Batman became downplayed in Season 3. However, this also opened up Kitt's Catwoman to become more of a genuine threat, carrying out dangerous plots and running circles around the dynamic duo in her appearances in the season. Each of the three Catwomen had their own edge, but it was Kitt's who arguably became the most memorable, bringing a theatrical edge to her performance that befitted the purposefully campy nature of the show.