Burt Ward

From the Caped Crusader to the Canine Crusader!

Little did aspiring actor Burt Ward know that learning the martial arts, in addition to his mental and athletic prowess, would change his life forever. As a teenager, Burt had all the makings of a true boy wonder. As an all around athlete, strong in the martial arts, wrestling, track, tennis and golf, combined with a sharp intellect, playing "first board" in chess for Beverly Hills High School, achieving the top 3% in the U.S. in math and science tests at UCLA, and becoming the world's fastest reader - he tested before the American Medical Society in Beverly Hills, California and was clocked at 30,000 words per minute with 90% comprehension (the average reader reads 240 words per minute with 40% comprehension), Burt was featured in an article titled "Will the Real Boy Wonder Please Stand Up?" and subsequently appeared on the national reading TV show "Read Right." With the help of his father, a prominent real estate broker in Beverly Hills, Burt became one of the youngest real estate agents in California and met producer Saul David, who arranged for him to sign up with a Hollywood agent. His first interview was set up at 20th Century Fox, and a few weeks later, Burt was called back for a screen test with Adam West. Holder of a brown belt in karate at the time, Burt showed off his athletic ability for the producers by demonstrating some falls and tumbles, and even broke a 1-inch pine board with his hand. Later, Burt attained his black belt from his instructor, All Korean champion Young Ik Suh. Burt was both a neighbor and a close friend of Bruce Lee. A special piece of film trivia is that Bruce Lee's first filmed fight scene of his career was a fight with Burt Ward. In October 2015, Burt was inducted into the International Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame. Executive producer William Dozier commented about Ward's tall size in comparison to Adam West, and the new Boy Wonder prospect replied, "I promise you, sir, I won't grow anymore." Dozier laughed and told Burt that he would hold him to that. It was not until six weeks after the screen test that Burt learned that he had won the coveted role of Robin the Boy Wonder in the new TV series Batman (1966) for American Broadcasting Company (ABC). He was everything they wanted. All he had to do was just be himself. "Batman" Was An Overnight Sensation! BIFF! BAM! BOOM! The Ratings Soared! Burt and Adam West made hundreds of personal appearances together and were featured in dozens of magazine articles, including the cover of "Life" magazine. Years later, when asked to give a speech about his role of Robin in the TV series and accepting Harvard's "Man of the Year" award, Burt brought one of his original Robin costumes with him which was, even then, said to be valued at half a million dollars. Some students came up to him dressed up as security guards and told him they would keep the costume safe. Then, in the middle of Burt's speech, one student stood up and asked, "When is a costume not a costume? When it's stolen." Then the lights dimmed and the students grabbed the costume and made off with it. After taking photos of one another in its cape, they later called Ward and gladly gave the costume back. The ringleader of the gang? "Harvard Lampoon" editor Conan O'Brien.

From the Caped Crusader to the Canine Crusader!

In 1994, Burt and his wife, Tracy Posner Ward, a philanthropist and the daughter of former corporate raider and billionaire Victor Posner, rescued a Great Dane in distress. From this experience, they learned about dozens of other Great Danes also needing homes. When they called weeks later to see what had happened to the other dogs, they were horrified to hear that they had all been destroyed. Both Burt and Tracy have a huge love for animals. They made a decision, and created a rescue for Great Danes and other giant dog breeds. Located 50 miles east of Los Angeles, California, Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions is a nonprofit charity created by Burt and Tracy. Gentle Giants has rescued and adopted more than 15,500 giant, medium and small dog breeds during their 22 years of operation. All of their dogs are socialized and behaviorally trained and live communally together in their home. Gentle Giants is now the largest giant dog breed rescue in the world and both rescues and finds homes for 45 different dog breeds ranging from 2 lbs. to 300 lbs. Traditionally, giant dog breeds usually have short lifespans, living either 6 to 8 years or 7 to 9 years depending on the breed. Spending millions of dollars of their own money and with more than 10 years of research and testing, and combining their special care and feeding program with their own all natural Gentle Giants Dog Food, Burt and Tracy have both successfully doubled the average life span of their rescued giant dog breeds and significantly lengthened the average life span of their rescued medium dog breeds and small dog breeds, with all of their dogs living as long as 27 active, healthy years. Gentle Giants Products manufacturers all natural Gentle Giants Dog Food, which is sold in more than 1,250 stores in California and in 339 Walmart Supercenters in Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina and Florida. Gentle Giants Dog Food is also sold nationally through mail order on Chewy.com, Walmart.com, and Amazon.com. In California alone, Gentle Giants Dog Food is sold in Walmart Supercenters, Stater Bros., Ralph's, and Gelson's. Gentle Giants Products has a spectacular new line of wet (canned) dog food with 90% beef, 90% chicken, and 90% salmon. Gentle Giants Products also has a new line of super premium dog supplements and super premium dog treats.

The Caped Crusader has truly evolved into the Canine Crusader!