Lewis Wilson

Lewis Gilbert Wilson (January 28, 1920 – August 9, 2000) was an American actor. He was most famous for being the first actor to play DC Comics character Batman on screen in the 1943 film serial Batman.

Life and career

Wilson was born January 28, 1920, in Framingham, Massachusetts, the son of Lucile (née Gregg) and John Henry Wilson. He grew up in Littleton, Massachusetts, where his father was minister of the First Unitarian Church from 1927 to 1945. Wilson graduated from Worcester Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1939.

Following the entry of the United States into World War II, Columbia Pictures created the first Batman live action series in 1943, simply called Batman. Wilson was cast as the title character in the 15-episode serial against J. Carrol Naish who portrayed a Japanese spy named Dr. Daka. It was Wilson's screen debut at the age of 23. A sequel to the serial was made in 1949, but Robert Lowery replaced Wilson as Batman.

After the war concluded, Wilson and his family moved to California, and he and his wife joined the Pasadena Playhouse. His final film was Naked Alibi in 1954. He then left show business and worked for General Foods.

Wilson married novelist and actress Dana Natol, and they had a son, Michael G. Wilson. They met while attending the Academy of Dramatic Arts at Carnegie Hall in New York, but separated and divorced after moving to California.

After retiring from acting, Wilson lived in North Hollywood, California.