When Burt Ward was cast as Robin in the hit 1960s television series *Batman*, he was just 19 years old and thrust into the spotlight overnight.

What many fans didn’t know at the time was that his role as the Boy Wonder came with unexpected challenges—challenges that went far beyond the typical pressures of fame.

In fact, Ward found himself at the center of a national controversy not for his acting or behavior, but because of what could be seen through his tight-fitting costume.

Now, at 80, Ward reveals the shocking secrets behind that scandal and how it shaped a life defined by resilience, courage, and a mission far greater than Hollywood fame.

 

Born Bert John Gervis Jr.in Los Angeles, Ward was no ordinary kid. His talents were extraordinary from a young age.

At just two years old, he was already performing professionally as the world’s youngest ice skater in his father’s traveling show, *Rhapsody on Ice*.

This early start landed him in *Ripley’s Believe It or Not* and set the stage for a life marked by exceptional achievements.

 

By high school, Ward had become the world’s fastest reader, clocking an astonishing 30,000 words per minute with 90% comprehension—far surpassing the average person’s 240 words per minute at 40% comprehension.

Academically, he excelled in mathematics and science, ranking in the top 3% nationally at UCLA.

Despite his intellectual gifts, Ward chose to pursue acting, a decision that upset his college dean who believed he should have become a nuclear physicist.

Ward’s path to stardom was unconventional. With zero acting experience, he auditioned for the role of Robin at 20th Century Fox.

Over 1,100 actors had been rejected before him. What set Ward apart was his martial arts prowess and athletic ability.

He dazzled the casting team by breaking a one-inch thick pine board with his bare hand and performing flawless flips and tumbles.

The producers saw in him the perfect embodiment of the Boy Wonder.

 

*Batman* premiered in 1966 and quickly became the most-watched television show in America.

While Adam West, who played Batman, enjoyed star treatment and a stunt double, Ward was expected to perform his own dangerous stunts.

This decision led to numerous injuries, including second-degree burns, broken noses, concussions, and even temporary deafness.

One harrowing moment came when Ward used the bat poles for the first time—85 feet above the ground without a safety net.

The risks were immense, but the physical dangers were not the biggest problem he faced.

Within weeks of the show’s debut, the Catholic League of Decency—a powerful religious watchdog group—targeted Ward’s costume.

They claimed that his anatomy was too visible through the tight green shorts and tights, calling it obscene.

Unlike Adam West, whose costume was padded to conceal his physique, Ward’s natural endowment was impossible to hide so easily.

 

ABC executives panicked. Religious boycotts could kill the show, so the network resorted to drastic measures.

Ward was handed a bottle of pills intended to chemically shrink his anatomy by lowering his testosterone levels.

At just 19, he was being forced to alter his body to appease moral crusaders who had never met him.

 

Ward took the pills for only three days before making a pivotal decision—he stopped.

“I decided that they can probably keep me from having children,” he later revealed.

Instead of continuing the treatment, Ward used his cape strategically to cover himself during filming.

The network never apologized, and the Catholic League never acknowledged the harm they caused.

Ward kept this story private for decades, only revealing it much later.

 

This act of defiance was emblematic of Ward’s character. He refused to diminish himself or conform to others’ uncomfortable standards.

His resilience would become a defining theme throughout his life.

 

During the filming of *Batman*, Ward formed a close friendship with his neighbor and training partner, Bruce Lee, who was starring as Kato on *The Green Hornet*.

The two martial artists bonded over their shared passion, sparring and exchanging techniques off-camera.

 

Their friendship culminated in a historic crossover episode where Bruce Lee’s Kato fought Burt Ward’s Robin—the first filmed fight scene of Lee’s career.

Ward remembered Lee as funny, kind, and dedicated, qualities that left a lasting impression.

Lee’s untimely death in 1973 devastated Ward, who considered Lee not just a friend but a brother.

From Lee, Ward learned that true strength is not just physical power but knowing who you are and refusing to let others define your worth.

This lesson would guide Ward through the many challenges ahead.

 

In 1990, Burt Ward met Tracy Pausner, daughter of billionaire Victor Pausner, whose business empire included Arby’s and RC Cola.

Their connection was immediate, and their first conversation lasted 12 hours. However, Tracy’s father had strict rules: no actors and no Hollywood.

When Tracy announced she was moving to California to be with Ward, her father was furious and offered Ward $10 million to walk away.

 

Ward’s response was resolute: no. Tracy wasn’t for sale.

His refusal proved his love was genuine, eventually earning Pausner’s reluctant respect.

Burt and Tracy have now been married for over 30 years, building a life together based on love, respect, and shared values.

 

Ward’s post-Hollywood life has been marked by a profound dedication to animal welfare.

In 1994, he and Tracy founded Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions after discovering that large breed dogs were being euthanized simply because shelters couldn’t place them.

What began as a small rescue mission grew into the world’s largest giant breed dog rescue.

Over 30 years, they have saved and rehomed more than 15,500 dogs, from tiny Chihuahuas to massive English mastiffs weighing up to 300 pounds.

 

Ward and Tracy also developed a specialized dog food made with non-GMO ingredients aimed at extending the lifespans of giant breeds.

Some of their dogs have lived up to 27 years—nearly triple the average. Remarkably, every penny of profit from their dog food company goes back into rescue operations.

Neither Ward nor Tracy take a salary; this is a mission, not a business.

 

In 2024, their tireless work earned Ward the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, personally signed by President Joe Biden, recognizing their innovative contributions to animal welfare worldwide.

 

On January 9, 2020, Burt Ward finally received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The ceremony was a celebration for *Batman* fans, complete with Kevin Smith speaking, Maria Menounos dressed as Batgirl, and the original Batmobile parked on Hollywood Boulevard.

Ward’s star was placed next to Adam West’s, symbolically reuniting Batman and Robin forever.

After decades of being dismissed as just a sidekick, Ward’s contributions to popular culture were finally recognized.

When asked about the 50-year weight of his role, he said philosophically, “I am a patient person.”

 

But the real story is persistence—Ward’s quiet determination to build a meaningful second act beyond Hollywood.

 

The religious zealots who pressured Ward to chemically alter his body thought they were protecting society from someone who was “too much.” In reality, they were trying to shrink a man who refused to be diminished.

Ward’s choice to stop the pills and cover himself with his cape was an act of courage and self-respect.

 

Fifty years later, Burt Ward is more than the Boy Wonder. He is a hero who outlasted controversy, critics, and attempts to control him.

His legacy is one of resilience, love, and compassion—qualities that inspire millions to live authentically and fight for what matters.

 

As Ward’s story shows, sometimes the people trying to make you smaller are really just afraid of how big you might become.

And sometimes, the best revenge is becoming exactly as magnificent as they feared you would be.

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