Jack W. Batman, a prominent figure in the theater world, has left an indelible mark on Broadway and beyond. His contributions to the arts will be remembered for generations.
Jack W. Batman: A Legacy in Theater
Tony Award-winning producer and entertainment industry leader Jack W. Batman passed away from pancreatic cancer on Friday, August 1, at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey. He was 81 years old. His family confirmed the news today.
Illustrious Career
Throughout his multi-decade career, including a partnership with Bruce Robert Harris lasting over twenty-two years, Batman produced over sixty plays and musicals across Broadway, London, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, Berlin, Off-Broadway, regional theaters, national and international tours, and festivals.
Award-Winning Productions
Batman received Tony Awards for the Broadway productions of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park and the revival of the musical Pippin. His recent projects with Harris included Good Night, and Good Luck featuring George Clooney, John Proctor is the Villain starring Sadie Sink, The Roommate with Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone, and New York, New York, which garnered their thirteenth Tony Award nomination.
Notable Collaborations
With Harris, Batman produced five Original Broadway Cast albums and served as Executive Producer of Gerald McCullouch’s award-winning film Daddy. His productions have received numerous accolades, including Tony, Olivier, and Grammy Awards.
Personal Life
Born in Camden, New Jersey, in 1944, Batman was the eldest of two siblings. His father, Ralph Batman, worked for Standard Press Steel, while his mother, Kathryn Wallace Batman, was vice president of the Philadelphia Employees Credit Union.
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Drawn to Broadway, Batman moved to New York City in 1969, starting in the mailroom of the William Morris Agency and quickly advancing to become an agent. He built a successful career as a manager, casting director, actor, writer, and two-time Tony Award-winning producer.
A Love Story
Batman met his husband, Sidney J. Burgoyne, while attending La Salle College in Philadelphia. They connected in January 1976 over a game of Scrabble and shared nearly 50 years together. They were legally married on August 13, 2013, at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau.
Final Days
Batman continued to work on upcoming projects until just days before his passing. Burgoyne shared that Batman faced his pancreatic cancer diagnosis with grace, stating, “This is just one more door I’m walking through.”
In addition to his husband, Batman is survived by his cousins, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, godson, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. He was predeceased by his parents and brother.
In honor of Jack W. Batman, donations may be made to The Entertainment Community Fund and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
