Penguin (character) rebuild. The Penguin is in the 1960s "Batman" television series, in which he was portrayed by Burgess Meredith. Spencer Tracy was offered the role but he said he would only accept the role if he was allowed to kill Batman. Meredith's performance is perhaps best remembered for his signature laugh, meant to mimic the squawk of a penguin. (One cause of the laugh was the cigarettes the character always smoked, which irritated Meredith's throat as he was a non-smoker.) His thugs wear black bowler hats and dark clothing adorned with names of various animals of prey, such as birds ("Hawk")
Burgess Meredith 1962, Meredith won a Best Supporting Actor award from the National Board of Review, for "Advise & Consent", and in 1985 he was nominated for a CableAce Award for his performance in "Answers". For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Meredith has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For his onstage contributions, he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Meredith has a 21-acre park named for him in Pomona, New York. He provided the funding to incorporate the village. On May 14, 1977 - Meredith received his honorary doctorate degree from Upper Iowa University