Frank Gorshin

Frank Gorshin (April 5, 1933 – May 17, 2005) was an American actor and comedian from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was best known as an impressionist, with many notable guest appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show and with Steve Allen. His most famous role was The Riddler in the Batman live action television series.

Work

He was nominated for an Emmy (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy) for his most famous role: as The Riddler in the Batman live action television series, in which he was clad in a bowler hat and iridescent green body suit decorated with question marks, and frequently uttered his now-famous high deranged cackle, inspired by Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark) in 1947's Kiss of Death. He also had a memorable role in the ' episode "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" as the half-whiteface, half-blackface Bele, for which he was again Emmy-nominated. Prior to that, he was a dramatic actor, often playing "tough guys" like those played by one of his favorite target of impressions, James Cagney, whom he was said to resemble.

Related Topics:
Emmy - The Riddler - Batman - Live action television series - Richard Widmark - 1947 - Let That Be Your Last Battlefield - Tough guy - James Cagney

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He appeared on Broadway, in Jimmy (1970) and Guys and Dolls (1971). In 2002, he portrayed comedian George Burns on Broadway in the one-man show Say Goodnight Gracie.

Related Topics:
Jimmy - Guys and Dolls - 2002 - George Burns

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His final performance was in an episode of the CBS-TV series ' which aired two days after his death from cancer, emphysema, and pneumonia, and was dedicated to his memory. While he was known for his impressions, his role on CSI was, ironically, as himself. Coincidentally, Gorshin passed away on the same day that the TV movie ' was released on DVD in North America. Gorshin appeared as himself (parodying his role as the Riddler) in this popular 2003 special that reunited the original stars of the Batman series. Gorshin also voiced villain Hugo Strange in an episode of The Batman, which is slated to air in the series' second season on the WB.

Related Topics:
CBS-TV - Hugo Strange

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Filmography

• The Proud and Profane (1956)
• Hot Rod Girl (1956)
• Between Heaven and Hell (1956)
• Runaway Daughters (1956)
• The True Story of Jesse James (1957)
• Dragstrip Girl (1957)
• The Delicate Delinquent (1957)
• Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957)
• Portland Expose (1957)
• Tank Battalion (1958)
• Night of the Quarter Moon (1959)
• Warlock (1959)
• Bells Are Ringing (1960)
• Studs Lonigan (1960)
• Where the Boys Are (1960)
• The Great Imposter (1961)
• Ring of Fire (1961)
• The George Raft Story (1961)
• Sail a Crooked Ship (1961)
• That Darn Cat! (1965)
• Ride Beyond Vengeance (1966)
• Batman (1966)
• Skidoo (1968)
• Record City (1977)
• Underground Aces (1981)
• The Uppercrust (1981)
• Hot Resort (1985)
• Uphill All the Way (1986)
• Hollywood Vice Squad (1986)
• The Gnomes' Great Adventure (1987) (voice)
• Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers (1989)
• Midnight (1989)
• Sweet Justice (1992)
• The Hollywood Beach Murders (1992)
• Body Trouble (1992)
• Amore! (1993)
• The Meteor Man (1993)
• Hail Caesar (1994)
• The Big Story (1994) (short subject) (voice)
• ' (1995) (Cameo)
• Twelve Monkeys (1995)
• From Hare to Eternity (1996) (short subject) (voice)
• Superior Duck (1996) (short subject) (voice)
• Threshold (1997)
• Bloodmoon (1997)
• Better Than Ever (1997)
• After the Game (1997)
• Pullet Surprise (1997) (short subject) (voice)
• Twilight of the Ice Nymphs (1997)
• ' (1997) (documentary)
• The Rules (For Men) (1999)
• The Art of Murder (1999)
• All Shook Up (1999)
• Man of the Century (1999)
• Final Rinse (1999)
• Game Day (1999)
• Castlerock (2000)
• Luck of the Draw (2000)
• The Curio Trunk (2000) (short subject)
• High Times Potluck (2002)
• Manna from Heaven (film) (2002)
• Mail Order Bride (2003)
• ' (2003)
• The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park (2004)
• Angels with Angles (2005) (currently filming)
• Firedog (2005) (voice) (currently filming)

Stage appearances

• What Makes Sammy Run? playing Sammy Glick at Valley Music Theatre (Los Angeles) (1966)
• Jimmy playing James J. Walker at Winter Garden Theatre (Broadway) (1969)
• Prisoner of Second Avenue playing Mel Edison at Parker Playhouse (Florida) (1973)
• Whodunnit standing in as Andreas Capodistriou at Biltmore Theatre (Broadway) (1982)
• On the Twentieth Century playing Oscar Jaffe on a tour of the United States (1986)
• Guys and Dolls as a performer in Las Vegas (1995)
• The Sunshine Boys as Willie Clark on a tour of the United States (2001)
• Say Goodnight Gracie as George Burns at Helen Hayes Theatre (Broadway) (2002)