Frank John Gorshin Jr. was born on April 5, 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father, Frank John Sr., was a railroad worker and his mother, Frances, was a seamstress. While in high school, Frank worked as an usher at the Sheridan Square Theatre and began doing impressions of some of his screen idols: Al Jolson, James Cagney, Cary Grant and ...
[on working with Lynda Carter on Wonder Woman (1975)] I met Lynda years before she did "Wonder Woman", in Chicago. I forget the name of the club. At that time she was working as a singer. She was a good-looking lady and sang well. And I never saw her after that until I did that "Wonder Woman" episode. She remembered me. I played the Toymaker, but I can't remember anything else of any significance that happened during the shooting.
2
[on playing the Riddler on Batman (1966)] When I was first approached to play the Riddler, I thought it was a joke. Then I discovered the show had a good script and agreed to do the role. Now I am in love with the character. I developed the Riddler's fiendish laugh at Hollywood parties. I listened to myself laugh and discovered that the funniest jokes brought out the high-pitched giggle I use on the show. With further study, I came to realize that it wasn't so much how I laughed as what I laughed at that created the sense of menace.
3
I do not do hundreds of impressions. My entire repertoire of impressions numbers less than 50. I never set out to do an impression of a person. However, when something a star does suddenly sparks my imagination, I find myself doing an impression of him--first for my amusement, later for my repertoire.
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Fact
1
Was replaced for one two-part episode of Batman (1966) as the Riddler by John Astin.
2
He was a heavy smoker up until his death.
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Served for two years as an entertainer with Special Services of the United States Army.
4
Attended the Carnegie-Mellon Tech School of Drama (now Carnegie-Mellon University).
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Attended and graduated from Peabody High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Best known by the public for his role as the Riddler on the television series Batman (1966).
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Following his death, he was interred at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA.
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For decades, Gorshin called the celebrity-studded town of Westport, CT, home.
9
Auditioned for the role of Cookie in the musical comedy G.I. Blues (1960), which went to Robert Ivers.
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His signature challenge line on the television series Batman (1966), "Riddle me this, Batman!" became a catch-phrase at that time.
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He died just four days before the first appearance of the Riddler (voiced by Robert Englund) on the animated series The Batman (2004).
12
His last job before his death was a guest appearance on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Grave Danger: Part 1 (2005), the first half of the series' fifth season finale, directed by Quentin Tarantino. He died two days before the episode actually aired. In an ironic note, the famous impressionist's final role was to portray himself.
13
Was one of Ed Sullivan's guests on the famous February 9, 1964 show that featured the American debut of The Beatles.
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Father of Mitchell Gorshin and grandfather of Brandon Gorshin.
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His father was a railroad worker and his mother was a seamstress.
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Is the oldest of three children of Frank John Sr. and Frances Gorshin.
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Was the only cast member of the television series Batman (1966) to receive an Emmy Award nomination.
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Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 189. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
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His manic portrayal of the Riddler on the television series Batman (1966) was directly responsible for turning the character in the comics from a minor villain into one of Batman's major recurring enemies.
20
Considered one of the top impressionists in Hollywood.
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