Frank Gorshin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Gorshin
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Gorshin as the Riddler, 1966
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| Born |
Frank John Gorshin Jr.
April 5, 1933 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | May 17, 2005 (aged 72) Burbank, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Calvary Catholic Cemetery |
| Education | Carnegie Mellon University |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1956–2005 |
| Spouse(s) |
Christina Randazzo
(m. 1957) |
| Children | 1 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1953–1954 |
Frank Gorshin (born April 5, 1933 – died May 17, 2005) was a talented American actor, comedian, and impressionist. He was famous for appearing on popular TV shows like The Ed Sullivan Show.
Many people know him best as the supervillain Riddler from the classic Batman TV series. He even received an Emmy Award nomination for his amazing performance.
Contents
Early Life and Talents
Frank Gorshin was born on April 5, 1933, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents, Frances and Frank Sr., were from Slovenia. Frank learned to speak mostly Slovene before he started school.
When he was 15, Frank worked as an usher at a movie theater. He loved watching the actors on screen. He started to copy their movements and voices. This helped him create his own impressionist act.
His first paid job was a prize from a talent contest in Pittsburgh in 1951. He got to perform for a week at a New York nightclub.
After high school, Frank studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He also performed in local plays and nightclubs.
In 1953, Frank joined the United States Army. He served for about a year and a half in Germany. His job was to entertain the troops. While in the Army, he met someone who later helped him connect with a Hollywood agent.
A Busy Acting Career
After leaving the Army in 1956, Frank Gorshin became a very busy actor. He appeared in many films and TV shows.
He guest-starred on shows like Frontier Doctor and Hennesey. He also appeared on the crime drama The Untouchables.
Frank was a popular act in nightclubs, especially in Las Vegas. He was one of the first impressionists to be a main performer there. He was great at imitating famous actors like Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. He could also perfectly copy their voices and mannerisms.
In 1957, Frank was in a car accident. He fell asleep while driving and crashed. He was badly hurt and spent time in a coma. Luckily, he recovered.
His first film role was in Between Heaven and Hell. He also appeared in movies like Hot Rod Girl (1956) and Dragstrip Girl (1957). In Bells are Ringing (1960), he played a funny character doing a Marlon Brando impression. He also played a clumsy kidnapper in That Darn Cat! (1965).
The Riddler on Batman
Frank Gorshin is most famous for playing the Riddler on the 1960s TV series Batman. He starred alongside Adam West as Batman.
His Riddler had a unique, high-pitched laugh. Frank didn't like the original Riddler costume from the comic books. So, he helped create a green business suit and bowler hat with question marks. This look later became popular in the comics too.
He played the Riddler in ten episodes and the Batman movie. Another actor, John Astin, played the Riddler for two episodes when Frank was busy. Frank was upset about this, but he returned to the role later. He also played the Riddler again in the 1979 TV film Legends of the Superheroes.
Other Notable Roles
In 1969, Frank had a memorable role in the Star Trek episode "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield". He played Bele, an alien with a half-white, half-black face.
In the 1970s, Frank performed on Broadway in musicals like Jimmy and Guys and Dolls. He also made many guest appearances on TV shows such as Hawaii Five-O and Charlie's Angels. In 1979, he played an assassin in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
Later, he appeared in the miniseries Goliath Awaits (1981). He also guest-starred on shows like Murder, She Wrote (1988).
In the 1990s, he was in the movie The Meteor Man (1993). He also voiced a character in The Ren and Stimpy Show (1995). He appeared in the movie 12 Monkeys (1995).
In his final years, Frank Gorshin played the famous comedian George Burns in the Broadway show Say Goodnight, Gracie (2002). He also appeared as himself in the TV film Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt. His last TV appearance was in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which aired after he passed away.
Personal Life
On April 8, 1957, Frank Gorshin married Christina Randazzo. They had one son named Mitchell. They remained married until Frank's death.
Death
Frank Gorshin's last live performance was in Memphis, Tennessee, playing George Burns. He finished the show and flew to Los Angeles on April 25, 2005. During the flight, he had trouble breathing. He was taken to a hospital in Burbank, California.
Frank Gorshin passed away on May 17, 2005, at age 72. He died from lung cancer and other lung problems. He is buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
Images for kids
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Gorshin as the Riddler, 1966
See also
In Spanish: Frank Gorshin para niños
