'The Riddler' Frank Gorshin Dies at 72

'The Riddler' Frank Gorshin Dies at 72

By JEFF WILSON, Associated Press Writer
10 minutes ago

BURBANK, Calif. - Frank Gorshin, the impressionist with 100 faces best known for his Emmy-nominated role as the Riddler on the "Batman" TV series, has died. He was 72.

Gorshin's wife of 48 years, Christina, was at his side when he died Tuesday at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, his agent and longtime friend, Fred Wostbrock, said Wednesday.

"He put up a valiant fight with lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia," Mrs. Gorshin said in a statement.

Despite dozens of TV and movie credits, Gorshin will be forever remembered for his role as the Riddler, Adam West's villainous foil in the question mark-pocked green suit and bowler hat on "Batman" from 1966 to '69.

"It really was a catalyst for me," Gorshin recalled in a 2002 Associated Press interview. "I was nobody. I had done some guest shots here and there. But after I did that, I became a headliner in Vegas, so I can't put it down."

He didn't look or act sick at all! OMG, what a shock.

Goodbye, Frank.

He was so funny in that role and perfect for the character. Very sad news.

Damn, this makes me sad. I grew up on the old Bat-Man show, and Frank Gorshin's Riddler was by far my favorite villain of the bunch. His manic glee as he jumped around spouting riddles at the caped crusader will forever be a classic.

God speed, Frank. You'll be missed.

Did you ever see him do impersonations? He was the best!

biting impersonations

I loved that guy. His Riddler was perfect, my favorite of all the Batman TV show villains.

Godspeed, Frank. You will be missed.

He was a real talent, and always fun to watch perform.

Anyone else see him in Twilight of the Ice Nymphs?

has got to be one of the greatest TV series of all time, especially if you were a kid during that era.

This is why I never wanted to see any of the "serious" movies of the last 15 or 20 years.

'Batman' to me will always be a campy, hilarious, *biff-bam-zowie* action adventure comedy show.

My son is 5yo and would *LOVE* to see the old series. He is happy most weekends staying in his muscleman shirt, underwear and a batman cape. We have to MAKE him get dressed.

Sadly, there is not much hope that the 2 companies that are fighting over the rights to the old series will compromise to get it out on DVD.

We have purchased the original movie for him. I think Frank Gorshin is in it. Jim Carrey did the Gorshin's character justice when he played the Riddler in the new movie.

The only other things I remember seeing him in, was, of course, the episode of Star Trek and the Munsters as a shady used car dealer.

I was pleasantly surprised to see him as the head doctor of the mental hospital 12 Monkeys.

Good-bye Frank.

has killed hundreds of thousands of people, and is the putative head-of-state of a world superpower?"

He brought smiles to a lot of people's faces.

One of the best characters in one of the best Trek episodes ever.

I remember that episode whenever ethnic strife breaks out.

of that time. Racial strife had broken out all over the US, and Gorshin's portrayal of "Bele" helped us to see just how stupid racism really is.

I've talked to a few people who have seen him in person, and he was always a gentleman. Rather than being some puffed up actor who was completely full of himself, he was known for being gracious to people.

72?Where was he?Shoulda had his own show.Oh yeah,he was "too old".Saw him on some Batman retrospective thing with Julie Newmar a couple years ago or something.They both shoulda had their own show.

Yes..the Batman thing was cool...grew up with it too.

But...what about his impersonation of Kirk Douglas...over the top...one of the best.

I will miss him.

-Paige

I saw him once in Las Vegas, doing impressions.

His face actually CHANGED. It was unbelievable. He was unbelievable.

...like Gorshin, Frye, Little, and Jim Carrey (when he was still doing that stuff).

Threadjacker!:evilgrin:

than Ed Sullivan.

RIP.