Frank Gorshin (April 5, 1933 - May 17, 2005)

"Riddle Me This!"
Frank Gorshin was one of the most energetic impressionists of his time. His television career began in 1955 with an appearance on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." From then on he appeared on "The General Electric Theater", "The Steve Allen Show", "Hennesey", "Toast of the Town", "The Defenders", "The Untouchables", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "Pantomime Quiz", "The Munsters", "General Hospital", "The Dean Martin Show", "The Jackie Gleason Show", "The Carol Burnett Show", "Star Trek", "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In", "The Virginian", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "The Flip Wilson Show", "The Mike Douglas Show", "Ironside", "Hawaii Five-O", "Police Woman", "Charlie's Angels", "Wonder Woman", "Murder, She Wrote", "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman", and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigators."
Gorshin was a guest on "Toast of the Town" on February 9, 1964 the very same show where the Beatles made their historic appearance.
In 1966, he signed on to play Batman's giggle happy nemisis The Riddler in the two part pilot for the ABC series "Batman." After the pilot he would only go onto appear in eight more episodes and that seems impossible. Because his performances were so lively and wonderful it feels like he was in everyone.
John Astin of "The Addams Family" fame filled in as the Riddler in two episodes but that was both laughable and forgetable. Gorshin was and always will be the Riddler. And his zany over the top maniacal motives were not lost either...1995's "Batman Forever" saw Jim Carrey play a Riddler very similar to television's first.
Gorshin was no stranger to the big screen either, appearing in more than two dozen films during the course of his life.
In 2002, Gorshin stepped into some very big shoes and played George Burns in the one man show "Say Good Night Gracie." I had the honor of seeing that performance in November of that year and I can say that Frank Gorshin was amazing. He captured George Burns so perfectly...he had the look...he had the sound. I can still see him on that stage and I can still hear that voice. It was amazing and nothing will ever duplicate it. After seeing the show I wrote to Mr. Gorshin to pay my respects and he sent me the nicest letter back with all sorts of info about working with Adam West, Burgess Meredith and Cesar Romero. He also autographed several photos for me.
In 2005, he returned to the DC universe by providing the voice of Professor Hugo Strange in three episodes of "The Batman." On the very same series Adam West (1960's Batman) stepped in to appear in a handful of episodes as Gotham City's Mayor Marion Grange.
Sadly Frank Gorshin passed away only four days before the newest incarnation of the Riddler made his first appearance on "The Batman."
Riddle Me This...how do you turn a ten episode gig into a forty year legacy? Only Frank Gorshin had the answer to that one....

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