Frank Gorshin

Frank Gorshin
Gorshin as the Riddler, from the Batman television series
Born	Frank John Gorshin, Jr. (1933-04-05)April 5, 1933 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	May 17, 2005(2005-05-17) (aged 72) Burbank, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia
Resting place	Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1955-2005
Spouse(s)	Christina Randazzo (1957–2005); his death
Children	Mitchell Gorshin
Military career
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1953–1955
Unit	Special Services

Frank John Gorshin, Jr. (April 5, 1933 – May 17, 2005) was an American character actor, impressionist, and comedian. He was perhaps best known as an impressionist, with many guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and Tonight Starring Steve Allen. His most famous acting role was as The Riddler on the live-action television series Batman.

Gorshin was born on April 5, 1933, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Catholic parents Frances, a seamstress, and Frank Gorshin, Sr., a railroad worker. He was of Slovenian ancestry. Frank Gorshin's father, Frank Sr., was a second-generation Slovenian American whose parents emigrated to America from Slovenia. His mother, Frances or Fanny, née Prešeren, came as a young girl from Regrča Vas, near Novo Mesto, the main city of Lower Carniola, in Slovenia. Both of Frank’s parents were active in Pittsburgh’s thriving Slovenian community. They sang in the Slovenian Singing Society Prešeren, named after the great Slovenian poet France Prešeren. In an interview, Frances said that her son, Frank, being the product of a Slovenian home, spoke mostly Slovene before going to school. At the age of 15, he took a part-time job as a cinema usher at the Sheridan Square Theatre. He memorized the mannerisms of the screen stars he saw and created an impressionist act. He was still in high school when he obtained his first paid employment, which he secured as the prize in a Pittsburgh talent contest in 1951: a one-week engagement at Jackie Heller's New York nightclub, Carousel. His parents insisted that he take the engagement, even though his 15-year-old brother had been hit by a car and killed just two nights before.