Arka Evren

ACTOR

Frank Gorshin

Known for
Batman (1966), Goliath Awaits (1981)

24 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026

Frank Gorshin is an actor best known for Batman and Goliath Awaits.

16 Interesting Facts About Frank Gorshin

  1. #001

    Frank Gorshin's manic portrayal of the Riddler in the 1966 television series Batman was directly responsible for transforming the character from a minor comic-book villain into one of Batman's main recurring foes.

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  2. #002

    He is regarded as one of Hollywood's finest impressionists.

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  3. #004

    His last job before his death was a guest appearance in Grave Danger: Part 1 (2005), directed by Quentin Tarantino and the first half of the series' fifth-season finale. He died two days before the episode aired. Ironically, the famous impressionist's final role was a portrayal of himself.

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  4. #006

    He was one of Ed Sullivan's guests on the famous February 9, 1964 show that featured The Beatles' first American appearance.

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  5. #007

    He served in the United States Army for two years, from 1953 to 1955, as an entertainer in Special Services.

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  6. #008

    He was a close friend of Adam West and Julie Newmar.

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  7. #010

    Gorshin's final television appearance was in "Grave Danger," an episode of the CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation that aired two days after his death; the episode, directed by Quentin Tarantino, was dedicated to his memory.

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  8. #011

    After his death, he was buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA.

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  9. #012

    In the film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, he did an impression of Jack Nicholson. Gorshin and Nicholson both played famous Batman villains: the Riddler and the Joker.

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  10. #013

    He was a heavy smoker until his death.

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  11. #015

    He is best known to the public for his role as the Riddler in the 1966 television series Batman.

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  12. #018

    Gorshin was a heavy smoker for most of his adult life, consuming as many as five packs of cigarettes a day.

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  13. #019

    He died just four days before the Riddler, voiced by Robert Englund, first appeared in the animated series The Batman (2004).

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  14. #021

    For decades, Gorshin called the celebrity-filled town of Westport, CT, his home.

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  15. #023

    He was the eldest of three children born to Frank John Sr. and Frances Gorshin.

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  16. #024

    On August 5, 1957, he was seriously injured in a single-car accident near Stroud, Oklahoma. As he passed another car, his right front tire blew out, causing his car to skid about 250 feet, roll over and throw him from the vehicle.

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