Frank Gorshin

Description

Frank Gorshin (April 5, 1933 – May 17 2005) was an American actor and comedian from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.<p>He was best known as an impressionist, with many notable guest appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show and on The Tonight Show with host Steve Allen. His most famous role was The Riddler in the Batman live action television series.<p>Frank John Gorshin, Jr. was a son of Roman Catholic parents, Frank and Frances Gorshin, a railway worker and a seamstress in Pittsburgh, where Frank, Jr. was born. Aged 15, he took a part-time job as a cinema usher at the Sheridan Square Theatre. He memorized the mannerisms of the screen stars that he saw and created an impressionist act. He was still in high school when he obtained his first paid employment: a one-week engagement at Jackie Heller's New York night club Carousel, which he secured as the prize in a Pittsburgh talent contest in 1951. His parents had insisted that he take the engagement even though his 15 year old brother had been hit by...