Farewell, Frank Gorshin

I was saddened to hear that Frank Gorshin died yesterday.  He was only 72, and had been battling lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia.  His wife of 48 years, Christina, was at his bedside when he died. 

Even though he made dozens of movie and tv appearances during his career, Frank Gorshin will be remembered for his role as the Riddler on "Batman" from 1966 to 1969.  How can we forget the Riddler and his green suit with the big black question marks on it?  I think the Riddler was one of the most nervous of all of Batman's villans; he wasn't as laid back as Catwoman.  When I was in the second grade, there was a kid in our class that just bounced off the walls all day long.  He looked like Frank Gorshin, so we all called him the Riddler.  He took it as the ultimate compliment.  On Halloween that year, he dressed up in a green suit and looked dead-up like THE Riddler. 

Frank Gorshin was an awesome impressionist.  He was called "The Man of 100 Faces." Frank said that Sammy Davis Jr. taught him to do impressions.  I remember when he guest-starred in an episode of "Charlie's Angels" in the show's first season.  He played a character called Harry Dana, who was an entertainer on a cruise ship where the Angels were working undercover. His impression of Edward G. Robinson in that episode sticks out in my mind. If you're a Munsters fan, you might remember when Frank Gorshin appeared in "Herman The Tire Kicker." Gorshin played "Fair Deal Dan", a shiester used car salesman that sold Herman a lemon. 

If you remember any of the "Batman" episodes with the Riddler, you'll recall how he always told riddles to Batman, Robin, Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara.  My favorite riddle he told was this: What's black and white and full of fuzz?  The answer: a squad car. 

You can watch Gorshin's last tv appearance tonight, as he stars in the season finale of "CSI".