Actor Frank Gorshin, Former Westporter, Dies at 72

Frank Gorshin: lived here 1980-1998. File photoFormer Westporter Frank Gorshin, the master impressionist and character actor best known as the Riddler on the 1960s “Batman” television series, died Tuesday in Burbank, Calif.. He was 72.

Gorshin lived in Westport from 1980 to 1998 and often was seen driving around town in a silver-colored Rolls-Royce bearing a license plate that said STOLEN.

He received an Emmy nomination for his role on the "Batman" series and more recently brought comedian George Burns to life in a one-man Broadway show.

Gorshin died at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, where he had been hospitalized for three weeks.

"He put up a valiant fight with lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia," his estranged wife, Christina, said in a statement.

Gorshin had just finished the national tour of the Tony-nominated "Say Goodnight, Gracie" before he was hospitalized with pneumonia. The show opened on Broadway in 2002 and ran for 364 performances.

Gorshin’s final performance will be broadcast tonight on the CBS series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

He did more than 40 impressions, including Al Jolson, Kirk Douglas, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin and James Cagney.

Gorshin’s movie roles included “Bells are Ringing” (1960) with his idol Dean Martin, and a batch of fun B-movies such as “Hot Rod Girl” (1956), “Dragstrip Girl” (1957), and “Invasion of the Saucer Men” (1957).

Gorshin moved to Westport in 1980 from Greenwich. He remained here until 1998 when he returned to the Los Angeles area.

Gorshin is survived by his girlfriend, Haji; a son, Mitchell, of Orlando, Fla.; his sister, Dottie Roland, of Pittsburgh; and a grandson. A private funeral will be held.

Posted May 19, 2005 12:35 AM