Comic impressionist discusses his life and career, including his famous role as the Riddler on "Batman," in this half-hour TV interview with cable TV host Skip E Lowe.
I worked on a film with Frank Gorshin and we became smoking buddies for the duration of the shoot. Every morning before makeup we would walk outside and smoke a cigarette. He was such a nice guy and of course I told him how great the Riddler character was. It wasn't until years later than I discovered that he was a master of impressions and that was really what he was known for . I wish that I would have known at the time.
@@tbec3011 That's why he died of lung cancer/COPD/respiratory failure. He smoked up to 5 packs a day. Adam West said that on the set of Batman Gorshin could reduce a cigarette to an "ash" in one inhalation
Loved Franks portrayal of the Riddler sooo much as a young kid, that i was hooked on that character for the rest of my life. Have a vanity plate RIDDLER also.
@Joe Battiloro Hey Joe! Batman was my introduction to Frank, but after that i mad it a point to look out for him! he did allot of variety TV & Drama back then! I remember as a kid his impersonations! His Kurt Douglas killed me! but like you say! everything he did impress me! Be Cool!!
@@pandarush. I loved his Kurt! he kinda looked like him anyway! sometime he would stick his finger in his chin, leaving an impression! then take off on kurt so funny! Thanks for reminding me!!
Two great impressionist. Frank doing his stuff and Skip E Lowe doing Martin Short. But seriously, loved, loved Frank. Saw his three times on Broadway in his one man show about the life of Gerorge Burns, Say Goodnight Gracie. Frank deserved an emmy for it. He was the greatest. This is a great, great find. Thanks for posting it.
that talent killed him ! ....reminds me of Nick Sr. here as he speaks and clears his voice, blue eyes too ! both passed early 70's ( Sr. was 73, smoked 2 packs a day for 40+ years )..Gorshin they say was like Jackie Gleason at 5 packs a day !!...~RIP all..*
" Jimeny Glick " ( Skip E. Lowe)..*..Frank was awesome ! I am now 55 and was just 3 in 66' when " Batman " came on and remember loving The Riddler " as well as Burgess Merideth .." wha'wha;wha....I am from Pittsburg Ca. easy bay baby ! also @15:23 love his face and laugh ! ~* RIP " The Rittler " lol....." The Riddler ! "
I'm 65, seen 'em all, great singers, comedians etc. If I could see any performer in history in his prime, in the first few rows it would be Frank Gorshin. I used to sneak out of bed when he would come on TV, the living room couch was on 6" legs. So I would lay on the floor and watch from underneath. His impressions were excellent, the clay face, but his presentation was superb. Great entertainer, my life was better because of him.
I worked with the late great Frank Gorshin in Guys & Dolls along with Jack Jones and Maureen McCormick at the old Desert Inn (Las Vegas) became instant friend and stayed friends till his passing.
I used to like Jim Carrey when he first became popular, but his hyper performances became tiresome for me. However, I think he was good at portraying Andy Kaufman. Frank Gorshin will always be the best Riddler.
Here's how popular the Batman TV show . A radio host in my City had known Frank from the annual Comedy Fest he work at and had over 2000 comedy albums where he and Frank spent many hours talking about the 50's-60's . This was in the late 1980's , but in the mid 1990's Frank would appear at a local Hotel that was high class and expensive where the radio host was now in my City and where the hotel was. After the show it was normal for Frank to meet the radio host and stay at his house after talks about the past greats in comedy and listen to rare albums for comic frank never had seen perform. One time after a show they heading to his home but his car was low on gas for the next day and had stopped at a self-serve , the Host left his wallet in the truck behind hockey equipment and asked Frank if he had $20.00 to pay back later. Frank gave him a $20.00 and said he'd put the gas in while he paid at the Booth . The attendant was from India and new in the Country , but when he was given the $20.00 he said to the radio Host ...... " You have the Riddler pumping your gas? " Frank Gorshin was in casual dress and was about 20 feet away pumping gas ....yet this man from India spotted him even at his older age about 25 years after the Movie and 1966 TV show on top of how some dark Indians see most White males as looking alike. You would think that the Attendant would mention Batman and say that the person looks much like one of the villains....but no, he nailed it and knew that the Riddler was that man pumping the gas . Your talking about 7200 miles from New Delhi by a man that was born around 1960 and only saw the TV show or Batman movie wit the young Frank in his 30's .
It is rare to find comedians today that do impressions. A few have done Johnny Depp and Nicolas Cage. But I think it is so rare because particularly most male actors today are indistinguishable. Their voices and manarisims are without distinction , the audience would just shrug.
Skip E.'s go to question; "Are you Spiritual?" always sucks the oxygen out of the room and makes things uncomfortable lol. I love Frank Gorshin though; what a talent! He not only did spot on impressions of the voices, but his facial contortions and body movements allowed him to become the person! Such a naturally funny guy, too.
I own the dvd of the Beatles four performances on the Ed Sullivan show. Which contains the full shows. Frank Gorshin is in one of them. He performed his Burt Lancaster. He was damn good.
What a shame for an actor/impressionist this legendary to have to be interviewed by someone this clueless and talentless. Shut up and let Frank TALK!! Wish they had just posted questions on screen and let him answer them.
Hate it when these interviews end suddenly in mid-sentence !! GRRR ! Same thing happened when I watched Skip's interview with Vanessa Brown a little while ago.... :-(
The old actors and Movie Stars were the best! Ceasar Romero was supposed to get a huge "push" because of his acting skills & talents. However, the World War prevented him from being more successful. The 1960s Batman series was loaded with stars!
"How do you get from Eartha Kitt to George C. Scott?" - I'm so glad I watched to the last second, because that bemused question, coming from a genuinely puzzled Frank Gorshin, made me laugh out loud! Too bad there isn't just a little bit more of the interview. Thanks for sharing!
I know what you mean ! I only watch these interviews to see stars I love. It takes all my strength to put up with Skip. I love Skip's enthusiasm but his interviewing skills were nil. :-(
Yes indeed. I've read he was a very heavy smoker & it's certainly no surprise that lung cancer killed him (with emphysema & pneumonia being complicating factors). I saw him live at our local county fair back in the late 70s. GREAT show !
Does anyone wanna buy me a vowel and give me the name of the song playing at the beginning of this? :) I remember it from years ago but I can't recall the name. :(
25:05 “has Burt Lancaster ever seen Richard Burton”. This interviewer is dull, as in daft. Gorshin was having fun at his expense. “C’mon” the guy says. Don’t make fun of my idiocy. Very disturbing interviewer. Still, I appreciate that he did it so we could glimpse into Frank’s life.
I just came back here wonderi g why I watched this halfway through and never continued....I think I remember, this interviewer guy makes it suddenly get more and more cringeworthy...
funny that he worked at a theater as an usher, because i almost got in a fist fight with him at a movie theater when i was an usher. this was in 2003 and i was 18. he was in the fire exit smoking, he put napkins in the door so he could get back in. i told him he couldnt smoke and he'd have to go outside. he basically told me to fk-off. i took the napkins out of the door to lock him out. he came back in through the front and started cussing at me and threatening to hit me. i got the manager and they didnt know the whole story, but said that if he didnt calm down he'd have to leave. didnt know it was frank gorshin until one day i looked up the riddler and instantly recognized him (2003 photo) of him with his leather jacket, cigarette and round glasses.
