Frank Gorshin was a prolific American movie star, character actor, comedian, and impressionist famously known for his appearances in thriller movies such as Batman, 12 Monkeys, Bloodmoon, and Dreamweaver, to mention a few. The legendary actor kicked off his professional career in 1955 and it spanned over 6 decades before he gave up the ghost in May 2005.
Prior to the inception of his acting career, Frank Gorshin served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955. Soon after he left the army, he kicked off his acting career and garnered huge fame for his comic skills. He was also a married man and a doting father of one. Although it’s been many years since this thespian passed on, his legacy has continued to linger in the heart of his many fans.
Frank Gorshin Bio (Age)
The impressionist was born as Frank Gorshin Jr. on the 5th day of April 1933. Frank was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the son of Frank Gorshin Sr. and his wife, Frances. He possesses American nationality and was of mixed racial background. He spent his early years in Pittsburgh, along with his two siblings – a brother and a sister.
Growing up, Frank was an exceptionally gifted kid and he had the ability to mimic several characters he sees on television. While he was in high school, he got his first job working as a cinema usher at the Sheridan Square Theatre. He graduated from Peabody High School and went on to study at Carnegie Tech School of Drama situated in Pittsburgh.
Movies and TV Shows
Soon after his graduation, Frank was drafted into the US Army and was deployed to Germany. During his military service, he worked as an entertainer to Special Services. While there, he also met Maurice Bergman who later introduced him to a Hollywood agent named Paul Kohner.
After leaving the Army, Frank Gorshin joined Hollywood and made his first film appearance in 1956. He appeared in a slew of films from 1956 to 1990 and some of his most notable appearances include Hot Rod Girl, The True Story of Jesse James, and Tank Battalion. Others are Warlock, The Great Imposter, Batman, Underground Aces, Hollywood Vice Squad, and Midnight, among others.
From the early ‘90s to the early 2000s, the actor also featured in a good number of movies some of which include Bloodmoon, Man of the Century, Castlerock, The Creatures of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park, etc.
Aside from movies, the comic star also featured in a handful of television shows throughout his six-decade-long career. The highlights of his popular TV shows include Love Story in Harvard, A Masterpiece of Murder, Goliath Awaits, S.W.A.T., and The Hollywood Squares. His last film role came in the 2006 film, Dreamweaver, where he portrayed the role of Mr. Rem.
His Family
Frank was born into an American family and was raised in a core Catholic home. His father Frank Gorshin Sr. was a railroad worker and his mother, Frances was a seamstress. He grew up in Pittsburgh along with her brother named Herman and a sister named Dottie Roland. Sadly, his brother passed on after he was hit by a car when he was just 15. Herman’s death affected the family a lot.
The talented impressionist also had a wonderful family of his own. He got married to a woman named Christina Randazzo on 8th April 1957 and they had a son named Mitchell Gorshin. Although nothing much is known about his wife and son, Frank and his better half were together for some years before they finally separated. Despite their separation, they remained married and didn’t get a divorce until his demise in 2005.
Frank Gorshin Height
Frank was a tall man; he stood at a height of 5 feet 8 inches (1.73m). Just as his body weight at the time of his passing is not known, there is no information available about his other body measurements. However, the actor had a masculine physique, black hair, and brown eyes.
Death of The Character Actor
Frank Gorshin lived a fulfilling life and his career spanned close to six decades. On April 25, 2005, after his performance in Memphis where he played the role of George Burns in the theatrical production of Say Goodnight, Gracie, Frank boarded a flight back to Los Angeles. During the flight, the actor had difficulty in breathing and for this, he was given emergency oxygen by the crew.
By the time he got to Los Angeles, he was taken to Burbank Hospital where he stayed until his death on the 17th of May 2005. The cause of his death was given as lung cancer with emphysema and pneumonia complications. After his death, he was buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
