<Tr> <Th> Years of service </Th> <Td> 1953--1955 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Unit </Th> <Td> Special Services </Td> </Tr> <P> Frank John Gorshin, Jr. (April 5, 1933--May 17, 2005) was an American character actor, impressionist, and comedian . He was perhaps best known as an impressionist, with many guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and Tonight Starring Steve Allen . His most famous acting role was as the Riddler on the live - action television series Batman . </P> <P> Gorshin was born on April 5, 1933, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Catholic parents Frances, a seamstress, and Frank Gorshin, Sr., a railroad worker . He was of Slovenian ancestry . His father, Frank Sr., was a second - generation Slovenian - American whose parents emigrated to America from Slovenia . His mother, Frances or Fanny, née Prešeren, came to the United States as a young girl from Regrča Vas, near Novo Mesto, the main city of Lower Carniola, in Slovenia . Both of his parents were active in Pittsburgh's Slovenian community . They sang in the Slovenian Singing Society Prešeren, named after the great Slovenian poet France Prešeren . In an interview, Frances said that her son, being the product of a Slovenian home, spoke mostly Slovene before going to school . At the age of 15, he took a part - time job as a cinema usher at the Sheridan Square Theatre . He memorized the mannerisms of the screen stars he saw and created an impressionist act . He was still in high school when he obtained his first paid employment, which he secured as the prize in a Pittsburgh talent contest in 1951: a one - week engagement at Jackie Heller's New York nightclub, Carousel . His parents insisted that he take the engagement, even though his 15 - year - old brother had been hit by a car and killed just two nights before . </P>

Who played the riddler in the original batman tv series