Frank Gorshin—those episodes with Star Trek, The Munsters, and (of course) Batman
With details about episodes from some classic TV shows!
The classic actor guest-starred with superheroes, a space ship crew, a monster family, and a gunman traveling the Old West.
Given that April 5 is the birthday of actor Frank Gorshin (1933-2005), I’ve put together a list of what to watch if we decided to have a “Frank Gorshin Festival.” Over his acting career, Gorshin guested on more than 40 TV shows, was in more than 70 movies, plus appeared on stage for several productions, was a guest on a number of TV variety and talk shows, and also spent time on the mic for voicework.
Here’s a list of what we talk about in this article. (Click on one of the links if you want to jump ahead to a section.)
Looking at his biography, turns out that Gorshin actually got involved in show business as early as high school. One of his earliest jobs was working as an usher at the theatre.
At age 17, he won a local talent contest. The prize was a one-week engagement at a nightclub, which was his first paid job as an entertainer.
When he finally got into the business, IMDB says Gorshin’s TV work included a number of superhero shows, crime shows, dramas, soap operas, Westerns, and more. His movies ranged from monster movies to family comedies.
1
Frank Gorshin was good as a bad guy
Probably his most famous role was as The Riddler for the 1960s Batman TV show starring Adam West and Burt Ward as the Dynamic Duo. Gorshin played the Riddler several times—and was nominated for an Emmy for the role. (We talk more about his time as The Riddler below.)
In addition to the five acting roles we listed above (and will explain below), his other acting over the years included movies like 12 Monkeys (1995), That Darn Cat! (1965), and Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976), plus TV appearances on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, The Virginian, Charlie’s Angels, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and more.
Gorshin’s voice-over work included Professor Hugo Strange on The Batman cartoon series in 2004, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, plus guest characters on The Ren & Stimpy Show and Johnny Bravo.
In fact, you can find out way more of Frank Gorshin’s list on IMDB.
2
Frank Gorshin worked with lots of actors
Over his career, Gorshin’s co-stars have included: Frankie Avalon, George Burns, Chuck Connors, Tony Curtis, Robert Downey Jr., Shelley Duvall, Jill Eikenberry, Louise Fletcher, William Forsythe, Connie Francis, Marla Gibbs, Eddie Griffin, Robert Guillaume, Anthony Michael Hall, George Hamilton, Judy Holliday, Dennis Hopper, Jim Hutton, Ice-T, Kathy Ireland, Samuel L. Jackson, Dean Jones, James Earl Jones, Shirley Jones, Big Daddy Kane, Ernie Kovacs, Cloris Leachman, Jerry Lewis, Rob Lowe, Michael Madsen, Wendie Malick, E.G. Marshall, James Marshall, Dean Martin, Walter Matthau, Roddy McDowall, Hayley Mills, Robert Morse, Judd Nelson, Ronald Reagan, Robert Reed, Judge Reinhold, Eric Roberts, Jack Scalia, Sinbad, Robert Stack, Jean Stapleton, Robert Townsend, Robert Wagner, and Luther Vandross. (Among others.)
For our imaginary “Frank Gorshin Festival,” I’ve put together my own choices for this kind of list of what to watch.
Enjoy!
Frank Gorshin Festival 2025
Batman
#1 Batman: The Movie (1966)
Although Frank Gorshin appeared in several episodes of the 1960s Batman TV show as The Riddler, I’m fine with going straight to the movie. Batman and Robin (played by Adam West and Burt Ward) found themselves facing the super-villain team-up with Riddler working with Catwoman (Lee Meriwether), the Joker (Cesar Romero), the Penguin (Burgess Meredith), and more.
The bad guys are threatening to destroy the world—by dehydrating everyone! It’s one of those movies where, as a kid you can take it seriously, then when you get older you hate it for insulting comic books, and then you reach that age where you can enjoy it for what it was always meant to be.
(That is, I assume that’s what they meant. Since I never talked to the people involved, I’m just trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.)
BTW, Gorshin returned as The Riddler for the reunion (kinda) show Legends of the Superheroes (1979).
Trailer: Batman (1966) Trailer #1
Find on Fandango at Home:
Bonus: The Riddler - Frank Gorshin - Batman - TV
In the video below, listen to this 1960s pop rock song performed by Frank Gorshin—sung in character as The Riddler. As part of the song, he and the backup singers also offer listeners a series of riddles. Wow!
Star Trek
#2 Star Trek (S3.E15) | Jan 1969 | “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”
This episode of space government show Star Trek meant well. After all, we all learned about prejudice! (Perhaps the staff of a current government should watch this.)
Anyways, Frank Gorshin and fellow guest star Lou Antonio play guest aliens who look a lot alike. But they see each other differently. (They’ll explain it.)
IMDB describes the episode as “The Enterprise encounters two duo-chromatic and mutually belligerent aliens who put the ship in the middle of their old conflict.”
The regulars on Star Trek: TOS (“Those Old Scientists”) were Captain Kirk (played by William Shatner), first officer and science expert Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Doctor McCoy (DeForest Kelley). And, of course, several other regulars. Because it was a big ship that needed a crew. (Haven’t you ever watched this show?)
Star Trek_Racism
The Munsters
#3 The Munsters (S2.E28) | March 1966 | “Herman, the Tire Kicker”
If you’ve spent any time on Monster Complex—pretty much, any time here at all—then you’ve run across one of my many articles about The Munsters. Obviously, I’m obsessed with the monster family that lives on Mockingbird Heights.
So, imagine my joy when Frank Gorshin allows me to include The Munsters on this list! In this March 1966 episode, Herman plans to buy a car for Marilyn—and is confronted by smooth-talking used car salesman Fair Deal Dan. And, of course, Gorshin brings all his magic to the role.
(In case you want to see what else I’ve been writing about The Munsters, you can find all my tagged articles here.)
Herman Is Conned Into Buying A Car | The Munsters
Have Gun--Will Travel
#4 Have Gun—Will Travel (S2.E33) | May 1959 | “Sons of Aaron Murdock”
Here’s my chance to watch one of those classic TV shows I’ve only heard about. The cowboy show Have Gun—Will Travel (which ran from 1957-1963) starred Richard Boone as gunfighter Paladin, who traveled around the Old West as a gunfighter for hire. I’ve heard many times that this was actually a very dramatic show where Paladin gave his help to poor people who need him.
Frank Gorshin was a guest star in the episode “Sons of Aaron Murdock.” According to IMDB, the story revolves around a family where one son is a killer—and the father hires Paladin to help to keep the other son from following the same path…
10 Dandy Facts About Have Gun Will Travel
Wonder Woman
#5 Wonder Woman (S2.E12) | Dec 1977 | “The Deadly Toys”
Finally, more Frank Gorshin as a super villain! Huzzah! This time, Gorshin plays a toy maker who, well, builds threatening toys. In this show—which starred Lynda Carter (as Diana Prince and Wonder Woman) and Lyle Waggoner (who starred as Steve Trevor Sr. and then as… well, no time to discuss this now)—a team of scientists are substituted with robots (!) when they reject making the deadly Project XYZ. When Diana Prince investigates a suspicious toy maker, she meets face to face with... Wonder Woman (?!?).
Wonder Woman / Diana Prince visit a toy store and gets attacked by a toy plane
Bonus
Talking about superhero shows, some more Gorshin guest shots also include Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Black Scorpion, and the 2004 The Batman cartoon.
More from Monster Complex
Celebrating the birthday of actor Frank Gorshin (1933-2005), my list of what we might watch for a “Frank Gorshin Festival.” Including details about these classic TV episodes.