Frank Gorshin's James Cagney Impression at the AFI Life Achievement Award

[SenhordoBonfim]

Sounded like Sinatra giving the introduction

[petegeorgetv]

FANTASTIC!

[mrtoeknee641]

He was the greatest impressionist of all time my favorite was he did a James Cagney scean from angels With Dirty Faces on the Kopykats show way back in I belive it was 1970 if I'm not mistaken it was Awesome ad since then iv never been able to find it out ther again he was the man. R.I.P Frank. We love ya .Thanks For The Awsome Video . Yours Truly :.MrToeKnee641.

[USCCHRIS0476]

He was the Riddler, and I saw him on charlies angels :) He's AWESOME

[gtelm]

My favorite Gorshin routine was him doing Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas impersonating each other. Must have been during the 60s, but haven't been able to find it.

[sirtinycreep]

My brother is the double of Frank.

[Ruthlyn]

Frank Gorshin has a sexy voice and a sexy accent. Damn.

[djkrueger6]

Hilarious, James Cagney was a class act..As was Frank Gorshin..

Such fine talent, doesnt exist these days..

[Broadway789]

I watched that award show when it aired, and bought the catalogue.

[dumbbina]

@ilovefrankandbeans you musta' got lost

[Optimalillusion]

quite literally a slow burn into Cagney.

[n0tyham]

@TJSanson, the problem was created by cable TV & Satellite and their 200+ channels. It's hard to find REAL talent to fill those gazillions of programming hours, so producers grab no-talent bums off the street and shove them in front of the cameras. Mostly just a long parade of pretty boys and girls.,

[Samc563]

Yeahhh Shheeeeee!!!! I can Handle A Wise Guy, Sheeee!!!!

[TJSanson]

Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned entertainment? And to TALENTED entertainers? Guys like Gorshin are, regrettably, artifacts of a by-gone era.

[mmmbad]

@TJSanson I really miss '60's and '70's TV. My favorite shows of all time were during those years. WTF has happened to entertainment?? Bring back the good old days!

[ninyae]

@mmmbad Yes, now it's all 'reality TV' and dead boring.

[ConstantineChernabog]

Riddle me this, you dirty rat!

[tmage01]

brilliant!

[hfelton]

Clever riff by orchestra after Gorshin was introduced-they played him on the stage with ''I Gotta Be Me,'' ironic for a man whose fame came from playing others. The kind of thing Paul Shaffer often does on Letterman.

[theplanetking]

That's all very well,  but Cagney never actually said " You Dirty Rat "

[KaptKan1]

@theplanetking It doesn't matter; everyone thinks he did. Humphrey Bogart never said, "Play it again, Sam," either, but you can't mess with legend.

[QueenReigns1]

@KaptKan1

Of course it matters you tit !

He didn't say it..End of !

[tmax45R]

He is a great impressionist.

[MOGGS1942]

When I look at Gorshin,I can actually see Cagney,Lancaster and Douglas,so he's half way home when doing his impressions.Magnificent.

[BlueStrawberryProd]

I like him as the animated riddler very good!

But I wanna know who played riddler in batman arkham asylum the video game!!!

[mrserjmalakian]

@BlueStrawberryProd He was the live one in the 60s show....

[yowzephyr]

I remember Frank Gorshin being on a talk show when he was getting all wrinkled and old looking, and somehow the opportunity arose where he felt he had a chance to break into one of his impressions. But as he did so it looked strange because he looked so old, and the other people on the show laughed but they also butted in and shut him down. I could tell that they felt it was an embarrassment. It made me mad that they did that to him. I'll always remember that as a getting-old-is-hell moment.

[maximadog]

This guy was Jim Carrey before there WAS a Jim Carrey...only much more talented.

[4moTom]

I miss calling you house looking for Mitch and getting you on the phone and doing impressions for me. Thank you so much for making me grown as a person and making life fun as a kid.

RIP.

Scott from BH

[crankbv1]

Watching Frank Gorshin again for the first time in too many years,I was reminded of a line he once came up with where he recalled arriving home one afternoon to find his young son playing in the garden. As soon as the little boy spotted his father he turned and shouted...'MOM..they're home!

[stuart38]

people did not rate gorshin because he was always doing roles where he looked really bad.which was andrew robinson,s(dirty harry)problem.this kind of video proves that these guys were picked because they were the best choice possible.pure and simple.

[NathMaxFilms]

riddler!

[DanielTheWalrus]

he looks like Kirk Douglas.

[drohegda]

@DanielTheWalrus i remember Frank Gorshin would do Kirk Douglas and Lancaster and the line Do you want to juggle the balls Kirk.

[eslubin]

Frank Gorshin was the man

[slitor]

classy

[amespi1000]

This was an entertainer!

[TheDudar]

That is Jim Carey before he was Jim Carey

[runbambirun]

Always a joy watching Frank.  A real entertainer.

[The25Rocky]

Thanks Frank for all the entertainment over the years.........Genius

[The25Rocky]

The man was pure class..........Thanks Frank

[stabbification]

One of the most naturally talented comics to ever perform.To bad kids today don't know who these guys are.

[jandtsmom]

What's with the damn commercials?

[mavivirgie]

@jandtsmom YOU TUBE DOES IT AGAIN

[sugarshula64]

Very Funny, naturally because it is Frank Gorshin. Hilarious.

[Bidil6]

Frank was the best! It's a shame he died in 2005!

[Tony7840]

@Bidil6 It was May 17, 2005. Frank and I were very close friends since 1959, when we met, in Chicago. Will never forget his date of death as I attended his funeral in Pittsburgh, PA, where he is interred. I miss him, EVERY DAY!!

[penske13]

@Tony7840 at least you had the chance to know him. i've loved watching this guy for as long as i can remember. never got the chance to meet him.

[Tony7840]

@penske13 With Frank, what you saw was what you got!!! The greatest human being and friend that anyone could ask for........

[Blackjesus3]

hes so good 

[allthatsolid]

he looks exactly like richard widmark.

[Baskerville22]

@allthatsolid You're right.

[rael8]

and on star trek as the blk and white face person

[monsta64]

@rael8 Comissioner Biel of the planet Charon in the episode: "Let that be your last battlefield" CLASSIC!

[rael8]

@monsta64 thanx for you info. glad to know that.

[mbutchin]

@rael8 [geek] You mean Commissioner Beale. [/geek]

[thecopykidofthestarz]

@rael8 I remember that! was he the Riddler too?

[Twilight3785]

@thecopykidofthestarz yes he was

[BeantownJim]

@rael8 He was the Riddler on Batman.

[mmmbad]

@BeantownJim  He was one of my "favorite" foes.

[SkorpionOne]

@rael8 You mean the white/black face....:)

[raygsk87]

Awesome stuff!!! does anybody know the music played at the beginning??

[dgallag100]

@raygsk87 Hello, the tune is "I've Got to Be Me." A song with which Sammy Davis Jr. had a hit record in 1969

[antoniorossiz]

Awesome

[marcdrumz]

any one remember that old B&W sci-fi flick , when Frank Gorshin hits a martian with his car... and the martian's fingernails could extend, and inject people with alcohol? I can't remember the name of it...

[spongiebungie]

Invasion of the saucer men ?

[marcdrumz]

GEEZUS!! YES- that's the one!! Thanks.. !! Wonder if it's still available?

I loved him as the original Riddler, on Batman, as well!

ciao!

[wwebatmanmaniac]

@marcdrumz that is Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957).

[marcdrumz]

@wwebatmanmaniac ..Thanks!! I still enjoy this clip...and the movie!!

[wwebatmanmaniac]

@marcdrumz indeed. Frank was the man.

[bathrat]

love watching gorshin