Television's "Batman" Villains Quiz

Answer: Burgess Meredith

Born Oliver Burgess Meredith, November 16, 1907, Burgess Meredith was active in the film and television industry for more than 60 years. Early in his movie career he was a favoured actor of Otto Preminger, who was to play Mr Freeze in season 2 of "Batman". Meredith played Rocky Balboa's trainer, Mickey Goldmill, in the first three "Rocky" films, a role for which he received a nomination for an Academy Award in 1976. Meredith played Penguin in the television series "Batman" for the duration of the series. Burgess Meredith was so popular with the audience that the show's writers always had a script ready, subject to Meredith's availability.

Answer: Frank Gorshin

Born April 5, 1933, Frank Gorshin, initially, was an impressionist who regularly appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and Steve Allen's "Tonight". Frank Gorshin guest starred in many television shows but it for his role as the Riddler that he is best remembered. For his portrayal of The Riddler, Gorshin was nominated for an Emmy in 1966.

It is believed that The Riddler's deranged cackle was an impression of Richard Widmark, from the movie "Kiss of Death" (1947).

Answer: John Astin

John Astin is best know for his role as Gomez Addams in the TV series "The Addams Family". When Frank Gorshin acquired new agents, they demanded the producers of "Batman" increase his fee for the role, with some believing it was because he had been nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal.

The producers refused to pay and John Astin was awarded the role. Frank Gorshin reprised the role in season 3 for one episode.

Answer: Lee Meriwether

Lee Meriwether replaced Julie Newmar in the movie "Batman" (1966) because it was reported that Julie had a back problem. Julie Newmar reprised the role for season 2. Eartha Kitt played the role of Catwoman in season 3. Lee Meriwether did appear in two episodes of "Batman", during season 2, as Lisa Carson, Bruce Wayne's love interest. Lee Meriwether was Dr. Ann MacGregor in the television series "The Time Tunnel".

Answer: Cesar Romero

Jack Nicholson, Jared Leto and Heath Ledger have all played the Joker, but it was Cesar Romero who played him in 19 episodes of "Batman". Cesar Romero appeared in over 100 films in his career, including six "Cisco Kid" movies and the original "Ocean's Eleven". He refused to shave his moustache for the role of the Joker, instead he wore white makeup on it.

Answer: King Tut

King Tut was a creation for the television show "Batman". William McElroy, a professor of Egyptology at Yale University was hit in the head, at a protest rally, by a rock. Regaining consciousness, he believed that he was the reincarnation of King Tutankhamun. In two episodes King Tut had a queen named Nefertiti played by Ziva Rodann.
Victor Buono was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for his role in "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?". He also played the villain Mr. Schubert in the series "Man from Atlantis", starring Patrick Duffy, in 1977-78.

Answer: Roddy McDowall

Roddy McDowall was born in London, in 1928. As a child actor, he appeared in films initially in the UK and eventually the USA, after his family moved there because of the outbreak of WWII in 1940. Some of the movies he appeared in, include "Cleopatra", "The Greatest Story Ever Told", "Evil Under the Sun" and "The Poseidon Adventure".

It is for his role as Cornelius, in three of the "Planet of the Apes" movies, including the original, that Roddy McDowall is best remembered for. The Bookworm appeared in two episodes in season 1.

The character had an affinity for books, with his schemes centering around rare and collectible versions.

Answer: Ma Parker

Ma Barker was a crime matriarch in the "public enemy era", running a gang of criminals including her four sons. In a possible reference to her, Batman introduced Ma Parker, who runs a gang including her three sons, Pretty Boy Parker (Robert Belheller), Machine Gun Parker (Peter Brooks), Mad Dog Parker (Michael Vanderver), and her daughter Legs Parker (Tisha Sterling). Ma Parker favours her three sons over her daughter, believing girls shouldn't be involved in criminal activities, but this only makes Legs a tougher criminal than her brothers. Ma Parker was played by two time Academy Award winner Shelley Winters ("The Diary of Anne Frank" and "A Patch of Blue"). For her role in "The Poseidon Adventure", Winters was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Academy.

Answer: Louie the Lilac

Louie the Lilac was another villain specifically created for the "Batman" series. Known for dealing in illegal perfumes, wearing violet suits and driving around in his Lilac filled, purple convertible, Louis tried to manipulate the flower and perfume markets of Gotham. Milton Berle was the first major television star with his NBC show "Texaco Star Theater" (1948-55). Louis the Lilac exhibited much of Berle's persona even down to his trademark cigar.
T. S. Eliot quote: "Now that the lilacs are in bloom/ She has a bowl of lilacs in her room".

Answer: Michael Rennie

Michael Rennie is best remembered for his role as Klaatu, the visitor from outer space, in the 1951 science fiction film, "The Day the Earth Stood Still". In the series "Batman", Sandman (sleep therapist Dr. Somnambularis) uses hypnosis by sand to get sleepwalkers to undertake his criminal plots.

He collaborates with Catwoman (Julie Newmar) in a plot to rob J. Pauline Spaghetti of her fortune.