BURBANK, Calif. — Frank Gorshin, the impressionist with 100 faces best known for his Emmy-nominated role as the Riddler on the "Batman" TV series, has died at 72.

Mr. Gorshin's wife of 48 years, Christina, was at his side when he died Tuesday at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, his agent and longtime friend, Fred Wostbrock, said yesterday.

"He put up a valiant fight with lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia," Christina Gorshin said in a statement.

Despite dozens of TV and movie credits, Mr. Gorshin will forever be remembered for his role as the Riddler, Adam West's villainous foil in the question-mark-pocked green suit and bowler hat on "Batman" from 1966-69.

"It really was a catalyst for me," Mr. Gorshin recalled in a 2002 Associated Press interview. "I was nobody. I had done some guest shots here and there. But after I did that, I became a headliner in Vegas, so I can't put it down."

West said the death of his longtime friend was a big loss.

"Frank will be missed," West said in a statement. "He was a friend and fascinating character."

Mr. Gorshin earned another Emmy nomination for a guest shot on "Star Trek," a 1969 episode called "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield."

In 2002, Mr. Gorshin portrayed George Burns on Broadway in the one-man show "Say Goodnight Gracie." He used only a little makeup and no prosthetics.

"I don't know how to explain it. It just comes," he said. "I wish I could say, 'This is step A, B and C.' But I can't do that."

Mr. Gorshin's final performance, on the CBS series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," will be broadcast tonight at 8.

Born in Pittsburgh, Mr. Gorshin broke into show business in New York. He did more than 40 impressions, including Al Jolson, Kirk Douglas, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin and James Cagney.

Later, he took his impressions to "The Ed Sullivan Show" on a memorable evening: the same night the Beatles were featured. He did impressions in Las Vegas showrooms, opening for Darin and paving the way for such impressionists as Rich Little.

Mr. Gorshin's movie roles included "Bells are Ringing" (1960) with his idol Dean Martin and B-movies such as "Hot Rod Girl" (1956), "Dragstrip Girl" (1957) and "Invasion of the Saucer Men" (1957).

"He was fun, fascinating, wild and always a class act," Wostbrock said. "Here's a guy who always wore great clothes, stood up when a woman walked into the room — he was a gentleman. We did all our deals with a handshake. There was never a signed contract."

In addition to his wife, Mr. Gorshin is survived by his son, Mitchell Gorshin of Orlando, Fla., and sister Dottie Roland of Pittsburgh.

Wostbrock said that the funeral would be private and that Mr. Gorshin would be buried in the family plot in Pittsburgh.