
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Franklin Pangborn (January 23, 1889 – July 20, 1958) was an American comedic character actor famous for playing small but memorable roles with comic flair. He appeared in scores of feature films playing essentially the same character: prissy, polite, elegant, highly energetic, often officious, fastidious, somewhat nervous, prone to becoming flustered but essentially upbeat, and with immediately recognizable high-speed, patter-type speech. He typically played an officious desk clerk in a hotel, a self-important musician, a fastidious headwaiter, an enthusiastic birdwatcher, and the like, and was usually put in a situation of frustration or flustered by the antics of others. Pangborn was an effective foil for many major comedians.

J. Pinkerton Snoopington
The Bank Dick

Reno or Bust

Formfit Franklin
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

J. Ashton Brockton
King Kelly of the U.S.A.

Sourpuss Manager
My Dream Is Yours

Billy Moon (uncredited)
A Star Is Born

The Tailor (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Assistant Hotel Manager
Bluebeard's 8th Wife

Manager
The Palm Beach Story

Mr. Thompson
Now, Voyager

Don Hartman - Radio Announcer
Christmas in July

The Producer
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

Mr. Gibney
George Washington Slept Here

Reception Committee Chairman
Hail the Conquering Hero

Dr. Heywood
The Great Moment

Roland Hunter
Carefree

Perry Tweedale
Tillie the Toiler

Marquis de Varennes
The Story of Mankind

Waters
Just Around the Corner

Bellows
The Flame of New Orleans

Rio Hotel Clerk
Romance on the High Seas

Harcourt
Stage Door

Higgins
Fifth Avenue Girl

Mr. Casalsis
Sullivan's Travels

Mellish
The Mandarin Mystery

Hamilton Montmarcy
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

Radio Engineer / Sloan
The Horn Blows at Midnight

Preston
Four's a Crowd

Van Buren
Easy Living

Louis - Hotel Manager
Topper Takes a Trip

Office manager
Trying Out Torchy

Reggie
Hollywood and Vine

Mr. Douglas
Design for Living

Hotel Clerk
The Half-Naked Truth

Vernon Lewis (uncredited)
Reveille with Beverly

Henri
Swing High, Swing Low

Town Crier
Cockeyed Cavaliers

Barber
I'll Be Yours

Gilbert Sinclair
Blue of the Night

Gene, Collier's Composer
Broadway Serenade

Egbert - Hotel Clerk
A Fool's Advice

Train dining car headwaiter
Danger – Love at Work

Sport
Her Man

Dilly Dillingsworth
Calendar Girl

Mr. Forsythe
It Happened in Hollywood

Professor Gibney
Obliging Young Lady

Duncan Farll
Holy Matrimony

Art in the Raw

Hector
A Blonde for a Night

Garrett Wetherby
Manhattan Love Song

John Xavier Omsk (uncredited)
Menu

Thornton
Tomorrow's Youth

Horace Lovelace
Tell It to a Star

The Costumer
All Over Town

Photographer (Uncredited)
Sweepings

Gordon
Dream Stuff

William / Tommy Valentine
My Friend from India

The Loud Mouth

Pet Shop Owner
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob

Howard Drake
Cradle Snatchers

Adolf Pumpfel
The Girl Downstairs

Mr. Churchill
Hats Off

Leach
Not So Dumb

Oscar, the Photographer
Tango

Eddie Gray
The Chumps

Everett
Jimmy's New Yacht

Office Manager
Torchy Raises the Auntie

Office Manager
Torchy's Night Cap

Office Manager
Torchy

Office Manager
Torchy Turns the Trick

Office Manager
Torchy Passes the Buck

Office Manager
Torchy's Two Toots

Office Manager
Torchy's Kitty Coup

Office Manager
Torchy Rolls His Own

Office Manager
Torchy's Busy Day

Office Manager
Torchy Turns Turtle

Office Manager
Torchy's Loud Spooker

Herbert
Professional Sweetheart

Renaldo Breton
High Hat

Hotel desk clerk
Lover Come Back

Veterinarian
Flirtation

Number Seven, Old Field Inn Waiter
Weekend for Three

Henry
Tee for Two

Doffle
Dangerous Holiday

Fashion Designer
She's Dangerous

Mr. Dwight
Rich Relations

Doctor's Orders

Mr. Stenchfield (Store Clerk)
Doctor Rhythm

Schultz
It's All Yours

Bicycle Salesman
Always Goodbye

Professor
Cheer Up and Smile

Clerk
Three Blind Mice

John
Breakfast in Bed

Wiedlemeyer
Spring Parade

Lawton
A Lady Surrenders

Drake's Assistant
Over the Counter

Hotel Clerk
You Came Along

Groom
The Important Witness

Orchestra Leader
Joy of Living

(archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s

Algy Brooks
Getting Gertie's Garter

Railroad Agent
Hollywood Victory Caravan

Taxi Boy
What Price Taxi

Wilbur
Call Out the Marines

Jimmy Martin
The Captain Hits the Ceiling

Apartment Manager
Vivacious Lady

Franklyn Pierce
Easy on the Eyes

Paul
She Married an Artist

Hans
A Woman of Experience

Benson
Doughnuts and Society

Beggs
The Life of the Party

Floorwalker
Bed of Roses

Hotel Desk Clerk
Dangerous Number

Ogilvie O. Oglethorpe
Living on Love

Ed Mason
The Sap

Radio Announcer
Young and Beautiful

Joe
We Have Our Moments

Kane's Secretary
I'll Take Romance

Mr. Pingboom
Turnabout

Finch
Eight Bells

Charley Towne
Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case

Pierre
The Lady Escapes

Jeweler
Three Smart Girls

Carter
Hit Parade of 1941

Fairchild
Moonlight Masquerade

Mr. Porter
My Best Gal

Window Dresser (uncredited)
She Married Her Boss

Man in Private Office (uncredited)
Parachute Jumper

Forcellini's Secretary
Give Us This Night

Professor Bistell
What's Cookin'?

Finley
Love on Toast

Franklin Pangborn
Stage Door Canteen

Reville
$1,000 a Minute

John Dorman
When Love Is Young

Digby
Where Did You Get That Girl?

Sylvester
Never a Dull Moment

Stewart Ives III
Allergic to Love

Cathcart
Honeymoon Lodge

Dr. Watkins
My Grandfather's Clock

The Cat Lover
Addio Mimí!

Hotel Manager
International House

Guest
To Mary - with Love

Landlord
Next Door Neighbors

Theatre Manager
Two Guys from Milwaukee

Hammerstein (uncredited)
Flying Down to Rio

Cecil Lovelace
Exit Smiling

Party Guest (uncredited)
Sunny

Male Co-Respondent
Unknown Blonde

Salesman
Don't Gamble with Love

Aubrey Piper
Poor Aubrey

the Cloud Painter (voice)
The Unchained Goddess

Tailor
Hollywood Trouble

Otto Phocus
Wild Poses

Adolphus G. Crocker
Headline Shooter

Turnbull
On Trial

Sam Williams
Thrill of a Lifetime

Peabody
College Rhythm

Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Swing Banditry

George
The Giddy Age

Bartender
Public Deb No. 1

Mr. Pinkney
Two Weeks to Live

Guthrie (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey

Herbert
Sing, Bing, Sing

Piano Tuner
Bad Housekeeping

Hector Brooks
The Girl in the Pullman

B.J. Wagonhorn
See My Lawyer

Mr. Phoecian-Wylie
She Had to Eat

Williams, Club Manager
Bachelor Daddy

Hotel Clerk
Crazy House

Mr. Thurtle
Reckless Age

Spot's Secretary
She Couldn't Take It

The Bandoline Kid
Finger Prints

Tom (Uncredited)
Only Yesterday

Pvt. Jerry Stone
Lighthouse Love

Mr. Carven (uncredited)
Imitation of Life

Head Waiter
Step Lively, Jeeves!

Franklin Pangborn
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

Pvt. Jerry Stone
Lighthouse Love

Allen's Secretary
Many Happy Returns

Mr. Bailey
Strictly Dynamite

Cathcart
Strictly in the Groove

M'sieu Dubrey, Dance Master
Die Lady von der Straße

Bartender (uncredited)
The Villain Still Pursued Her

Hamilton
The Headline Woman

(archive footage)
Down Memory Lane

Hollywood Halfbacks

Cashier
The Luckiest Girl in the World

Window Dresser
She Married Her Boss

Photographer
That's Gratitude

Jack Townes
The Candid Camera
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
190
Gender
Male
Birthday
1889-01-23
Place of Birth
Newark, New Jersey, USA
Also Known As
Joseph Franklin Pangborn