Franklin Pangborn

Biography

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.

Known For

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

Dr. Heywood

The Great Moment

Reception Committee Chairman

Hail the Conquering Hero

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

Sport

Her Man

Train dining car headwaiter

Danger – Love at Work

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

Office Manager

Torchy Passes the Buck

Office Manager

Torchy Turns the Trick

Office Manager

Torchy's Night Cap

Office Manager

Torchy Raises the Auntie

Office Manager

Torchy's Two Toots

Office Manager

Torchy's Busy Day

Office Manager

Torchy Rolls His Own

Office Manager

Torchy's Kitty Coup

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?

Stewart Ives III

Allergic to Love

Sylvester

Never a Dull Moment

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

Personal Info

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