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
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
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