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
A Star Is Born
(1937)
Billy Moon (uncredited)
Now, Voyager
(1942)
Mr. Thompson
My Man Godfrey
(1936)
Guthrie (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
The Tailor (uncredited)
Sullivan's Travels
(1941)
Mr. Casalsis
Stage Door
(1937)
Harcourt
Design for Living
(1933)
Mr. Douglas
The Palm Beach Story
(1942)
Manager
Four's a Crowd
(1938)
Preston
Easy Living
(1937)
Van Buren
Imitation of Life
(1934)
Mr. Carven (uncredited)
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife
(1938)
Assistant Hotel Manager
Romance on the High Seas
(1948)
Rio Hotel Clerk
Carefree
(1938)
Roland Hunter
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
(1938)
Hamilton Montmarcy
Christmas in July
(1940)
Radio Announcer
Full Filmography
Acting
Exit Smiling
(1926)
Cecil Lovelace
My Friend from India
(1927)
William / Tommy Valentine
Getting Gertie's Garter
(1927)
Algy Brooks
Cradle Snatchers
(1927)
Howard Drake
The Girl in the Pullman
(1927)
Hector Brooks
Finger Prints
(1927)
The Bandoline Kid
A Blonde for a Night
(1928)
Hector
On Trial
(1928)
Turnbull
Lady of the Pavements
(1929)
M'sieu Dubrey, Dance Master
The Sap
(1929)
Ed Mason
Her Man
(1930)
Sport
Not So Dumb
(1930)
Leach
Cheer Up and Smile
(1930)
Professor
A Lady Surrenders
(1930)
Lawton
Sunny
(1930)
Party Guest (uncredited)
Poor Aubrey
(1930)
Aubrey Piper
The Chumps
(1930)
Eddie Gray
Breakfast in Bed
(1930)
John
Reno or Bust
(1930)
Blue of the Night
(1931)
Gilbert Sinclair
A Woman of Experience
(1931)
Hans
Next Door Neighbors
(1931)
Landlord
Torchy
(1931)
Office Manager
Torchy Passes the Buck
(1931)
Office Manager
The Half-Naked Truth
(1932)
Hotel Clerk
A Fool's Advice
(1932)
Egbert - Hotel Clerk
The Loud Mouth
(1932)
Over the Counter
(1932)
Drake's Assistant
What Price Taxi
(1932)
Taxi Boy
The Giddy Age
(1932)
George
Lighthouse Love
(1932)
Pvt. Jerry Stone
Lighthouse Love
(1932)
Pvt. Jerry Stone
Jimmy's New Yacht
(1932)
Everett
Torchy Turns the Trick
(1932)
Office Manager
Torchy's Night Cap
(1932)
Office Manager
Torchy Raises the Auntie
(1932)
Office Manager
Torchy's Two Toots
(1932)
Office Manager
Torchy's Busy Day
(1932)
Office Manager
Torchy Rolls His Own
(1932)
Office Manager
Tee for Two
(1932)
Henry
Doctor's Orders
(1932)
Design for Living
(1933)
Mr. Douglas
Art in the Raw
(1933)
Dream Stuff
(1933)
Gordon
Sweepings
(1933)
Photographer (Uncredited)
Professional Sweetheart
(1933)
Herbert Childress
The Important Witness
(1933)
Groom
Bed of Roses
(1933)
Floorwalker
Parachute Jumper
(1933)
Man in Private Office (uncredited)
Menu
(1933)
John Xavier Omsk (uncredited)
International House
(1933)
Hotel Manager
Flying Down to Rio
(1933)
Hotel Manager Hammerstein (uncredited)
Wild Poses
(1933)
Otto Phocus
Headline Shooter
(1933)
Adolphus G. Crocker
Sing, Bing, Sing
(1933)
Herbert
Only Yesterday
(1933)
Tom (Uncredited)
Torchy's Kitty Coup
(1933)
Office Manager
Torchy Turns Turtle
(1933)
Office Manager
Torchy's Loud Spooker
(1933)
Office Manager
Trying Out Torchy
(1933)
Office manager
Easy on the Eyes
(1933)
Franklyn Pierce
King Kelly of the U.S.A.
(1934)
J. Ashton Brockton
Cockeyed Cavaliers
(1934)
Town Crier
Manhattan Love Song
(1934)
Garrett Wetherby
Tomorrow's Youth
(1934)
Thornton
Flirtation
(1934)
Veterinarian
Young and Beautiful
(1934)
Radio Announcer
My Grandfather's Clock
(1934)
Dr. Watkins
Unknown Blonde
(1934)
Male Co-Respondent
College Rhythm
(1934)
Peabody
Imitation of Life
(1934)
Mr. Carven (uncredited)
Many Happy Returns
(1934)
Allen's Secretary
Strictly Dynamite
(1934)
Mr. Bailey
The Captain Hits the Ceiling
(1935)
Jimmy Martin
Eight Bells
(1935)
Finch
She Married Her Boss
(1935)
Window Dresser (uncredited)
$1,000 a Minute
(1935)
Reville
Hollywood Trouble
(1935)
Tailor
She Couldn't Take It
(1935)
Spot's Secretary
The Headline Woman
(1935)
Hamilton
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
The Tailor (uncredited)
The Mandarin Mystery
(1936)
Mellish
Hats Off
(1936)
Mr. Churchill
Tango
(1936)
Oscar, the Photographer
Doughnuts and Society
(1936)
Benson
Three Smart Girls
(1936)
Jeweler
Give Us This Night
(1936)
Forcellini's Secretary
To Mary - with Love
(1936)
Guest
Don't Gamble with Love
(1936)
Salesman
Swing Banditry
(1936)
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey
(1936)
Guthrie (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
(1937)
Billy Moon (uncredited)
Stage Door
(1937)
Harcourt
Easy Living
(1937)
Van Buren
Swing High, Swing Low
(1937)
Henri
Danger – Love at Work
(1937)
Train dining car headwaiter
All Over Town
(1937)
The Costumer
High Hat
(1937)
Renaldo Breton
She's Dangerous
(1937)
Fashion Designer
Rich Relations
(1937)
Mr. Dwight
Dangerous Holiday
(1937)
Doffle
It's All Yours
(1937)
Schultz
She Married an Artist
(1937)
Paul
The Life of the Party
(1937)
Beggs
It Happened in Hollywood
(1937)
Mr. Forsythe
Dangerous Number
(1937)
Hotel Desk Clerk
Living on Love
(1937)
Ogilvie O. Oglethorpe
We Have Our Moments
(1937)
Joe
I'll Take Romance
(1937)
Kane's Secretary
Love on Toast
(1937)
Finley
When Love Is Young
(1937)
John Dorman
Thrill of a Lifetime
(1937)
Sam Williams
Bad Housekeeping
(1937)
Piano Tuner
She Had to Eat
(1937)
Mr. Phoecian-Wylie
Step Lively, Jeeves!
(1937)
Head Waiter
The Lady Escapes
(1937)
Pierre
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife
(1938)
Assistant Hotel Manager
Carefree
(1938)
Roland Hunter
Just Around the Corner
(1938)
Waters
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
(1938)
Hamilton Montmarcy
Four's a Crowd
(1938)
Preston
Topper Takes a Trip
(1938)
Louis - Hotel Manager
Always Goodbye
(1938)
Bicycle Salesman
The Girl Downstairs
(1938)
Adolf Pumpfel
Doctor Rhythm
(1938)
Mr. Stenchfield (Store Clerk)
Three Blind Mice
(1938)
Clerk
Joy of Living
(1938)
Orchestra Leader
Vivacious Lady
(1938)
Apartment Manager
Broadway Serenade
(1939)
Gene, Collier's Composer
5th Ave Girl
(1939)
Higgins
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
(1939)
Franklin Pangborn
The Bank Dick
(1940)
J. Pinkerton Snoopington
Christmas in July
(1940)
Radio Announcer
Spring Parade
(1940)
Wiedlemeyer
Turnabout
(1940)
Mr. Pingboom
Hit Parade of 1941
(1940)
Carter
Public Deb No. 1
(1940)
Bartender
The Villain Still Pursued Her
(1940)
Bartender (uncredited)
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
(1941)
The Producer
The Flame of New Orleans
(1941)
Bellows
Sullivan's Travels
(1941)
Mr. Casalsis
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
(1941)
Pet Shop Owner
Weekend for Three
(1941)
Number Seven, Old Field Inn Waiter
Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case
(1941)
Charley Towne
Where Did You Get That Girl?
(1941)
Digby
Bachelor Daddy
(1941)
Williams, Club Manager
Tillie the Toiler
(1941)
Perry Tweedale
The Palm Beach Story
(1942)
Manager
Now, Voyager
(1942)
Mr. Thompson
George Washington Slept Here
(1942)
Mr. Gibney
Call Out the Marines
(1942)
Wilbur
Obliging Young Lady
(1942)
Professor Gibney
Moonlight Masquerade
(1942)
Fairchild
What's Cookin'?
(1942)
Professor Bistell
Strictly in the Groove
(1942)
Cathcart
Reveille with Beverly
(1943)
Vernon Lewis (uncredited)
Holy Matrimony
(1943)
Duncan Farll
Stage Door Canteen
(1943)
Franklin Pangborn
Honeymoon Lodge
(1943)
Cathcart
Never a Dull Moment
(1943)
Sylvester
Two Weeks to Live
(1943)
Mr. Pinkney
Crazy House
(1943)
Hotel Clerk
The Great Moment
(1944)
Dr. Heywood
Hail the Conquering Hero
(1944)
Reception Committee Chairman
My Best Gal
(1944)
Mr. Porter
Allergic to Love
(1944)
Stewart Ives III
Reckless Age
(1944)
Mr. Thurtle
The Horn Blows at Midnight
(1945)
Radio Engineer / Sloan
Hollywood and Vine
(1945)
Reggie
Tell It to a Star
(1945)
Horace Lovelace
You Came Along
(1945)
Hotel Clerk
See My Lawyer
(1945)
B.J. Wagonhorn
Hollywood Victory Caravan
(1945)
Railroad Agent
Lover Come Back
(1946)
Hotel desk clerk
Two Guys from Milwaukee
(1946)
Theatre Manager
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
(1947)
Formfit Franklin
I'll Be Yours
(1947)
Barber
Calendar Girl
(1947)
Dilly Dillingsworth
Romance on the High Seas
(1948)
Rio Hotel Clerk
My Dream Is Yours
(1949)
Sourpuss Manager
The Eternal Melody
(1949)
The Cat Lover
Down Memory Lane
(1949)
(archive footage)
The Story of Mankind
(1957)
Marquis de Varennes
The Unchained Goddess
(1958)
the Cloud Painter (voice)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(1984)
(archive footage)