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