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