Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

197

Gender

Male

Birthday

1889-01-23

Day of Death

1958-07-20 (69 years old)

Place of Birth

Newark, New Jersey, USA

Also Known As

Joseph Franklin Pangborn

Franklyn Pangborn

Frank Pangborn

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

Acting

The Bank Dick

1940

The Bank Dick

as

J. Pinkerton Snoopington

Reno or Bust

1930

Reno or Bust

as

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

1947

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

as

Formfit Franklin

King Kelly of the U.S.A.

1934

King Kelly of the U.S.A.

as

J. Ashton Brockton

My Dream Is Yours

1949

My Dream Is Yours

as

Sourpuss Manager

1937

A Star Is Born

as

Billy Moon (uncredited)

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

1936

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

as

The Tailor (uncredited)

Bluebeard's 8th Wife

1938

Bluebeard's 8th Wife

as

Assistant Hotel Manager

The Palm Beach Story

1942

The Palm Beach Story

as

Manager

Now, Voyager

1942

Now, Voyager

as

Mr. Thompson

Christmas in July

1940

Christmas in July

as

Don Hartman - Radio Announcer

Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

1941

Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

as

The Producer

George Washington Slept Here

1942

George Washington Slept Here

as

Mr. Gibney

Hail the Conquering Hero

1944

Hail the Conquering Hero

as

Reception Committee Chairman

The Great Moment

1944

The Great Moment

as

Dr. Heywood

Carefree

1938

Carefree

as

Roland Hunter

Tillie the Toiler

1941

Tillie the Toiler

as

Perry Tweedale

The Story of Mankind

1957

The Story of Mankind

as

Marquis de Varennes

Just Around the Corner

1938

Just Around the Corner

as

Waters

The Flame of New Orleans

1941

The Flame of New Orleans

as

Bellows

Romance on the High Seas

1948

Romance on the High Seas

as

Rio Hotel Clerk

Stage Door

1937

Stage Door

as

Harcourt

Fifth Avenue Girl

1939

Fifth Avenue Girl

as

Higgins

Sullivan's Travels

1941

Sullivan's Travels

as

Mr. Casalsis

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

1938

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

as

Hamilton Montmarcy

The Mandarin Mystery

1936

The Mandarin Mystery

as

Mellish

The Horn Blows at Midnight

1945

The Horn Blows at Midnight

as

Radio Engineer / Sloan

Four's a Crowd

1938

Four's a Crowd

as

Preston

Easy Living

1937

Easy Living

as

Van Buren

Topper Takes a Trip

1938

Topper Takes a Trip

as

Louis - Hotel Manager

Trying Out Torchy

1933

Trying Out Torchy

as

Office manager

Hollywood and Vine

1945

Hollywood and Vine

as

Reggie

Design for Living

1933

Design for Living

as

Mr. Douglas

The Half-Naked Truth

1932

The Half-Naked Truth

as

Hotel Clerk

Reveille with Beverly

1943

Reveille with Beverly

as

Vernon Lewis (uncredited)

Swing High, Swing Low

1937

Swing High, Swing Low

as

Henri

Cockeyed Cavaliers

1934

Cockeyed Cavaliers

as

Town Crier

I'll Be Yours

1947

I'll Be Yours

as

Barber

Blue of the Night

1931

Blue of the Night

as

Gilbert Sinclair

Broadway Serenade

1939

Broadway Serenade

as

Gene, Collier's Composer

A Fool's Advice

1932

A Fool's Advice

as

Egbert - Hotel Clerk

Her Man

1930

Her Man

as

Sport

Danger – Love at Work

1937

Danger – Love at Work

as

Train dining car headwaiter

1947

Calendar Girl

as

Dilly Dillingsworth

It Happened in Hollywood

1937

It Happened in Hollywood

as

Mr. Forsythe

Obliging Young Lady

1942

Obliging Young Lady

as

Professor Gibney

Holy Matrimony

1943

Holy Matrimony

as

Duncan Farll

Art in the Raw

1933

Art in the Raw

as

A Blonde for a Night

1928

A Blonde for a Night

as

Hector

Manhattan Love Song

1934

Manhattan Love Song

as

Garrett Wetherby

1933

Menu

as

John Xavier Omsk (uncredited)

Tomorrow's Youth

1934

Tomorrow's Youth

as

Thornton

Tell It to a Star

1945

Tell It to a Star

as

Horace Lovelace

All Over Town

1937

All Over Town

as

The Costumer

Sweepings

1933

Sweepings

as

Photographer (Uncredited)

Dream Stuff

1933

Dream Stuff

as

Gordon

My Friend from India

1927

My Friend from India

as

William / Tommy Valentine

The Loud Mouth

1932

The Loud Mouth

as

A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob

1941

A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob

as

Pet Shop Owner

Cradle Snatchers

1927

Cradle Snatchers

as

Howard Drake

The Girl Downstairs

1938

The Girl Downstairs

as

Adolf Pumpfel

Hats Off

1936

Hats Off

as

Mr. Churchill

Not So Dumb

1930

Not So Dumb

as

Leach

Tango

1936

Tango

as

Oscar, the Photographer

The Chumps

1930

The Chumps

as

Eddie Gray

Jimmy's New Yacht

1932

Jimmy's New Yacht

as

Everett

Torchy Passes the Buck

1931

Torchy Passes the Buck

as

Office Manager

Torchy Turns the Trick

1932

Torchy Turns the Trick

as

Office Manager

Torchy

1931

Torchy

as

Office Manager

Torchy's Night Cap

1932

Torchy's Night Cap

as

Office Manager

Torchy's Two Toots

1932

Torchy's Two Toots

as

Office Manager

Torchy Raises the Auntie

1932

Torchy Raises the Auntie

as

Office Manager

Torchy Rolls His Own

1932

Torchy Rolls His Own

as

Office Manager

Torchy's Busy Day

1932

Torchy's Busy Day

as

Office Manager

Torchy's Kitty Coup

1933

Torchy's Kitty Coup

as

Office Manager

Torchy's Loud Spooker

1933

Torchy's Loud Spooker

as

Office Manager

Torchy Turns Turtle

1933

Torchy Turns Turtle

as

Office Manager

Professional Sweetheart

1933

Professional Sweetheart

as

Herbert

High Hat

1937

High Hat

as

Renaldo Breton

Lover Come Back

1946

Lover Come Back

as

Hotel desk clerk

Flirtation

1934

Flirtation

as

Veterinarian

Weekend for Three

1941

Weekend for Three

as

Number Seven, Old Field Inn Waiter

Tee for Two

1932

Tee for Two

as

Henry

Dangerous Holiday

1937

Dangerous Holiday

as

Doffle

She's Dangerous

1937

She's Dangerous

as

Fashion Designer

Rich Relations

1937

Rich Relations

as

Mr. Dwight

Doctor's Orders

1932

Doctor's Orders

as

Doctor Rhythm

1938

Doctor Rhythm

as

Mr. Stenchfield (Store Clerk)

It's All Yours

1937

It's All Yours

as

Schultz

Always Goodbye

1938

Always Goodbye

as

Bicycle Salesman

Cheer Up and Smile

1930

Cheer Up and Smile

as

Professor

Three Blind Mice

1938

Three Blind Mice

as

Clerk

Breakfast in Bed

1930

Breakfast in Bed

as

John

Spring Parade

1940

Spring Parade

as

Wiedlemeyer

A Lady Surrenders

1930

A Lady Surrenders

as

Lawton

Over the Counter

1932

Over the Counter

as

Drake's Assistant

You Came Along

1945

You Came Along

as

Hotel Clerk

The Important Witness

1933

The Important Witness

as

Groom

Joy of Living

1938

Joy of Living

as

Orchestra Leader

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984

Going Hollywood: The '30s

as

(archive footage)

Getting Gertie's Garter

1927

Getting Gertie's Garter

as

Algy Brooks

Hollywood Victory Caravan

1945

Hollywood Victory Caravan

as

Railroad Agent

What Price Taxi

1932

What Price Taxi

as

Taxi Boy

Call Out the Marines

1942

Call Out the Marines

as

Wilbur

The Captain Hits the Ceiling

1935

The Captain Hits the Ceiling

as

Jimmy Martin

Vivacious Lady

1938

Vivacious Lady

as

Apartment Manager

Easy on the Eyes

1933

Easy on the Eyes

as

Franklyn Pierce

She Married an Artist

1937

She Married an Artist

as

Paul

A Woman of Experience

1931

A Woman of Experience

as

Hans

Doughnuts and Society

1936

Doughnuts and Society

as

Benson

The Life of the Party

1937

The Life of the Party

as

Beggs

Bed of Roses

1933

Bed of Roses

as

Floorwalker

Dangerous Number

1937

Dangerous Number

as

Hotel Desk Clerk

Living on Love

1937

Living on Love

as

Ogilvie O. Oglethorpe

The Sap

1929

The Sap

as

Ed Mason

Young and Beautiful

1934

Young and Beautiful

as

Radio Announcer

We Have Our Moments

1937

We Have Our Moments

as

Joe

I'll Take Romance

1937

I'll Take Romance

as

Kane's Secretary

Turnabout

1940

Turnabout

as

Mr. Pingboom

Eight Bells

1935

Eight Bells

as

Finch

Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case

1941

Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case

as

Charley Towne

The Lady Escapes

1937

The Lady Escapes

as

Pierre

Three Smart Girls

1936

Three Smart Girls

as

Jeweler

Hit Parade of 1941

1940

Hit Parade of 1941

as

Carter

Moonlight Masquerade

1942

Moonlight Masquerade

as

Fairchild

My Best Gal

1944

My Best Gal

as

Mr. Porter

She Married Her Boss

1935

She Married Her Boss

as

Window Dresser (uncredited)

Parachute Jumper

1933

Parachute Jumper

as

Man in Private Office (uncredited)

Give Us This Night

1936

Give Us This Night

as

Forcellini's Secretary

What's Cookin'?

1942

What's Cookin'?

as

Professor Bistell

Love on Toast

1937

Love on Toast

as

Finley

Stage Door Canteen

1943

Stage Door Canteen

as

Franklin Pangborn

$1,000 a Minute

1935

$1,000 a Minute

as

Reville

When Love Is Young

1937

When Love Is Young

as

John Dorman

Where Did You Get That Girl?

1941

Where Did You Get That Girl?

as

Digby

Allergic to Love

1944

Allergic to Love

as

Stewart Ives III

Never a Dull Moment

1943

Never a Dull Moment

as

Sylvester

Honeymoon Lodge

1943

Honeymoon Lodge

as

Cathcart

1934

My Grandfather's Clock

as

Dr. Watkins

The Eternal Melody

1949

The Eternal Melody

as

The Cat Lover

International House

1933

International House

as

Hotel Manager

To Mary - with Love

1936

To Mary - with Love

as

Guest

Next Door Neighbors

1931

Next Door Neighbors

as

Landlord

Two Guys from Milwaukee

1946

Two Guys from Milwaukee

as

Theatre Manager

Flying Down to Rio

1933

Flying Down to Rio

as

Hammerstein (uncredited)

Exit Smiling

1926

Exit Smiling

as

Cecil Lovelace

Sunny

1930

Sunny

as

Party Guest (uncredited)

Unknown Blonde

1934

Unknown Blonde

as

Male Co-Respondent

Don't Gamble with Love

1936

Don't Gamble with Love

as

Salesman

Poor Aubrey

1930

Poor Aubrey

as

Aubrey Piper

The Unchained Goddess

1958

The Unchained Goddess

as

the Cloud Painter (voice)

Hollywood Trouble

1935

Hollywood Trouble

as

Tailor

Wild Poses

1933

Wild Poses

as

Otto Phocus

Headline Shooter

1933

Headline Shooter

as

Adolphus G. Crocker

On Trial

1928

On Trial

as

Turnbull

Thrill of a Lifetime

1937

Thrill of a Lifetime

as

Sam Williams

College Rhythm

1934

College Rhythm

as

Peabody

Swing Banditry

1936

Swing Banditry

as

Radio Announcer (uncredited)

The Giddy Age

1932

The Giddy Age

as

George

Public Deb No. 1

1940

Public Deb No. 1

as

Bartender

Two Weeks to Live

1943

Two Weeks to Live

as

Mr. Pinkney

My Man Godfrey

1936

My Man Godfrey

as

Guthrie (uncredited)

Sing, Bing, Sing

1933

Sing, Bing, Sing

as

Herbert

Bad Housekeeping

1937

Bad Housekeeping

as

Piano Tuner

The Girl in the Pullman

1927

The Girl in the Pullman

as

Hector Brooks

See My Lawyer

1945

See My Lawyer

as

B.J. Wagonhorn

She Had to Eat

1937

She Had to Eat

as

Mr. Phoecian-Wylie

Bachelor Daddy

1941

Bachelor Daddy

as

Williams, Club Manager

Crazy House

1943

Crazy House

as

Hotel Clerk

Reckless Age

1944

Reckless Age

as

Mr. Thurtle

She Couldn't Take It

1935

She Couldn't Take It

as

Spot's Secretary

Finger Prints

1927

Finger Prints

as

The Bandoline Kid

Only Yesterday

1933

Only Yesterday

as

Tom (Uncredited)

Lighthouse Love

1932

Lighthouse Love

as

Pvt. Jerry Stone

Imitation of Life

1934

Imitation of Life

as

Mr. Carven (uncredited)

Step Lively, Jeeves!

1937

Step Lively, Jeeves!

as

Head Waiter

Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

1939

Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

as

Franklin Pangborn

Lighthouse Love

1932

Lighthouse Love

as

Pvt. Jerry Stone

Many Happy Returns

1934

Many Happy Returns

as

Allen's Secretary

Strictly Dynamite

1934

Strictly Dynamite

as

Mr. Bailey

Strictly in the Groove

1942

Strictly in the Groove

as

Cathcart

Lady of the Pavements

1929

Lady of the Pavements

as

M'sieu Dubrey, Dance Master

The Villain Still Pursued Her

1940

The Villain Still Pursued Her

as

Bartender (uncredited)

The Headline Woman

1935

The Headline Woman

as

Hamilton

Down Memory Lane

1949

Down Memory Lane

as

(archive footage)

Hollywood Halfbacks

1931

Hollywood Halfbacks

as

The Luckiest Girl in the World

1936

The Luckiest Girl in the World

as

Cashier

She Married Her Boss

1935

She Married Her Boss

as

Window Dresser

That's Gratitude

1934

That's Gratitude

as

Photographer

The Candid Camera

1932

The Candid Camera

as

Jack Townes

The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary

1927

The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary

as

Melville

The Colgate Comedy Hour

The Colgate Comedy Hour

as

Self

This Is Your Life

This Is Your Life

as

Self

Tonight Starring Jack Paar

Tonight Starring Jack Paar

as

Self - Announcer

Hey Mulligan

Hey Mulligan

as

Mr. Bean

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

as

Mr. Canfield (uncredited)

Revlon Mirror Theatre

Revlon Mirror Theatre

as

Production

Crew

Directing