Franklin Pangborn1889 - 1958

usually

Actor

Popularity

2.4

Famous

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.

Credits

Going Hollywood: The '30s
Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984

Documentary

as (archive footage)

10
0.4
The Unchained Goddess
The Unchained Goddess

1958

Animation

as the Cloud Painter (voice)

7
0.2
The Story of Mankind
The Story of Mankind

1957

Drama • Fantasy • Science Fiction

as Marquis de Varennes

4.5
0.2
The Eternal Melody
The Eternal Melody

1949

Drama

as The Cat Lover

0
0.1
Down Memory Lane
Down Memory Lane

1949

Comedy • History • Music

as (archive footage)

0
0.1
My Dream Is Yours
My Dream Is Yours

1949

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Sourpuss Manager

6.5
0.4
Romance on the High Seas
Romance on the High Seas

1948

Comedy • Romance

as Rio Hotel Clerk

6.8
0.6
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

1947

Comedy

as Formfit Franklin

6.3
0.3
I'll Be Yours
I'll Be Yours

1947

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Barber

6
0.3
Calendar Girl
Calendar Girl

1947

Romance

as Dilly Dillingsworth

5.9
0.3
Two Guys from Milwaukee
Two Guys from Milwaukee

1946

Comedy

as Theatre Manager

4.8
0.4
Lover Come Back
Lover Come Back

1946

Comedy

as Hotel desk clerk

6.2
0.2
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Hollywood Victory Caravan

1945

Comedy • Music

as Railroad Agent

5.2
0.3
Tell It to a Star
Tell It to a Star

1945

Comedy • Music

as Horace Lovelace

0
0.2
You Came Along
You Came Along

1945

Drama • Romance

as Hotel Clerk

7
0.3
The Horn Blows at Midnight
The Horn Blows at Midnight

1945

Comedy • Fantasy • Music

as Radio Engineer / Sloan

5.8
0.5
Hollywood and Vine
Hollywood and Vine

1945

Comedy • Drama

as Reggie

4.4
0.2
See My Lawyer
See My Lawyer

1945

Comedy • Music

as B.J. Wagonhorn

6
0.3
Hail the Conquering Hero
Hail the Conquering Hero

1944

Comedy • War

as Reception Committee Chairman

7
0.4
Reckless Age
Reckless Age

1944

Adventure • Comedy • Drama • Music

as Mr. Thurtle

0
0.3
Allergic to Love
Allergic to Love

1944

Comedy • Music

as Stewart Ives III

0
0.3
The Great Moment
The Great Moment

1944

Comedy • Drama

as Dr. Heywood

5.8
0.2
My Best Gal
My Best Gal

1944

Comedy • Drama • Music

as Mr. Porter

0
0.3
Never a Dull Moment
Never a Dull Moment

1943

Comedy • Music

as Sylvester

6
0.2
Crazy House
Crazy House

1943

Comedy • Music

as Hotel Clerk

5
0.4
Holy Matrimony
Holy Matrimony

1943

Comedy • Drama

as Duncan Farll

6.6
0.2
Honeymoon Lodge
Honeymoon Lodge

1943

Comedy • Music

as Cathcart

0
0.3
Stage Door Canteen
Stage Door Canteen

1943

Comedy • Music • Romance • War

as Franklin Pangborn

6.2
1.2
Two Weeks to Live
Two Weeks to Live

1943

Action • Adventure • Comedy

as Mr. Pinkney

2
0.7
Reveille with Beverly
Reveille with Beverly

1943

Comedy • Music • Romance • War

as Vernon Lewis (uncredited)

7
0.3
Strictly in the Groove
Strictly in the Groove

1942

Comedy

as Cathcart

0
0.2
George Washington Slept Here
George Washington Slept Here

1942

Comedy

as Mr. Gibney

6.3
0.4
Now, Voyager
Now, Voyager

1942

Drama • Romance

as Mr. Thompson

7.4
1.1
The Palm Beach Story
The Palm Beach Story

1942

Comedy • Romance

as Manager

7
0.4
Moonlight Masquerade
Moonlight Masquerade

1942

Comedy

as Fairchild

5
0.1
Obliging Young Lady
Obliging Young Lady

1942

Comedy • Romance

as Professor Gibney

5
0.3
What's Cookin'?
What's Cookin'?

1942

Comedy • Music

as Professor Bistell

5.5
0.2
Call Out the Marines
Call Out the Marines

1942

Comedy • Music

as Wilbur

4
0.1
Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case
Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case

1941

Crime • Mystery

as Charley Towne

6
0.1
Weekend for Three
Weekend for Three

1941

Comedy

as Number Seven, Old Field Inn Waiter

5.7
0.3
Sullivan's Travels
Sullivan's Travels

1941

Adventure • Comedy • Romance

as Mr. Casalsis

7.4
0.8
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

1941

Comedy

as The Producer

6.9
0.2
Tillie the Toiler
Tillie the Toiler

1941

Comedy

as Perry Tweedale

0
0.1
The Flame of New Orleans
The Flame of New Orleans

1941

Comedy • Romance

as Bellows

6.3
0.4
Bachelor Daddy
Bachelor Daddy

1941

Comedy

as Williams, Club Manager

0
0.1
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob

1941

Comedy • Romance

as Pet Shop Owner

4.7
0.3
Where Did You Get That Girl?
Where Did You Get That Girl?

1941

Comedy • Music

as Digby

5
0.2
The Bank Dick
The Bank Dick

1940

Comedy

as J. Pinkerton Snoopington

6.5
0.7
Christmas in July
Christmas in July

1940

Comedy • Romance

as Don Hartman - Radio Announcer

6.9
0.4
Hit Parade of 1941
Hit Parade of 1941

1940

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Carter

5.5
0.2
The Villain Still Pursued Her
The Villain Still Pursued Her

1940

Comedy • Romance

as Bartender (uncredited)

5.1
0.3
Spring Parade
Spring Parade

1940

Comedy • Music

as Wiedlemeyer

6.7
0.3
Public Deb No. 1
Public Deb No. 1

1940

Comedy

as Bartender

4.2
0.2
Turnabout
Turnabout

1940

Comedy • Fantasy

as Mr. Pingboom

6
0.5
Fifth Avenue Girl
Fifth Avenue Girl

1939

Comedy • Romance

as Higgins

7
0.4
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

1939

Documentary

as Franklin Pangborn

4
0.1
Broadway Serenade
Broadway Serenade

1939

Drama • Music • Romance

as Gene, Collier's Composer

6.2
0.4
Topper Takes a Trip
Topper Takes a Trip

1938

Comedy • Fantasy • Romance

as Louis - Hotel Manager

6.4
0.4
The Girl Downstairs
The Girl Downstairs

1938

Comedy • Romance

as Adolf Pumpfel

4.5
0.3
Just Around the Corner
Just Around the Corner

1938

Comedy • Music

as Waters

5.5
0.2
Carefree
Carefree

1938

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Roland Hunter

6.6
0.6
Four's a Crowd
Four's a Crowd

1938

Comedy • Romance

as Preston

5.1
0.3
Always Goodbye
Always Goodbye

1938

Comedy • Drama • Romance

as Bicycle Salesman

6.8
0.5
Three Blind Mice
Three Blind Mice

1938

Comedy • Romance

as Clerk

6
0.5
Vivacious Lady
Vivacious Lady

1938

Comedy • Romance

as Apartment Manager

6.9
0.7
Doctor Rhythm
Doctor Rhythm

1938

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Mr. Stenchfield (Store Clerk)

6
0.2
Joy of Living
Joy of Living

1938

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Orchestra Leader

5.7
0.4
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife

1938

Comedy • Romance

as Assistant Hotel Manager

7
0.5
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

1938

Drama • Family • Music

as Hamilton Montmarcy

6.7
0.3
Love on Toast
Love on Toast

1937

Comedy

as Finley

5.5
0.1
Thrill of a Lifetime
Thrill of a Lifetime

1937

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Sam Williams

5
0.1
She Married an Artist
She Married an Artist

1937

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Paul

0
0.1
I'll Take Romance
I'll Take Romance

1937

Music • Romance

as Kane's Secretary

5
0.3
Living on Love
Living on Love

1937

Comedy • Romance

as Ogilvie O. Oglethorpe

5.8
0.2
Stage Door
Stage Door

1937

Comedy • Drama

as Harcourt

7
0.6
Danger – Love at Work
Danger – Love at Work

1937

Comedy • Romance

as Train dining car headwaiter

7.3
0.2
It Happened in Hollywood
It Happened in Hollywood

1937

Comedy • Drama

as Mr. Forsythe

6.1
0.3
The Life of the Party
The Life of the Party

1937

Comedy • Romance

as Beggs

5.2
0.2
It's All Yours
It's All Yours

1937

Comedy

as Schultz

5
0.1
All Over Town
All Over Town

1937

Comedy

as The Costumer

7.2
0.3
The Lady Escapes
The Lady Escapes

1937

Comedy

as Pierre

0
0.1
Easy Living
Easy Living

1937

Comedy • Romance

as Van Buren

7
0.6
She Had to Eat
She Had to Eat

1937

Adventure • Comedy • Crime • Music • Romance

as Mr. Phoecian-Wylie

5
0.1
Step Lively, Jeeves!
Step Lively, Jeeves!

1937

Comedy • Crime

as Head Waiter

4.7
0.2
Dangerous Holiday
Dangerous Holiday

1937

Drama

as Doffle

0
0.4
A Star Is Born
A Star Is Born

1937

Drama • Romance

as Billy Moon (uncredited)

7.1
1.6
We Have Our Moments
We Have Our Moments

1937

Comedy • Mystery • Romance

as Joe

5.8
0.3
When Love Is Young
When Love Is Young

1937

Comedy

as John Dorman

0
0.2
Swing High, Swing Low
Swing High, Swing Low

1937

Comedy • Drama • Romance

as Henri

5.1
1
Bad Housekeeping
Bad Housekeeping

1937

Comedy

as Piano Tuner

0
0.1
Rich Relations
Rich Relations

1937

Comedy

as Mr. Dwight

0
0.1
She's Dangerous
She's Dangerous

1937

Crime • Drama

as Fashion Designer

5
0.2
Dangerous Number
Dangerous Number

1937

Comedy • Romance

as Hotel Desk Clerk

5
0.4
High Hat
High Hat

1937

Comedy

as Renaldo Breton

5
0.3
The Mandarin Mystery
The Mandarin Mystery

1936

Mystery • Thriller

as Mellish

5
0.8
Three Smart Girls
Three Smart Girls

1936

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Jeweler

6.4
0.4
Hats Off
Hats Off

1936

Comedy • Music

as Mr. Churchill

5
0.1
The Luckiest Girl in the World
7.5
0.1
Swing Banditry
Swing Banditry

1936

Comedy • Music

as Radio Announcer (uncredited)

0
0.1
My Man Godfrey
My Man Godfrey

1936

Comedy

as Guthrie (uncredited)

7.6
2.4
To Mary - with Love
To Mary - with Love

1936

Drama

as Guest

4.5
0.2
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

1936

Comedy • Drama • Romance

as The Tailor (uncredited)

7.5
1.1
Doughnuts and Society
Doughnuts and Society

1936

Comedy • Romance

as Benson

0
0.1
Give Us This Night
Give Us This Night

1936

as Forcellini's Secretary

7
0.2
Don't Gamble with Love
Don't Gamble with Love

1936

Drama

as Salesman

0
0.1
Tango
Tango

1936

Drama

as Oscar, the Photographer

5
0.3
$1,000 a Minute
$1,000 a Minute

1935

Comedy

as Reville

5.8
0.2
She Couldn't Take It
She Couldn't Take It

1935

Comedy

as Spot's Secretary

4.5
0.3
She Married Her Boss
She Married Her Boss

1935

Comedy

as Window Dresser (uncredited)

7
0.2
She Married Her Boss
She Married Her Boss

1935

Comedy

as Window Dresser

7
0.2
The Captain Hits the Ceiling
The Captain Hits the Ceiling

1935

Comedy

as Jimmy Martin

0
0.2
The Headline Woman
The Headline Woman

1935

Crime • Drama

as Hamilton

5
0.1
Eight Bells
Eight Bells

1935

Action • Adventure • Romance

as Finch

6
0.2
Hollywood Trouble
Hollywood Trouble

1935

Comedy

as Tailor

0
0.1
College Rhythm
College Rhythm

1934

Romance

as Peabody

4.7
0.3
Imitation of Life
Imitation of Life

1934

Drama • Romance

as Mr. Carven (uncredited)

7
0.9
Flirtation
Flirtation

1934

Drama • Music • Romance

as Veterinarian

4.4
0.2
My Grandfather's Clock
My Grandfather's Clock

1934

Comedy • Music • Mystery

as Dr. Watkins

7
0.3
Tomorrow's Youth
Tomorrow's Youth

1934

Drama

as Thornton

0
0.1
That's Gratitude
That's Gratitude

1934

Comedy

as Photographer

0
0
Young and Beautiful
Young and Beautiful

1934

Comedy • Romance

as Radio Announcer

4.5
0.3
King Kelly of the U.S.A.
King Kelly of the U.S.A.

1934

Comedy

as J. Ashton Brockton

3.5
0.2
Cockeyed Cavaliers
Cockeyed Cavaliers

1934

Comedy • Music

as Town Crier

6
0.2
Many Happy Returns
Many Happy Returns

1934

Comedy

as Allen's Secretary

5.3
0.2
Strictly Dynamite
Strictly Dynamite

1934

Comedy • Music

as Mr. Bailey

5.3
0.3
Manhattan Love Song
Manhattan Love Song

1934

Comedy • Drama • Romance

as Garrett Wetherby

5.2
0.2
Unknown Blonde
Unknown Blonde

1934

Drama

as Male Co-Respondent

1
0.2
Design for Living
Design for Living

1933

Comedy • Romance

as Mr. Douglas

7.1
0.6
Flying Down to Rio
Flying Down to Rio

1933

Comedy • Romance

as Hammerstein (uncredited)

6.2
0.6
Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday

1933

Drama • Romance

as Tom (Uncredited)

6.8
0.3
Wild Poses
Wild Poses

1933

Comedy

as Otto Phocus

7.6
0.1
Menu
Menu

1933

Comedy • Fantasy

as John Xavier Omsk (uncredited)

5
0.5
Trying Out Torchy
Trying Out Torchy

1933

Comedy

as Office manager

0
0.1
Headline Shooter
Headline Shooter

1933

Adventure • Drama

as Adolphus G. Crocker

5.8
0.3
The Important Witness
The Important Witness

1933

Action • Adventure • Comedy • Crime • Drama

as Groom

5
0.1
Bed of Roses
Bed of Roses

1933

Comedy • Drama • Romance

as Floorwalker

6.3
0.4
Torchy's Loud Spooker
Torchy's Loud Spooker

1933

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0
Professional Sweetheart
Professional Sweetheart

1933

Comedy • Romance

as Herbert Childress

5
0.4
International House
International House

1933

Comedy

as Hotel Manager

5.4
0.3
Dream Stuff
Dream Stuff

1933

Comedy

as Gordon

5.5
0.3
Torchy Turns Turtle
Torchy Turns Turtle

1933

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0
Sweepings
Sweepings

1933

Drama

as Photographer (Uncredited)

5.8
0.1
Sing, Bing, Sing
Sing, Bing, Sing

1933

Comedy • Music

as Herbert

5.6
0.2
Art in the Raw
1
0.1
Easy on the Eyes
Easy on the Eyes

1933

Comedy

as Franklyn Pierce

0
0.1
Parachute Jumper
Parachute Jumper

1933

Drama

as Man in Private Office (uncredited)

6.1
0.7
Torchy's Kitty Coup
Torchy's Kitty Coup

1933

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0
The Half-Naked Truth
The Half-Naked Truth

1932

Comedy • Romance

as Hotel Clerk

5.2
0.3
Torchy Rolls His Own
Torchy Rolls His Own

1932

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0
Over the Counter
Over the Counter

1932

Music

as Drake's Assistant

4.7
0.1
Tee for Two
Tee for Two

1932

Comedy

as Henry

0
0
Torchy's Busy Day
Torchy's Busy Day

1932

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0.1
The Giddy Age
The Giddy Age

1932

Comedy

as George

0
0.1
What Price Taxi
What Price Taxi

1932

Comedy

as Taxi Boy

1
0.3
The Loud Mouth
The Loud Mouth

1932

Comedy

6
0.3
Doctor's Orders
Doctor's Orders

1932

Comedy

0
0.1
Torchy's Two Toots
Torchy's Two Toots

1932

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0.1
Jimmy's New Yacht
Jimmy's New Yacht

1932

Comedy

as Everett

1
0.1
Lighthouse Love
Lighthouse Love

1932

Comedy

as Pvt. Jerry Stone

0
0.1
Lighthouse Love
Lighthouse Love

1932

Comedy

as Pvt. Jerry Stone

5.5
0.1
Torchy Raises the Auntie
Torchy Raises the Auntie

1932

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0.1
Torchy's Night Cap
Torchy's Night Cap

1932

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0
A Fool's Advice
A Fool's Advice

1932

Comedy

as Egbert - Hotel Clerk

5.5
0.2
Torchy Turns the Trick
Torchy Turns the Trick

1932

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0
Hollywood Halfbacks
0
0.3
Torchy Passes the Buck
Torchy Passes the Buck

1931

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0
Torchy
Torchy

1931

Comedy

as Office Manager

0
0.1
Blue of the Night
Blue of the Night

1931

Comedy • Music

as Gilbert Sinclair

5.7
0.2
A Woman of Experience
A Woman of Experience

1931

Drama • Romance

as Hans

5.2
0.1
Next Door Neighbors
Next Door Neighbors

1931

as Landlord

0
0.1
Breakfast in Bed
Breakfast in Bed

1930

Comedy

as John

0
0.1
Sunny
Sunny

1930

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Party Guest (uncredited)

6.5
0.4
A Lady Surrenders
A Lady Surrenders

1930

Drama • Romance

as Lawton

3.5
0.2
Her Man
Her Man

1930

Drama • Romance

as Sport

5.3
0.3
The Chumps
The Chumps

1930

Comedy

as Eddie Gray

1
0.1
Cheer Up and Smile
Cheer Up and Smile

1930

Music

as Professor

0
0.2
Reno or Bust
0
0
Not So Dumb
Not So Dumb

1930

Comedy • Romance

as Leach

5.1
0.1
Poor Aubrey
Poor Aubrey

1930

Comedy

as Aubrey Piper

5
0.1
The Sap
The Sap

1929

Comedy

as Ed Mason

0
0.3
Lady of the Pavements
Lady of the Pavements

1929

Drama

as M'sieu Dubrey, Dance Master

4.6
0.1
On Trial
On Trial

1928

Drama

as Turnbull

6
0.2
A Blonde for a Night
A Blonde for a Night

1928

Comedy

as Hector

5.1
0.1
My Friend from India
My Friend from India

1927

Comedy • Romance

as William / Tommy Valentine

5
0.2
The Girl in the Pullman
The Girl in the Pullman

1927

Comedy

as Hector Brooks

0
0.1
Cradle Snatchers
Cradle Snatchers

1927

Comedy

as Howard Drake

3.5
0.4
Getting Gertie's Garter
Getting Gertie's Garter

1927

Comedy • Romance

as Algy Brooks

7.3
0.2
Finger Prints
Finger Prints

1927

Comedy • Crime

as The Bandoline Kid

0
0.3
Exit Smiling
Exit Smiling

1926

Comedy

as Cecil Lovelace

7.9
0.5

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