Born 1889 (age 69) · Newark, New Jersey, USA
Appears in 199 titles

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.

Filmography

Sullivan's Travels
7.4
Sullivan's Travels
1941
as Mr. Casalsis
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
7.5
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1936
as The Tailor (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey
7.6
My Man Godfrey
1936
as Guthrie (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
7.2
A Star Is Born
1937
as Billy Moon (uncredited)
Now, Voyager
7.4
Now, Voyager
1942
as Mr. Thompson
Design for Living
7.1
Design for Living
1933
as Mr. Douglas
The Palm Beach Story
7.0
The Palm Beach Story
1942
as Manager
Stage Door
7.1
Stage Door
1937
as Harcourt
The Bank Dick
6.5
The Bank Dick
1940
as J. Pinkerton Snoopington
Bluebeard's 8th Wife
7.0
Bluebeard's 8th Wife
1938
as Assistant Hotel Manager
Christmas in July
7.0
Christmas in July
1940
as Don Hartman - Radio Announcer
Imitation of Life
7.0
Imitation of Life
1934
as Mr. Carven (uncredited)
Hail the Conquering Hero
7.2
Hail the Conquering Hero
1944
as Reception Committee Chairman
Flying Down to Rio
6.3
Flying Down to Rio
1933
as Hammerstein (uncredited)
Carefree
6.7
Carefree
1938
as Roland Hunter
Vivacious Lady
7.0
Vivacious Lady
1938
as Apartment Manager
Easy Living
7.1
Easy Living
1937
as Van Buren
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
7.0
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
1941
as The Producer
Romance on the High Seas
6.7
Romance on the High Seas
1948
as Rio Hotel Clerk
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
6.4
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
1947
as Formfit Franklin