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