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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
Reno or Bust
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock Formfit Franklin
King Kelly of the U.S.A. J. Ashton Brockton
My Dream Is Yours Sourpuss Manager
A Star Is Born Billy Moon (uncredited)
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
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break The Producer
George Washington Slept Here Mr. Gibney
The Great Moment Dr. Heywood
Hail the Conquering Hero Reception Committee Chairman
Carefree Roland Hunter
Tillie the Toiler Perry Tweedale
The Story of Mankind Marquis de Varennes
Just Around the Corner Waters
The Flame of New Orleans Bellows
Romance on the High Seas Rio Hotel Clerk
Stage Door Harcourt
5th Ave Girl Higgins
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
Trying Out Torchy Office manager
Hollywood and Vine Reggie
Design for Living Mr. Douglas
The Half-Naked Truth Hotel Clerk
Reveille with Beverly Vernon Lewis (uncredited)
Swing High, Swing Low Henri
Cockeyed Cavaliers Town Crier
I'll Be Yours Barber
Blue of the Night Gilbert Sinclair
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
It Happened in Hollywood Mr. Forsythe
Obliging Young Lady Professor Gibney
Holy Matrimony Duncan Farll
Art in the Raw
A Blonde for a Night Hector
Manhattan Love Song Garrett Wetherby
Menu John Xavier Omsk (uncredited)
Tomorrow's Youth Thornton
Tell It to a Star Horace Lovelace
All Over Town The Costumer
Sweepings Photographer (Uncredited)
Dream Stuff Gordon
My Friend from India William / Tommy Valentine
The Loud Mouth
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob Pet Shop Owner
Cradle Snatchers Howard Drake
The Girl Downstairs Adolf Pumpfel
Hats Off Mr. Churchill
Not So Dumb Leach
Tango Oscar, the Photographer
The Chumps Eddie Gray
Jimmy's New Yacht Everett
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
Professional Sweetheart Herbert Childress
High Hat Renaldo Breton
Lover Come Back Hotel desk clerk
Flirtation Veterinarian
Weekend for Three Number Seven, Old Field Inn Waiter
Tee for Two Henry
Dangerous Holiday Doffle
She's Dangerous Fashion Designer
Rich Relations Mr. Dwight
Doctor's Orders
Doctor Rhythm Mr. Stenchfield (Store Clerk)
It's All Yours Schultz
Always Goodbye Bicycle Salesman
Cheer Up and Smile Professor
Three Blind Mice Clerk
Breakfast in Bed John
Spring Parade Wiedlemeyer
A Lady Surrenders Lawton
Over the Counter Drake's Assistant
You Came Along Hotel Clerk
The Important Witness Groom
Joy of Living Orchestra Leader
Going Hollywood: The '30s (archive footage)
Getting Gertie's Garter Algy Brooks
Hollywood Victory Caravan Railroad Agent
What Price Taxi Taxi Boy
Call Out the Marines Wilbur
The Captain Hits the Ceiling Jimmy Martin
Vivacious Lady Apartment Manager
Easy on the Eyes Franklyn Pierce
She Married an Artist Paul
A Woman of Experience Hans
Doughnuts and Society Benson
The Life of the Party Beggs
Bed of Roses Floorwalker
Dangerous Number Hotel Desk Clerk
Living on Love Ogilvie O. Oglethorpe
The Sap Ed Mason
Young and Beautiful Radio Announcer
We Have Our Moments Joe
I'll Take Romance Kane's Secretary
Turnabout Mr. Pingboom
Eight Bells Finch
Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case Charley Towne
The Lady Escapes Pierre
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
What's Cookin'? Professor Bistell
Love on Toast Finley
Stage Door Canteen Franklin Pangborn
$1,000 a Minute Reville
When Love Is Young John Dorman
Where Did You Get That Girl? Digby
Allergic to Love Stewart Ives III
Never a Dull Moment Sylvester
Honeymoon Lodge Cathcart
My Grandfather's Clock Dr. Watkins
The Eternal Melody The Cat Lover
International House Hotel Manager
To Mary - with Love Guest
Next Door Neighbors Landlord
Two Guys from Milwaukee Theatre Manager
Flying Down to Rio Hammerstein (uncredited)
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)
Hollywood Trouble Tailor
Wild Poses Otto Phocus
Headline Shooter Adolphus G. Crocker
On Trial Turnbull
Thrill of a Lifetime Sam Williams
College Rhythm Peabody
Swing Banditry Radio Announcer (uncredited)
The Giddy Age George
Public Deb No. 1 Bartender
Two Weeks to Live Mr. Pinkney
My Man Godfrey Guthrie (uncredited)
Sing, Bing, Sing Herbert
Bad Housekeeping Piano Tuner
The Girl in the Pullman Hector Brooks
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
Finger Prints The Bandoline Kid
Only Yesterday Tom (Uncredited)
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)
Hollywood Halfbacks
The Luckiest Girl in the World Cashier
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)
