Born: January 23, 1889 – Died: July 20, 1958
Franklin Pangborn, born on January 23, 1889, was an actor whose name seemed more suited to a fictionalized bank president than to a great comedic talent. While little is known about his early years, Pangborn honed his acting skills before making his Broadway debut in March 1911. Over the next few years, he graced the Broadway stage in six plays, showcasing his versatility. Pangborn's career took a brief hiatus during World War I when he served in the US Army after America's entry into the war in 1917. Returning to Broadway in 1924, he delved into both dramatic and comedic roles, including memorable turns in silent films. However, his unique comedic style and distinctive persona led him down the path of comedy, making him a sought-after character actor in Hollywood. Pangborn's impeccable timing and unmistakable voice made him a fixture in comedies of the 1930s and 40s, where he often portrayed fastidious, slightly eccentric characters who found themselves in chaotic situations. His legacy as a comedic gem endures to this day, leaving behind a rich contribution to the entertainment industry.
Early Life and Career
Pangborn's start in the entertainment industry was marked by his Broadway debut in 1911, and he continued to work in both theater and silent films. His transition to comedic roles began in the late 1920s, and he quickly became known for his signature style.
While it's challenging to pinpoint a single role that catapulted him to stardom, Pangborn's work in screwball comedies of the 1930s and 40s, particularly in films by director Preston Sturges, solidified his status as a beloved character actor. His roles were often characterized by his impeccable timing and the portrayal of fastidious, somewhat eccentric characters.
Pangborn's contributions to the entertainment industry lie in his ability to bring humor and distinctiveness to his roles, making him a memorable figure in classic Hollywood comedies. While he may not have received widespread recognition during his lifetime, his work has gained appreciation over the years, and he is considered a notable character actor from Hollywood's golden era.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | The Red Skelton Hour (TV Series) | Stevens | Carter the Killer |
| 1958 | The Unchained Goddess (TV Movie) | the Cloud Painter (voice, uncredited) |
| 1956–1957 | Matinee Theatre (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1957 | The Story of Mankind | Marquis de Varennes |
| 1957 | Oh, Men! Oh, Women! | Steamship Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1953–1956 | Private Secretary (TV Series) | Armond the photographer |
| 1955 | Svengali and the Blonde (TV Movie) | Theater Manager |
| 1955 | Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1954–1955 | The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) | Sy Devore | Comic Actor |
| 1955 | The Mickey Rooney Show (TV Series) | Mr. Bean |
| 1953 | Summer Theatre (TV Series) | Clarence Tiffingtuffer |
| 1953 | The Revlon Mirror Theater (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1953 | Your Jeweler's Showcase (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1952 | The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series) | Mr. Canfield (uncredited) |
| 1951 | Personal Appearance Theater (TV Series) | Gregory Simpson |
| 1951 | The Alan Young Show (TV Series) | Mr. Deucy (uncredited) |
| 1950 | The Hank McCune Show (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1949 | Down Memory Lane | Mr. Sennett's Representative | Gilbert Sinclair |
| 1949 | Addio Mimí! | The Cat Lover |
| 1949 | My Dream Is Yours | Sourpuss Manager |
| 1948 | Romance on the High Seas | Rio Hotel Clerk |
| 1947 | The Sin of Harold Diddlebock | Formfit Franklin |
| 1947 | I'll Be Yours | Barber |
| 1947 | Calendar Girl | 'Dilly' Dillingsworth |
| 1946 | Two Guys from Milwaukee | Theatre Manager |
| 1946 | Lover Come Back | Hotel Clerk |
| 1945 | The Sailor Takes a Wife | Salesman (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Hollywood Victory Caravan (Short) | Railroad Agent |
| 1945 | Tell It to a Star | Horace Lovelace |
| 1945 | You Came Along | Hotel Clerk |
| 1945 | Hollywood and Vine | Reggie Allen |
| 1945 | The Horn Blows at Midnight | Radio Engineer | Sloan - House Detective |
| 1945 | See My Lawyer | B.J. Wagonhorn |
| 1944 | Reckless Age | Mr. Thurtle |
| 1944 | Allergic to Love | Stewart Ives III |
| 1944 | The Great Moment | Dr. Heywood |
| 1944 | Hail the Conquering Hero | Reception Committee Chairman |
| 1944 | My Best Gal | Mr. Porter |
| 1943 | Never a Dull Moment | Sylvester |
| 1943 | Crazy House | Hotel Clerk |
| 1943 | Holy Matrimony | Duncan Farll |
| 1943 | Honeymoon Lodge | Cathcart |
| 1943 | Stage Door Canteen | Franklin Pangborn |
| 1943 | Two Weeks to Live | Mr. Pinkney |
| 1943 | Reveille with Beverly | Vernon Lewis (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Strictly in the Groove | Cathcart |
| 1942 | George Washington Slept Here | Mr. Gibney |
| 1942 | Now, Voyager | Mr. Thompson |
| 1942 | The Palm Beach Story | Manager |
| 1942 | Moonlight Masquerade | Fairchild |
| 1942 | What's Cookin' | Professor Bistell |
| 1942 | Obliging Young Lady | Professor Gibney |
| 1942 | Call Out the Marines | Wilbur |
| 1941 | Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case | Charley Towne |
| 1941 | Sullivan's Travels | Mr. Casalsis |
| 1941 | Weekend for Three | Number Seven |
| 1941 | Never Give a Sucker an Even Break | The Producer |
| 1941 | Tillie the Toiler | Perry Tweedale |
| 1941 | Bachelor Daddy | Williams, Club Manager |
| 1941 | The Flame of New Orleans | Bellows |
| 1941 | A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob | Pet Shop Owner |
| 1941 | Where Did You Get That Girl? | Digby |
| 1940 | The Bank Dick | J. Pinkerton Snoopington |
| 1940 | Christmas in July | Don Hartman - Radio Announcer |
| 1940 | Hit Parade of 1941 | Carter |
| 1940 | The Villain Still Pursued Her | Bartender (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Spring Parade | Wiedlemeyer |
| 1940 | Public Deb No. 1 | Bartender |
| 1940 | Turnabout | Mr. Pingboom |
| 1939 | Fifth Avenue Girl | Higgins |
| 1939 | Broadway Serenade | Gene |
| 1938 | Topper Takes a Trip | Hotel Manager |
| 1938 | The Girl Downstairs | Adolf Pumpfel |
| 1938 | Just Around the Corner | Waters |
| 1938 | Carefree | Roland Hunter |
| 1938 | Four's a Crowd | Preston |
| 1938 | Always Goodbye | Bicycle Salesman |
| 1938 | Three Blind Mice | Clerk |
| 1938 | Vivacious Lady | Apartment Manager |
| 1938 | Joy of Living | Orchestra Leader |
| 1938 | Doctor Rhythm | Mr. Stenchfield (Store Clerk) |
| 1938 | Bluebeard's Eighth Wife | Assistant Hotel Manager |
| 1938 | Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm | Hamilton Montmarcy |
| 1938 | Mad About Music | Hotel Manager (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Love on Toast | Finley |
| 1937 | Thrill of a Lifetime | Sam Williams |
| 1937 | She Married an Artist | Paul |
| 1937 | I'll Take Romance | Kane's Secretary (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Living on Love | Ogilvie O. Oglethorpe |
| 1937 | Stage Door | Harcourt |
| 1937 | Danger - Love at Work | Train car waiter (uncredited) |
| 1937 | All Over Town | The Costumer |
| 1937 | It Happened in Hollywood | Mr. Forsythe |
| 1937 | The Life of the Party | Beggs |
| 1937 | It's All Yours | Schultz |
| 1937 | The Lady Escapes | Pierre |
| 1937 | Easy Living | Van Buren |
| 1937 | She Had to Eat | Mr. Phoecian-Wylie |
| 1937 | Dangerous Holiday | Doffle |
| 1937 | Hotel Haywire | Fuller Brush Salesman (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Turn Off the Moon | Mr. Perkins |
| 1937 | A Star is Born | Billy Moon (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Step Lively, Jeeves! | Gaston |
| 1937 | We Have Our Moments | Joe the Bartender (uncredited) |
| 1937 | When Love Is Young | John Dorman |
| 1937 | Swing High, Swing Low | Henri |
| 1937 | Bad Housekeeping (Short) | Piano Tuner |
| 1937 | Bridal Griefs (Short) | Butler |
| 1937 | They Wanted to Marry | Hotel Manager (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Rich Relations | Mr. Dwight (as Franklyn Pangborn) |
| 1937 | She's Dangerous | Renaud |
| 1937 | Dangerous Number | Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1937 | High Hat | Renaldo Breton |
| 1936 | The Mandarin Mystery | Mellish |
| 1936 | Three Smart Girls | Jeweler (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Hats Off | Mr. Churchill (as Franklyn Pangborn) |
| 1936 | The Luckiest Girl in the World | Cashier |
| 1936 | In His Steps | (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Swing Banditry (Short) | Radio Announcer (uncredited) |
| 1936 | My Man Godfrey | Guthrie (uncredited) |
| 1936 | To Mary - with Love | Guest |
| 1936 | Mr. Deeds Goes to Town | The Tailor (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Doughnuts and Society | Benson |
| 1936 | Give Us This Night | Forcellini's Secretary |
| 1936 | Don't Gamble with Love | Salesman |
| 1936 | Tango | Oscar the Photographer |
| 1935 | $1000 a Minute | Reville |
| 1935 | She Couldn't Take It | Spot's Secretary (uncredited) |
| 1935 | She Married Her Boss | Window Dresser (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Ye Olde Saw Mill (Short) | Harold Goodfellwo |
| 1935 | The Captain Hits the Ceiling (Short) | Jimmy Martin |
| 1935 | The Headline Woman | Hamilton |
| 1935 | Eight Bells | Finch |
| 1935 | Father Knows Best (Short) | The Helpful Butler |
| 1935 | Hollywood Trouble (Short) | Tailor |
| 1934 | Henry's Social Splash (Short) | The Butler |
| 1934 | College Rhythm | Peabody |
| 1934 | Flirtation | Veterinarian |
| 1934 | Imitation of Life | Mr. Carven (uncredited) |
| 1934 | My Grandfather's Clock (Short) | Dr. Watkins |
| 1934 | Tomorrow's Youth | Thornton - the Tutor |
| 1934 | That's Gratitude | Photographer |
| 1934 | Young and Beautiful | Radio Announcer |
| 1934 | King Kelly of the U.S.A. | J. Ashton Brockton |
| 1934 | Financial Jitters (Short) | Grady's Uncle |
| 1934 | Cockeyed Cavaliers | Town Crier (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Many Happy Returns | Allen's Secretary |
| 1934 | Strictly Dynamite | Mr. Bailey |
| 1934 | Manhattan Love Song | Garrett Wetherby |
| 1934 | Unknown Blonde | Male Co-Respondent |
| 1934 | Up and Down (Short) | Unknown |
| 1933 | Divorce Sweets (Short) | Unknown |
| 1933 | Trying Out Torchy (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1933 | Flying Down to Rio | Hammerstein - the Hotel Manager (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Design for Living | Mr. Douglas, Theatrical Producer |
| 1933 | Only Yesterday | Tom (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Wild Poses (Short) | Otto Phocus, the portrait photographer |
| 1933 | Open Sesame (Short) | Unknown |
| 1933 | Menu (Short) | John Xavier Omsk (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Headline Shooter | Adolphus G. Crocker |
| 1933 | The Important Witness | Groom |
| 1933 | Bed of Roses | Floorwalker |
| 1933 | Torchy's Loud Spooker (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1933 | Thundering Taxis (Short) | Cabdriver |
| 1933 | Professional Sweetheart | Herbert Childress |
| 1933 | International House | Hotel Manager |
| 1933 | Dream Stuff (Short) | Gordon |
| 1933 | Torchy Turns Turtle (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1933 | Sweet Cookie (Short) | Mr. Clark |
| 1933 | Sing, Bing, Sing (Short) | Herbert |
| 1933 | Sweepings | Photographer (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Art in the Raw (Short) | The Artist |
| 1933 | Easy on the Eyes (Short) | Franklyn Pierce |
| 1933 | The Singing Boxer (Short) | Herbert Brocolli |
| 1933 | Torchy's Kitty Coup (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1933 | Blue of the Night (Short) | Gilbert Sinclair |
| 1932 | Sign Here (Short) | Unknown |
| 1932 | The Human Fish (Short) | Albert Hill - Marge's Boyfriend |
| 1932 | The Half-Naked Truth | Mr. Wellburton - Hotel Clerk |
| 1932 | Torchy Rolls His Own (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1932 | Over the Counter (Short) | Drake's Assistant (as Franklyn Pangborn) |
| 1932 | Tee for Two (Short) | Henry |
| 1932 | Torchy's Busy Day (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1932 | The Giddy Age (Short) | George |
| 1932 | The Singing Plumber (Short) | Undetermined Role (unconfirmed, uncredited) |
| 1932 | What Price Taxi (Short) | Taxi Boy |
| 1932 | Up Popped the Ghost (Short) | Charlie |
| 1932 | The Candid Camera (Short) | Jack Townes |
| 1932 | The Loud Mouth (Short) | Freddie Quimby |
| 1932 | Doctor's Orders (Short) | Unknown |
| 1932 | Torchy's Two Toots (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1932 | Jimmy's New Yacht (Short) | Everett |
| 1932 | Lighthouse Love (Short) | Pvt. Jerry Stone (as Franklyn Pangborn) |
| 1932 | Torchy Raises the Auntie (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1932 | The Midnight Patrol | Unknown |
| 1932 | Torchy's Night Cap (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1932 | A Fool's Advice | Egbert - Hotel Clerk (as Franklyn Pangborn) |
| 1932 | Torchy Turns the Trick (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1932 | Perfect Control (Short) | Teacher |
| 1932 | Stepping Sisters | Gason |
| 1931 | Hollywood Halfbacks (Short) | Unknown |
| 1931 | Camping Out (Short) | Unknown |
| 1931 | Torchy Passes the Buck (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1931 | Torchy (Short) | Office Manager |
| 1931 | A Woman of Experience | Hans - a Sailor |
| 1931 | Against the Rules (Short) | Unknown |
| 1931 | Chasing Trouble (Short) | Unknown |
| 1931 | Rough House Rhythm (Short) | Unknown |
| 1931 | Hot Wires (Short) | Unknown |
| 1931 | What a Time (Short) | Unknown |
| 1931 | Next Door Neighbors (Short) | The Landlord |
| 1930 | Over the Radio (Short) | Unknown |
| 1930 | It Happened in Hollywood (Short) | Unknown |
| 1930 | Breakfast in Bed (Short) | John |
| 1930 | Sunny | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1930 | A Lady Surrenders | Lawton |
| 1930 | Who's the Boss (Short) | The Hen-Pecked Husband |
| 1930 | The Doctor's Wife (Short) | The Doctor |
| 1930 | Her Man | Sport |
| 1930 | The Chumps (Short) | Eddie Gray |
| 1930 | Cheer Up and Smile | Professor |
| 1930 | Reno or Bust (Short) | The Hen-Pecked Husband |
| 1930 | Not So Dumb | Vincent Leach |
| 1930 | Poor Aubrey (Short) | Aubrey Piper |
| 1929 | The Sap | Ed Mason |
| 1929 | The Crazy Nut (Short) | The Doctor |
| 1929 | Happy Birthday (Short) | The Henpecked Husband |
| 1929 | Lady of the Pavements | M'sieu Dubrey, Dance Master |
| 1928 | On Trial | Turnbull |
| 1928 | A Blonde for a Night | Hector |
| 1927 | My Friend from India | William | Tommy Valentine |
| 1927 | The Girl in the Pullman | Hector Brooks |
| 1927 | The Rush Hour | Troublemaker at Bohemia Cafe (uncredited) |
| 1927 | The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary | Melville |
| 1927 | The Cradle Snatchers | Howard Drake |
| 1927 | The Night Bride | John Stockton |
| 1927 | High Hat | Undetermined Role |
| 1927 | Getting Gertie's Garter | Algy Brooks |
| 1927 | Finger Prints | The Bandoline Kid |
| 1926 | Exit Smiling | Cecil Lovelace |
| 1926 | The Jelly Fish (Short) | Clarence - the Jelly Fish (as Frank Pangborn) |
General:
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
