Franklin Pangborn

Biography

Franklin Pangborn was an American comedic character actor known for small comic roles. Born in Newark, New Jersey, he got his start at 17 when actress Mildred Holland offered him an extra's job with her touring company, which led to four years with her troupe and work in Jessie Bonstelle's stock company. He appeared on Broadway in plays such as The Triumph of an Empress and Parasites before moving into films, beginning with The Jelly Fish and Exit Smiling. In the 1930s he worked in short subjects for studios including Mack Sennett, Hal Roach, Universal, Columbia, and Pathe, and became a foil for comedians including W.C. Fields, Harold Lloyd, and the Ritz Brothers. He specialized in prissy, fastidious, easily flustered characters: hotel clerks, headwaiters, and musicians. His features included International House (1933) and Preston Sturges comedies, and he later worked in television, including The Red Skelton Show. He received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

69years old at death

Born January 23, 1889Newark
Died July 20, 1958Laguna Beach
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18

Movie Career

Films: 24
Career span: 19 years1930 to 1949

Genres

Comedy92%, 22 films
Romance79%, 19 films
Drama25%, 6 films
Musical13%, 3 films
Fantasy8%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
In 1957, Pangborn had a short stint as announcer on Jack Paar's The Tonight Show. He lost the job after a few weeks because he lacked "spontaneous enthusiasm", and Hugh Downs took his place.
Behind the award
Pangborn was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine Street. It was awarded posthumously on February 8, 1960, for his contributions to motion pictures.
A first
Pangborn gave his last public performance as a supporting player on The Red Skelton Show, in the episode that aired on April 22, 1958.

Franklin Pangborn movies on Netflix

My Dream Is Yours1949IMDb rating 6.6as Sourpuss Manager
Romance on the High Seas1948IMDb rating 7.1as Rio Hotel Clerk
The Horn Blows at Midnight1945IMDb rating 6.6as Radio Engineer / Sloan
Hail the Conquering Hero1944IMDb rating 7.6as Reception Committee Chairman
Two Weeks to Live1943IMDb rating 5.5as Mr. Pinkney
Now, Voyager1942IMDb rating 7.8as Mr. Thompson
Obliging Young Lady1942IMDb rating 5.7as Professor Gibney
The Palm Beach Story1942IMDb rating 7.4as Manager
Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9as Mr. Casalsis
The Flame of New Orleans1941IMDb rating 6.5as Bellows
Christmas in July1940IMDb rating 7.3as Don Hartman, Radio Announcer
Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8as Higgins
Always Goodbye1938IMDb rating 6.7as Bicycle Salesman
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife1938IMDb rating 7.1as Assistant Hotel Manager
Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9as Roland Hunter
Four's a Crowd1938IMDb rating 6.3as Preston
Topper Takes a Trip1938IMDb rating 6.4as Hotel Manager
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1as Apartment Manager
Easy Living1937IMDb rating 7.5as Van Buren
Stage Door1937IMDb rating 7.7as Harcourt
Swing High, Swing Low1937IMDb rating 6.1as Henri
Design for Living1933IMDb rating 7.4as Mr. Douglas, Theatrical Producer
International House1933IMDb rating 6.9as Hotel Manager
Her Man1930IMDb rating 6.5as Sport

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Sullivan's Travels1941 Adventure, Comedy, Dramaas Mr. Casalsis
IMDb rating 7.931K votes
Design for Living1933 Comedy, Romanceas Mr. Douglas, Theatrical Producer
IMDb rating 7.48.7K votes
Now, Voyager1942as Mr. Thompson
IMDb rating 7.821K votes
Hail the Conquering Hero1944as Reception Committee Chairman
IMDb rating 7.65.6K votes
Easy Living1937as Van Buren
IMDb rating 7.54.8K votes
Stage Door1937as Harcourt
IMDb rating 7.710.0K votes
Christmas in July1940as Don Hartman, Radio Announcer
IMDb rating 7.34.8K votes
Carefree1938as Roland Hunter
IMDb rating 6.94.7K votes

Most often with

Preston Sturges directed four of these films, Michael Curtiz three and Ernst Lubitsch two. Jack Carson appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Jack Carson

William Demarest

Ginger Rogers

Nora Cecil

Bobby Barber

Spencer ChartersPreston SturgesDirector, 4 films Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films

Ernst LubitschDirector, 2 films

Films together

Jack Carson6 films together, 1937 to 1949
Jack Carson's page
- My Dream Is Yours1949IMDb rating 6.6Pangborn as Sourpuss ManagerCarson as Doug Blake
- Romance on the High Seas1948IMDb rating 7.1Pangborn as Rio Hotel ClerkCarson as Peter Virgil
- Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8Pangborn as HigginsCarson as Minnesota
- Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9Pangborn as Roland HunterCarson as Connors
- Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Pangborn as Apartment ManagerCarson as Waiter Captain
- Stage Door1937IMDb rating 7.7Pangborn as HarcourtCarson as Mr. Milbanks
William Demarest5 films together, 1937 to 1944
William Demarest's page
- Hail the Conquering Hero1944IMDb rating 7.6Pangborn as Reception Committee ChairmanDemarest as Sgt. Heffelfinger
- The Palm Beach Story1942IMDb rating 7.4Pangborn as ManagerDemarest as First Member Ale and Quail Club
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Pangborn as Mr. CasalsisDemarest as Mr. Jones
- Christmas in July1940IMDb rating 7.3Pangborn as Don Hartman, Radio AnnouncerDemarest as Mr. Bildocker
- Easy Living1937IMDb rating 7.5Pangborn as Van BurenDemarest as Wallace Whistling
Ginger Rogers4 films together, 1937 to 1939
Ginger Rogers's page
- Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8Pangborn as HigginsRogers as Mary Grey
- Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9Pangborn as Roland HunterRogers as Amanda Cooper
- Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Pangborn as Apartment ManagerRogers as Francey
- Stage Door1937IMDb rating 7.7Pangborn as HarcourtRogers as Jean Maitland
Nora Cecil4 films together, 1933 to 1944
Nora Cecil's page
- Hail the Conquering Hero1944IMDb rating 7.6Pangborn as Reception Committee ChairmanCecil as Train Ticket Clerk
- Two Weeks to Live1943IMDb rating 5.5Pangborn as Mr. PinkneyCecil as Grandma Masters
- Easy Living1937IMDb rating 7.5Pangborn as Van BurenCecil as Miss Swerf
- Design for Living1933IMDb rating 7.4Pangborn as Mr. Douglas, Theatrical ProducerCecil as Tom's Secretary
Bobby Barber3 films together, 1938
Bobby Barber's page
- Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9Pangborn as Roland Hunter
- Topper Takes a Trip1938IMDb rating 6.4Pangborn as Hotel ManagerBarber as Hotel Staffer Moving Bed
- Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Pangborn as Apartment ManagerBarber as Italian Waiter at Nightclub
Spencer Charters3 films together, 1938
Spencer Charters's page
- Four's a Crowd1938IMDb rating 6.3Pangborn as PrestonCharters as Charlie
- Topper Takes a Trip1938IMDb rating 6.4Pangborn as Hotel ManagerCharters as Judge
- Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Pangborn as Apartment ManagerCharters as Husband Shaving on Train
Preston SturgesDirector, 4 films, 1940 to 1944
All films by Preston Sturges
- Hail the Conquering Hero1944IMDb rating 7.6Pangborn as Reception Committee Chairman
- The Palm Beach Story1942IMDb rating 7.4Pangborn as Manager
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Pangborn as Mr. Casalsis
- Christmas in July1940IMDb rating 7.3Pangborn as Don Hartman, Radio Announcer
Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films, 1938 to 1949
All films by Michael Curtiz
- My Dream Is Yours1949IMDb rating 6.6Pangborn as Sourpuss Manager
- Romance on the High Seas1948IMDb rating 7.1Pangborn as Rio Hotel Clerk
- Four's a Crowd1938IMDb rating 6.3Pangborn as Preston
Ernst LubitschDirector, 2 films, 1933 to 1938
All films by Ernst Lubitsch
- Bluebeard's Eighth Wife1938IMDb rating 7.1Pangborn as Assistant Hotel Manager
- Design for Living1933IMDb rating 7.4Pangborn as Mr. Douglas, Theatrical Producer
Also three films together7 more actors
- Luis AlberniTwo Weeks to Live (1943), Obliging Young Lady (1942) and Easy Living (1937)
- Eve ArdenMy Dream Is Yours (1949), Obliging Young Lady (1942) and Stage Door (1937)
- Al BridgeHail the Conquering Hero (1944), Sullivan's Travels (1941) and Christmas in July (1940)
- Robert GreigThe Palm Beach Story (1942), Sullivan's Travels (1941) and Easy Living (1937)
- Torben MeyerThe Palm Beach Story (1942), Sullivan's Travels (1941) and Christmas in July (1940)
- Lee BowmanMy Dream Is Yours (1949), Easy Living (1937) and Swing High, Swing Low (1937)
- Victor PotelThe Palm Beach Story (1942), Sullivan's Travels (1941) and Christmas in July (1940)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.