---
name: "Franklin Pangborn"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/franklin-pangborn"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "23 January 1889"
died: "20 July 1958"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
updated: "2026-09-16T12:01:47.097744+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Franklin Pangborn

Actor. Born 23 January 1889 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Died 20 July 1958.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 23 January 1889, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- **Died:** 20 July 1958
- **Also known as:** Joseph Franklin Pangborn, Franklyn Pangborn, Frank Pangborn

## Biography

Franklin Pangborn (23 January 1889 – 20 July 1958) was an American character actor who appeared in numerous feature films, typically in small comic roles. Born in Newark, New Jersey, he began his career on stage after an encounter with actress Mildred Holland led to touring work from around 1910. He served in the US Army during the First World War.

Pangborn became known for playing officious, flustered figures such as hotel clerks, tailors and managers. Among his credited roles are Mr. Douglas in *Design for Living* (1933), the tailor in *Mr. Deeds Goes to Town* (1936), Billy Moon in *A Star Is Born* (1937), J. Pinkerton Snoopington in *The Bank Dick* (1940), Mr. Casalsis in *Sullivan's Travels* (1941) and Mr. Thompson in *Now, Voyager* (1942). He also appeared in several films directed by Preston Sturges and worked with W. C. Fields. A star was placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in his honour in 1960.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, metacritic.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Sullivan's Travels* (1941), Fi1m 88, as Mr. Casalsis — [page](https://film.one/film/sullivans-travels.md)

## Also known for

- *Mr. Deeds Goes to Town* (1936), The Tailor (uncredited)
- *My Man Godfrey* (1936), Guthrie (uncredited)
- *A Star Is Born* (1937), Billy Moon (uncredited)
- *Now, Voyager* (1942), Mr. Thompson
- *Design for Living* (1933), Mr. Douglas
- *The Palm Beach Story* (1942), Manager
- *Stage Door* (1937), Harcourt
- *The Bank Dick* (1940), J. Pinkerton Snoopington

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/franklin-pangborn