Ralph Archbold

Ralph Archbold (January 17, 1942 – March 25, 2017) was a Philadelphia-area actor and speaker best known for his long-time impersonation of U.S. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin impersonation Archbold began impersonating Franklin in 1973 for a local summer production in Dearborn, Michigan. He enjoyed the role so much he read over 200 of Franklin's books, and realized that he was born on Franklin's birthday, January 17. Archbold's photo appeared frequently in tourist literature and brochures, He also appeared on television, including Today, and The Colbert Report. Archbold was also featured at the Philadelphia celebration "200 Years of Benjamin Franklin's Genius" and in "The Franklin Pleaser", a video produced by Philadelphia sketch group Secret Pants for the Philadelphia Film Festival; appeared for every President of the United States since Gerald Ford;

Archbold, like Franklin, was balding and required the use of bifocals and cane. At one point he suffered a stroke, but expressed his hope to resume his Franklin impersonation by July 2010. In 2013, he was present, in character, for the reopening of the Franklin Museum in Philadelphia.

Archbold died of complications congestive heart failure in Philadelphia on March 25, 2017, at the age of 75.