Pankow was born in St.Louis,Missouri,the son of Marion,a homemaker,and Wayne Pankow,who worked in magazine advertising sales.He is the younger brother of trombonist James Pankow,a founding member of the legendary rock group Chicago.He is from a Catholic family of German and Irish descent.Pankow grew up in Park Ridge,Illinois,and attended Maine South High School and later,Northeastern Illinois University.
Pankow,a veteran actor of stage,film and television,appeared for seven seasons as Ira Buchman