From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Qualen (born Johan Mandt Kvalen, December 8, 1899 – September 12, 1987) was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles.
Qualen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, the son of immigrants from Norway; his father was a Lutheran minister and changed the family's original surname, "Kvalen", to "Qualen" – though some sources give Oleson, later Oleson Kvalen as Qualen's earlier surnames. His father's ministering meant many moves and John was 20 when he graduated from Elgin High School in 1920. Though he was awarded a scholarship to Northwestern University after he won an oratory contest he never attended college. In a Milwaukee Journal interview he said he needed to start working and did so with the Chattaqua Circuit. Eventually reaching Broadway, he gained his big break as the Swedish janitor in Elmer Rice's Street Scene. His movie career began when he recreated the role in the film version. This was followed by his appearance in John Ford's Arrowsmith (1931) which began a more than thirty year membership in the director's "stock company", with important supporting roles in The Searchers (1956), Two Rode Together (1961), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Cheyenne Autumn (1964).
Appearing in well over one hundred films, and acting extensively on television into the 1970s, Qualen performed many of his roles with various accents, usually Scandinavian, often intended for comic effect. Three of his more memorable roles showcase his versatility. Qualen assumed a Midwestern dialect as Muley, who recounts the destruction of his farm by the bank in Ford's The Grapes of Wrath (1940), and as the confused killer Earl Williams in Howard Hawks' classic comedy His Girl Friday (also 1940). As Berger, the jewelry-selling Norwegian resistance member in Michael Curtiz' Casablanca (1942), he essayed a light Scandinavian accent, but put on a thicker Mediterranean accent as the homeward-bound fisherman Locota in William Wellman's The High and the Mighty (1954)
Qualen was treasurer of The Authors Club and historian of The Masquers, Hollywood's social group for actors.
John Qualen was blind in his later years. He died of heart failure in 1987 in Torrance, California, and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. He was survived by his three daughters.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0702798
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1364339
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Filmography (Movies)
La Classe américaine
Character:V12 (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:31/12/1993
Frasier, the Sensuous Lion
Character:Old Man on Porch
Release Date:19/06/1973
Getting Away from It All
Character:Charlie Erickson
Release Date:18/01/1972
Hail, Hero!
Character:Billy Hurd
Release Date:04/10/1969
Doc
Character:Luke
Release Date:28/07/1969
P.J.
Character:Poppa
Release Date:27/03/1968
Firecreek
Character:Hall
Release Date:24/01/1968
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
Character:Jesse Buford
Release Date:08/06/1966
A Patch of Blue
Character:Mr. Faber
Release Date:10/12/1965
The Sons of Katie Elder
Character:Charlie Biller
Release Date:23/06/1965
I'll Take Sweden
Character:Olaf
Release Date:18/06/1965
Those Calloways
Character:Ernie Evans
Release Date:10/11/1964
Cheyenne Autumn
Character:Svenson (uncredited)
Release Date:15/10/1964
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
Character:Luther Lindquist
Release Date:18/03/1964
The Prize
Character:Oscar
Release Date:25/12/1963
Donovan's Reef
Character:Deckhand Who Cries 'Man Overboard' (uncredited)
Release Date:12/06/1963
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Character:Peter Ericson
Release Date:13/04/1962
Two Rode Together
Character:Ole Knudsen
Release Date:24/05/1961
North to Alaska
Character:Logger
Release Date:07/11/1960
Elmer Gantry
Character:Sam - Storekeeper
Release Date:07/07/1960
Hell Bent for Leather
Character:Old Ben
Release Date:01/02/1960
Anatomy of a Murder
Character:Deputy Sheriff Sulo Kangas
Release Date:01/07/1959
Revolt in the Big House
Character:Doc
Release Date:21/12/1958
My World Dies Screaming
Character:Jonah Snell
Release Date:20/08/1958
The Gun Runners
Character:Pop
Release Date:01/08/1958
The Big Land
Character:Sven Johnson
Release Date:01/03/1957
Johnny Concho
Character:Jake
Release Date:01/07/1956
The Searchers
Character:Lars Jorgensen
Release Date:16/05/1956
At Gunpoint
Character:Livingstone
Release Date:25/12/1955
Unchained
Character:Leonard Haskins
Release Date:25/08/1955
The Sea Chase
Character:Chief Engineer Schmitt
Release Date:04/06/1955
Man on a Bus
Character:Second Prisoner
Release Date:01/05/1955
The Other Woman
Character:Papasha
Release Date:02/12/1954
Passion
Character:Gaspar Melo
Release Date:06/10/1954
The High and the Mighty
Character:Jose Locota
Release Date:03/07/1954
I, the Jury
Character:Dr. R.H. Vickers, Veterinarian
Release Date:14/08/1953
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap
Character:Jonas P. Travis
Release Date:01/05/1953
Hans Christian Andersen
Character:Burgomaster
Release Date:19/12/1952
Goodbye, My Fancy
Character:Professor Dingley
Release Date:19/05/1951
Belle Le Grand
Character:Corky McGee
Release Date:27/01/1951
The Flying Missile
Character:Lars Hansen
Release Date:24/12/1950
Woman on the Run
Character:Maibus
Release Date:10/11/1950
The Jackpot
Character:Mr. Ferguson (uncredited)
Release Date:01/11/1950
Buccaneer's Girl
Character:Vegetable Seller
Release Date:01/03/1950
Captain China
Character:Geech
Release Date:02/02/1950
The Big Steal
Character:Julius Seton
Release Date:01/07/1949
Hollow Triumph
Character:Swangron
Release Date:18/08/1948
16 Fathoms Deep
Character:Capt. Athos
Release Date:25/07/1948
My Girl Tisa
Character:Svenson
Release Date:07/02/1948
Alias a Gentleman
Character:No End
Release Date:03/02/1948
Reaching from Heaven
Character:The Stranger
Release Date:01/02/1948
The Fugitive
Character:A Refugee Doctor
Release Date:11/11/1947
High Conquest
Character:Peter Oberwalder Sr.
Release Date:21/06/1947
Song of Scheherazade
Character:Lorenzo
Release Date:26/02/1947
Adventure
Character:Model T
Release Date:28/12/1945
Captain Kidd
Character:Bart Blivens
Release Date:22/11/1945
River Gang
Character:Uncle Bill
Release Date:21/09/1945
Roughly Speaking
Character:Svend Olsen
Release Date:31/01/1945
Dark Waters
Character:Uncle Norbert
Release Date:21/11/1944
An American Romance
Character:Anton Dubechek
Release Date:16/04/1944
The Impostor
Character:Monge
Release Date:10/02/1944
Swing Shift Maisie
Character:Horatio Curley
Release Date:01/10/1943
Casablanca
Character:Berger
Release Date:15/01/1943
Breakdowns of 1942
Character:Self
Release Date:31/12/1942
Arabian Nights
Character:Aladdin
Release Date:25/12/1942
Tortilla Flat
Character:Jose Maria Corcoran
Release Date:21/05/1942
Larceny, Inc.
Character:Sam Bachrach
Release Date:24/04/1942
Jungle Book
Character:The Barber
Release Date:03/04/1942
All That Money Can Buy
Character:Miser Stevens
Release Date:17/10/1941
New Wine
Character:Hasslinger's Clerk
Release Date:10/09/1941
The Shepherd of the Hills
Character:Coot Royal
Release Date:18/07/1941
Out of the Fog
Character:Olaf Johnson
Release Date:14/06/1941
Million Dollar Baby
Character:Dr. Patterson
Release Date:31/05/1941
Model Wife
Character:The Janitor
Release Date:17/04/1941
Youth Will Be Served
Character:Clem Howie
Release Date:22/11/1940
The Long Voyage Home
Character:Axel
Release Date:16/11/1940
Knute Rockne All American
Character:Lars Knutson Rockne
Release Date:05/10/1940
Angels Over Broadway
Character:Charles Engle
Release Date:02/10/1940
Babies for Sale
Character:Howard Anderson
Release Date:14/06/1940
On Their Own
Character:Peters
Release Date:17/05/1940
Ski Patrol
Character:Gustaf
Release Date:09/05/1940
Saturday's Children
Character:First Carpenter (uncredited)
Release Date:04/05/1940
The Grapes of Wrath
Character:Muley Graves
Release Date:15/03/1940
Blondie on a Budget
Character:Ed Fuddle
Release Date:29/02/1940
His Girl Friday
Character:Earl Williams
Release Date:18/01/1940
Four Wives
Character:Frank
Release Date:22/12/1939
Honeymoon in Bali
Character:Meek Man (uncredited)
Release Date:29/09/1939
Thunder Afloat
Character:Milo
Release Date:15/09/1939
Mickey the Kid
Character:Mailman
Release Date:03/07/1939
Let Us Live
Character:Dan (uncredited)
Release Date:29/03/1939
Stand Up and Fight
Character:Davy
Release Date:06/01/1939
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
Character:Stoner
Release Date:15/12/1938
The Mad Miss Manton
Character:Night Watchman at Subway Construction Site
Release Date:21/10/1938
Five of a Kind
Character:Asa Wyatt
Release Date:14/10/1938
The Chaser
Character:Lars
Release Date:29/07/1938
Joy of Living
Character:Oswego
Release Date:06/05/1938
The Bad Man of Brimstone
Character:Loco
Release Date:31/12/1937
Nothing Sacred
Character:Fireman (uncredited)
Release Date:25/11/1937
Fit for a King
Character:Otto
Release Date:01/09/1937
She Had to Eat
Character:Sleepy
Release Date:02/07/1937
Angel's Holiday
Character:Waldo Everett
Release Date:07/06/1937
Fifty Roads to Town
Character:Sheriff Dow
Release Date:03/06/1937
Seventh Heaven
Character:Sewer Rat
Release Date:25/03/1937
Reunion
Character:Asa Wyatt
Release Date:20/11/1936
The Road to Glory
Character:Duflous
Release Date:04/09/1936
Girls' Dormitory
Character:Toni
Release Date:08/08/1936
Meet Nero Wolfe
Character:Olaf
Release Date:16/07/1936
The Country Doctor
Character:Asa Wyatt
Release Date:12/03/1936
Wife vs. Secretary
Character:Mr. Jenkins (uncredited)
Release Date:28/02/1936
Ring Around the Moon
Character:Bill Harvey
Release Date:15/02/1936
Man of Iron
Character:Collins
Release Date:21/12/1935
Whipsaw
Character:Will Dabson
Release Date:18/12/1935
The Three Musketeers
Character:Planchet
Release Date:01/11/1935
Thunder in the Night
Character:Hotel Porter
Release Date:16/09/1935
Orchids to You
Character:Smith
Release Date:09/08/1935
Silk Hat Kid
Character:Mr. Fossbender
Release Date:19/07/1935
Doubting Thomas
Character:Von Blitzen
Release Date:10/07/1935
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Character:Sol Tinker
Release Date:05/07/1935
Black Fury
Character:Mike Shemanski
Release Date:18/05/1935
Chasing Yesterday
Character:Coccoz
Release Date:03/05/1935
The Great Hotel Murder
Character:Ole
Release Date:27/02/1935
One More Spring
Character:Auctioneer
Release Date:15/02/1935
Charlie Chan in Paris
Character:Concierge, Dufresne's Hotel (bit)
Release Date:21/01/1935
365 Nights in Hollywood
Character:Prof. Herman Ellenbogen
Release Date:11/12/1934
Our Daily Bread
Character:Chris (as John T. Qualen)
Release Date:02/10/1934
Servants' Entrance
Character:Detective
Release Date:25/09/1934
Straight Is the Way
Character:Mr. Clapman (uncredited)
Release Date:10/08/1934
He Was Her Man
Character:Dutch, Santa Avila's Cabbie
Release Date:16/06/1934
Upperworld
Character:Janitor
Release Date:28/04/1934
Sing and Like It
Character:Oswald (as John M. Qualen)
Release Date:20/04/1934
Hi, Nellie!
Character:Steve (uncredited)
Release Date:20/01/1934
Let's Fall in Love
Character:Bjorkman
Release Date:26/12/1933
Let's Fall in Love
Character:Svente Bjorkman
Release Date:26/12/1933
Counsellor at Law
Character:Breitstein
Release Date:25/12/1933
Arrowsmith
Character:Henry Novak (uncredited)
Release Date:07/12/1931
Street Scene
Character:Karl Olsen (as John M. Qualen)
Release Date:05/09/1931
Television Appearances
The Streets of San Francisco
Character:Frank Casey
The Partridge Family
Character:The Old Man
The Odd Couple
Character:Groundskeeper
The Odd Couple
Character:Mr. Larson
The Odd Couple
Character:Sam
Jericho
Character:
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
Character:Dr. Elmer Spritzer
Shane
Character:Old Man
Green Acres
Character:Mr. Appleby
Green Acres
Character:Willie Dunhill
No Time for Sergeants
Character:
My Favorite Martian
Character:Matt
Burke's Law
Character:Richard Prince (uncredited)
The Virginian
Character:Gosta Swenson
Ben Casey
Character:
Dr. Kildare
Character:Mr. Callahan
Mister Ed
Character:
Mister Ed
Character:Milo Simmons
The Andy Griffith Show
Character:Henry Bennett
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
Character:
Thriller
Character:Streetcar Conductor
Tate
Character:Sam
The Alaskans
Character:
The Third Man
Character:
Tightrope
Character:
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Character:
Lawman
Character:Doc Shea
Yancy Derringer
Character:Capt. Sven Larsen
The Donna Reed Show
Character:Zeke
Bronco
Character:
Sea Hunt
Character:
The Real McCoys
Character:Frank
Maverick
Character:
Maverick
Character:Leland Mills
Sugarfoot
Character:Jens Jensen
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Character:Mr. Stepp
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Character:Elmer Shore
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Character:Mr. Crabtree
Cheyenne
Character:
The Millionaire
Character:Harry Stonewall Jackson
Climax!
Character:Geist
December Bride
Character:
Father Knows Best
Character:Old Man
Public Defender
Character:Ames
General Electric Theater
Character:
Dragnet
Character:
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character:Pop Bradshaw
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character:Peleg Brewster
Racket Squad
Character:
Lux Video Theatre
Character:Eddie
The Philco Television Playhouse
Character:Gus Gruntle
Images
