John Qualen

John Qualen

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1899-12-08
Deathday: 1987-09-12 (87 years old)

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Biography

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.

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Filmography

all 173

Movies 134

TV Shows 39

self 1

V12 (archive footage) (uncredited)
La Classe américaine

La Classe américaine (1993)

Movie
3.67
The Streets of San Francisco

The Streets of San Francisco (1972)

TV
6.86
Charlie Erickson
Getting Away from It All

Getting Away from It All (1972)

Movie
Groundskeeper / Mr. Larson / Sam
The Odd Couple

The Odd Couple (1970)

TV
6
Billy Hurd
Hail, Hero!

Hail, Hero! (1969)

Movie
Luke
Doc

Doc (1969)

Movie
Poppa
P.J.

P.J. (1968)

Movie
Hall
Firecreek

Firecreek (1968)

Movie
Jericho

Jericho (1966)

TV
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966)

TV
Old Man
Shane

Shane (1966)

TV
Jesse Buford
A Big Hand for the Little Lady

A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Movie
Mr. Faber
A Patch of Blue

A Patch of Blue (1965)

Movie
Green Acres

Green Acres (1965)

TV
3.5
Charlie Biller
The Sons of Katie Elder

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)

Movie
6
Olaf
I'll Take Sweden

I'll Take Sweden (1965)

Movie
Ernie Evans
Those Calloways

Those Calloways (1965)

Movie
2.67
Svenson (uncredited)
Cheyenne Autumn

Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

Movie
6
No Time for Sergeants

No Time for Sergeants (1964)

TV
Luther Lindquist
7 Faces of Dr. Lao

7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)

Movie
Oscar
The Prize

The Prize (1963)

Movie
Richard Prince
Burke's Law

Burke's Law (1963)

TV
6
Deckhand (uncredited)
Donovan's Reef

Donovan's Reef (1963)

Movie
1
Gosta Swenson
The Virginian

The Virginian (1962)

TV
Peter Ericson
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Movie
3.67
Ben Casey

Ben Casey (1961)

TV
4.75
Mr. Callahan
Dr. Kildare

Dr. Kildare (1961)

TV
6
Ole Knudsen
Two Rode Together

Two Rode Together (1961)

Movie
2
Milo Simmons
Mister Ed

Mister Ed (1961)

TV
5.59
Logger
North to Alaska

North to Alaska (1960)

Movie
Henry Bennett
The Andy Griffith Show

The Andy Griffith Show (1960)

TV
6
The Barbara Stanwyck Show

The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960)

TV
Streetcar Conductor
Thriller

Thriller (1960)

TV
Sam - Storekeeper
Elmer Gantry

Elmer Gantry (1960)

Movie
6
Sam
Tate

Tate (1960)

TV
Old Ben
Hell Bent for Leather

Hell Bent for Leather (1960)

Movie
The Alaskans

The Alaskans (1959)

TV
The Third Man

The Third Man (1959)

TV
Tightrope

Tightrope (1959)

TV
Deputy Sheriff Sulo
Anatomy of a Murder

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Movie
3.67
Doc
Revolt in the Big House

Revolt in the Big House (1958)

Movie
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)

TV
Capt. Sven Larsen
Yancy Derringer

Yancy Derringer (1958)

TV
The Donna Reed Show

The Donna Reed Show (1958)

TV
6
Bronco

Bronco (1958)

TV
Jonah Snell
My World Dies Screaming

My World Dies Screaming (1958)

Movie
6
Pop
The Gun Runners

The Gun Runners (1958)

Movie
Sea Hunt

Sea Hunt (1958)

TV
Leland Mills
Maverick

Maverick (1957)

TV
5.33
Jens Jensen
Sugarfoot

Sugarfoot (1957)

TV
Sven Johnson
The Big Land

The Big Land (1957)

Movie
Jake
Johnny Concho

Johnny Concho (1956)

Movie
Lars Jorgensen
The Searchers

The Searchers (1956)

Movie
5.03
Livingstone
At Gunpoint

At Gunpoint (1955)

Movie
Mr. Crabtree / Mr. Stepp / Elmer Shore
Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)

TV
4.75
Cheyenne

Cheyenne (1955)

TV
Leonard Haskins
Unchained

Unchained (1955)

Movie
Chief Engineer Schmitt
The Sea Chase

The Sea Chase (1955)

Movie
Second Prisoner
Man On A Bus

Man On A Bus (1955)

Movie
Harry Stonewall Jackson
The Millionaire

The Millionaire (1955)

TV
Papasha
The Other Woman

The Other Woman (1954)

Movie
Geist
Climax!

Climax! (1954)

TV
Gaspar Melo
Passion

Passion (1954)

Movie
December Bride

December Bride (1954)

TV
Jose Locota
The High and the Mighty

The High and the Mighty (1954)

Movie
Public Defender

Public Defender (1954)

TV
Dr. R.H. Vickers, Veterinarian
I, the Jury

I, the Jury (1953)

Movie
Jonas P. Travis
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap

Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953)

Movie
General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater (1953)

TV
Burgomaster
Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen (1952)

Movie
Dragnet

Dragnet (1951)

TV
7
Peleg Brewster / Pop Bradshaw
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)

TV
Racket Squad

Racket Squad (1951)

TV
Professor Dingley
Goodbye, My Fancy

Goodbye, My Fancy (1951)

Movie
Corky McGee
Belle Le Grand

Belle Le Grand (1951)

Movie
Lars Hansen
The Flying Missile

The Flying Missile (1950)

Movie
Maibus
Woman on the Run

Woman on the Run (1950)

Movie
Mr. Ferguson
The Jackpot

The Jackpot (1950)

Movie
Eddie
Lux Video Theatre

Lux Video Theatre (1950)

TV
Vegetable Seller
Buccaneer's Girl

Buccaneer's Girl (1950)

Movie
Geech
Captain China

Captain China (1950)

Movie
Julius Seton
The Big Steal

The Big Steal (1949)

Movie
Gus Gruntle
The Philco Television Playhouse

The Philco Television Playhouse (1948)

TV
Swangron
Hollow Triumph

Hollow Triumph (1948)

Movie
Capt. Athos
16 Fathoms Deep

16 Fathoms Deep (1948)

Movie
Svenson
My Girl Tisa

My Girl Tisa (1948)

Movie
No End
Alias a Gentleman

Alias a Gentleman (1948)

Movie
The Stranger
Reaching from Heaven

Reaching from Heaven (1948)

Movie
A Refugee Doctor
The Fugitive

The Fugitive (1947)

Movie
Peter Oberwalder Sr.
High Conquest

High Conquest (1947)

Movie
Lorenzo
Song of Scheherazade

Song of Scheherazade (1947)

Movie
Model T
Adventure

Adventure (1945)

Movie
Bart Blivens
Captain Kidd

Captain Kidd (1945)

Movie
Uncle Bill
River Gang

River Gang (1945)

Movie
Svend Olsen
Roughly Speaking

Roughly Speaking (1945)

Movie
Uncle Norbert
Dark Waters

Dark Waters (1944)

Movie
Anton Dubechek
An American Romance

An American Romance (1944)

Movie
Monge
The Impostor

The Impostor (1944)

Movie
Horatio Curley
Swing Shift Maisie

Swing Shift Maisie (1943)

Movie
Berger
Casablanca

Casablanca (1943)

Movie
6.75
Self
Breakdowns of 1942

Breakdowns of 1942 (1942)

Movie
Aladdin
Arabian Nights

Arabian Nights (1942)

Movie
Jose Maria Corcoran
Tortilla Flat

Tortilla Flat (1942)

Movie
Sam Bachrach
Larceny, Inc.

Larceny, Inc. (1942)

Movie
The Barber
Jungle Book

Jungle Book (1942)

Movie
Miser Stevens
All That Money Can Buy

All That Money Can Buy (1941)

Movie
Hasslinger's Clerk
New Wine

New Wine (1941)

Movie
Coot Royal
The Shepherd of the Hills

The Shepherd of the Hills (1941)

Movie
Olaf Johnson
Out of the Fog

Out of the Fog (1941)

Movie
6
Dr. Patterson
Million Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby (1941)

Movie
The Janitor
Model Wife

Model Wife (1941)

Movie
Clem Howie
Youth Will Be Served

Youth Will Be Served (1940)

Movie
Axel
The Long Voyage Home

The Long Voyage Home (1940)

Movie
Lars Knutson Rockne
Knute Rockne All American

Knute Rockne All American (1940)

Movie
Charles Engle
Angels Over Broadway

Angels Over Broadway (1940)

Movie
Howard Anderson
Babies for Sale

Babies for Sale (1940)

Movie
Peters
On Their Own

On Their Own (1940)

Movie
Gustaf
Ski Patrol

Ski Patrol (1940)

Movie
First Carpenter (uncredited)
Saturday's Children

Saturday's Children (1940)

Movie
Muley Graves
The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Movie
5.42
Ed Fuddle
Blondie on a Budget

Blondie on a Budget (1940)

Movie
Earl Williams
His Girl Friday

His Girl Friday (1940)

Movie
5.72
Frank
Four Wives

Four Wives (1939)

Movie
Meek Man (uncredited)
Honeymoon in Bali

Honeymoon in Bali (1939)

Movie
Milo
Thunder Afloat

Thunder Afloat (1939)

Movie
Mailman
Mickey the Kid

Mickey the Kid (1939)

Movie
Dan (uncredited)
Let Us Live

Let Us Live (1939)

Movie
Davy
Stand Up and Fight

Stand Up and Fight (1939)

Movie
Stoner
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade

The Strange Case of Dr. Meade (1938)

Movie
Night Watchman at Subway Construction Site
The Mad Miss Manton

The Mad Miss Manton (1938)

Movie
Asa Wyatt
Five of a Kind

Five of a Kind (1938)

Movie
Lars
The Chaser

The Chaser (1938)

Movie
Oswego
Joy of Living

Joy of Living (1938)

Movie
Loco
The Bad Man of Brimstone

The Bad Man of Brimstone (1937)

Movie
Fireman (uncredited)
Nothing Sacred

Nothing Sacred (1937)

Movie
Otto
Fit for a King

Fit for a King (1937)

Movie
Sleepy
She Had to Eat

She Had to Eat (1937)

Movie
Waldo Everett
Angel's Holiday

Angel's Holiday (1937)

Movie
Sheriff Dow
Fifty Roads to Town

Fifty Roads to Town (1937)

Movie
Sewer Rat
Seventh Heaven

Seventh Heaven (1937)

Movie
Asa Wyatt
Reunion

Reunion (1936)

Movie
Duflous
The Road to Glory

The Road to Glory (1936)

Movie
Toni
Girls Dormitory

Girls Dormitory (1936)

Movie
Olaf
Meet Nero Wolfe

Meet Nero Wolfe (1936)

Movie
Asa Wyatt
The Country Doctor

The Country Doctor (1936)

Movie
Mr. Jenkins (uncredited)
Wife vs. Secretary

Wife vs. Secretary (1936)

Movie
4
Bill Harvey
Ring Around the Moon

Ring Around the Moon (1936)

Movie
Collins
Man of Iron

Man of Iron (1935)

Movie
Will Dabson
Whipsaw

Whipsaw (1935)

Movie
Planchet
The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers (1935)

Movie
Hotel Porter
Thunder in the Night

Thunder in the Night (1935)

Movie
Smith
Orchids to You

Orchids to You (1935)

Movie
Mr. Fossbender
Silk Hat Kid

Silk Hat Kid (1935)

Movie
Von Blitzen
Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas (1935)

Movie
Sol Tinker
The Farmer Takes a Wife

The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)

Movie
Mike Shemanski
Black Fury

Black Fury (1935)

Movie
Coccoz
Chasing Yesterday

Chasing Yesterday (1935)

Movie
Ole
The Great Hotel Murder

The Great Hotel Murder (1935)

Movie
Auctioneer
One More Spring

One More Spring (1935)

Movie
Concierge, Dufresne's Hotel (bit)
Charlie Chan in Paris

Charlie Chan in Paris (1935)

Movie
4.17
Prof. Herman Ellenbogen
365 Nights in Hollywood

365 Nights in Hollywood (1934)

Movie
Chris (as John T. Qualen)
Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread (1934)

Movie
Detective
Servants' Entrance

Servants' Entrance (1934)

Movie
Mr. Clapman (uncredited)
Straight Is the Way

Straight Is the Way (1934)

Movie
Dutch, Santa Avila's Cabbie
He Was Her Man

He Was Her Man (1934)

Movie
Oswald (as John M. Qualen)
Sing and Like it

Sing and Like it (1934)

Movie
Chris the Janitor
Upperworld

Upperworld (1934)

Movie
Steve (uncredited)
Hi, Nellie!

Hi, Nellie! (1934)

Movie
Bjorkman / Svente Bjorkman
Let's Fall in Love

Let's Fall in Love (1933)

Movie
Breitstein
Counsellor at Law

Counsellor at Law (1933)

Movie
Henry Novak (uncredited)
Arrowsmith

Arrowsmith (1931)

Movie
6
Karl Olsen (as John M. Qualen)
Street Scene

Street Scene (1931)

Movie
6
Albert Hodgins
This is Alice

This is Alice

TV

Ratings

Average 5.93
Based on 1.33 Million movie and tv ratings over time
1931
1938
1948
1939
1993
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John QualenJohn QualenJohn QualenJohn QualenJohn Qualen

Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Male

Birthday
1899-12-08

Deathday
1987-09-12 (87 years old)

Birth Place
Vancouver, Canada

Religion
Lutheranism

Citizenships
United States of America, Canada

Also Known As
John M. Qualen, John T. Qualen, Johan Mandt Kvalen


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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