John Qualen
Acting • Born 1899-12-06 – Died 1987-09-12
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.
Filmography
187 credits
Casablanca
Movie • 1943
Berger
The Grapes of Wrath
Movie • 1940
Muley Graves
His Girl Friday
Movie • 1940
Earl Williams
The Searchers
Movie • 1956
Lars Jorgensen
Youth Will Be Served
Movie • 1940
Clem Howie
My Girl Tisa
Movie • 1948
Svenson
Blondie on a Budget
Movie • 1940
Ed Fuddle
North to Alaska
Movie • 1960
Logger
Jungle Book
Movie • 1942
The Barber
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Movie • 1962
Peter Ericson
Hollow Triumph
Movie • 1948
Swangron
Out of the Fog
Movie • 1941
Olaf Johnson
A Patch of Blue
Movie • 1965
Mr. Faber
Charlie Chan in Paris
Movie • 1935
Concierge, Dufresne's Hotel (bit)
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
Movie • 1938
Stoner
Woman on the Run
Movie • 1950
Maibus
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
Movie • 1964
Luther Lindquist
Dark Waters
Movie • 1944
Uncle Norbert
All That Money Can Buy
Movie • 1941
Miser Stevens
Angels Over Broadway
Movie • 1940
Charles Engle
Those Calloways
Movie • 1964
Ernie Evans
Arabian Nights
Movie • 1942
Aladdin
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
Movie • 1966
Jesse Buford
The Shepherd of the Hills
Movie • 1941
Coot Royal
The Fugitive
Movie • 1947
A Refugee Doctor
I, the Jury
Movie • 1953
Dr. R.H. Vickers, Veterinarian
Knute Rockne All American
Movie • 1940
Lars Knutson Rockne
Cheyenne Autumn
Movie • 1964
Svenson (uncredited)
Adventure
Movie • 1945
Model T
The Sons of Katie Elder
Movie • 1965
Charlie Biller
Hans Christian Andersen
Movie • 1952
Burgomaster
The High and the Mighty
Movie • 1954
Jose Locota
Larceny, Inc.
Movie • 1942
Sam Bachrach
The Big Steal
Movie • 1949
Julius Seton
Revolt in the Big House
Movie • 1958
Doc
The Long Voyage Home
Movie • 1940
Axel
The Other Woman
Movie • 1954
Papasha
The Gun Runners
Movie • 1958
Pop
The Jackpot
Movie • 1950
Mr. Ferguson (uncredited)
The Impostor
Movie • 1944
Monge
My World Dies Screaming
Movie • 1958
Jonah Snell
Black Fury
Movie • 1935
Mike Shemanski
Angel's Holiday
Movie • 1937
Waldo Everett
Million Dollar Baby
Movie • 1941
Dr. Patterson
Swing Shift Maisie
Movie • 1943
Horatio Curley
Tortilla Flat
Movie • 1942
Jose Maria Corcoran
Thunder Afloat
Movie • 1939
Milo
Firecreek
Movie • 1968
Hall
Honeymoon in Bali
Movie • 1939
Meek Man (uncredited)
One More Spring
Movie • 1935
Auctioneer
Passion
Movie • 1954
Gaspar Melo
Our Daily Bread
Movie • 1934
Chris (as John T. Qualen)
P.J.
Movie • 1968
Poppa
Goodbye, My Fancy
Movie • 1951
Professor Dingley
Stand Up and Fight
Movie • 1939
Davy
Roughly Speaking
Movie • 1945
Svend Olsen
An American Romance
Movie • 1944
Anton Dubechek
Orchids to You
Movie • 1935
Smith
Girls' Dormitory
Movie • 1936
Toni
Arrowsmith
Movie • 1931
Henry Novak (uncredited)
Meet Nero Wolfe
Movie • 1936
Olaf
He Was Her Man
Movie • 1934
Dutch, Santa Avila's Cabbie
Seventh Heaven
Movie • 1937
Sewer Rat
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Movie • 1935
Sol Tinker
Sing and Like It
Movie • 1934
Oswald (as John M. Qualen)
Five of a Kind
Movie • 1938
Asa Wyatt
Captain Kidd
Movie • 1945
Bart Blivens
Hail, Hero!
Movie • 1969
Billy Hurd
The Flying Missile
Movie • 1950
Lars Hansen
Fit for a King
Movie • 1937
Otto
Let's Fall in Love
Movie • 1933
Bjorkman
Chasing Yesterday
Movie • 1935
Coccoz
Ski Patrol
Movie • 1940
Gustaf
The Mad Miss Manton
Movie • 1938
Night Watchman at Subway Construction Site
Counsellor at Law
Movie • 1933
Breitstein
Song of Scheherazade
Movie • 1947
Lorenzo
Upperworld
Movie • 1934
Janitor
365 Nights in Hollywood
Movie • 1934
Prof. Herman Ellenbogen
The Big Land
Movie • 1957
Sven Johnson
The Country Doctor
Movie • 1936
Asa Wyatt
The Bad Man of Brimstone
Movie • 1937
Loco
Man on a Bus
Movie • 1955
Second Prisoner
Alias a Gentleman
Movie • 1948
No End
Reunion
Movie • 1936
Asa Wyatt
Street Scene
Movie • 1931
Karl Olsen (as John M. Qualen)
Captain China
Movie • 1950
Geech
Let's Fall in Love
Movie • 1933
Svente Bjorkman
Hi, Nellie!
Movie • 1934
Steve (uncredited)
Two Rode Together
Movie • 1961
Ole Knudsen
The Sea Chase
Movie • 1955
Chief Engineer Schmitt
Four Wives
Movie • 1939
Frank
Let Us Live
Movie • 1939
Dan (uncredited)
The Road to Glory
Movie • 1936
Duflous
Johnny Concho
Movie • 1956
Jake
Man of Iron
Movie • 1935
Collins
On Their Own
Movie • 1940
Peters
Donovan's Reef
Movie • 1963
Deckhand Who Cries 'Man Overboard' (uncredited)
Thunder in the Night
Movie • 1935
Hotel Porter
Anatomy of a Murder
Movie • 1959
Deputy Sheriff Sulo Kangas
Reaching from Heaven
Movie • 1948
The Stranger
Babies for Sale
Movie • 1940
Howard Anderson
Unchained
Movie • 1955
Leonard Haskins
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap
Movie • 1953
Jonas P. Travis
Ring Around the Moon
Movie • 1936
Bill Harvey
Wife vs. Secretary
Movie • 1936
Mr. Jenkins (uncredited)
16 Fathoms Deep
Movie • 1948
Capt. Athos
The Three Musketeers
Movie • 1935
Planchet
Saturday's Children
Movie • 1940
First Carpenter (uncredited)
Nothing Sacred
Movie • 1937
Fireman (uncredited)
Hell Bent for Leather
Movie • 1960
Old Ben
Doubting Thomas
Movie • 1935
Von Blitzen
Whipsaw
Movie • 1935
Will Dabson
Belle Le Grand
Movie • 1951
Corky McGee
I'll Take Sweden
Movie • 1965
Olaf
Straight Is the Way
Movie • 1934
Mr. Clapman (uncredited)
Model Wife
Movie • 1941
The Janitor
The Prize
Movie • 1963
Oscar
Buccaneer's Girl
Movie • 1950
Vegetable Seller
New Wine
Movie • 1941
Hasslinger's Clerk
Elmer Gantry
Movie • 1960
Sam - Storekeeper
Fifty Roads to Town
Movie • 1937
Sheriff Dow
The Chaser
Movie • 1938
Lars
She Had to Eat
Movie • 1937
Sleepy
Silk Hat Kid
Movie • 1935
Mr. Fossbender
River Gang
Movie • 1945
Uncle Bill
Joy of Living
Movie • 1938
Oswego
High Conquest
Movie • 1947
Peter Oberwalder Sr.
The Great Hotel Murder
Movie • 1935
Ole
La Classe américaine
Movie • 1993
V12 (archive footage) (uncredited)
At Gunpoint
Movie • 1955
Livingstone
Mickey the Kid
Movie • 1939
Mailman
Servants' Entrance
Movie • 1934
Detective
Breakdowns of 1942
Movie • 1942
Self
Doc
Movie • 1969
Luke
Getting Away from It All
Movie • 1972
Charlie Erickson
Frasier, the Sensuous Lion
Movie • 1973
Old Man on Porch
Mister Ed
TV • 1961
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
Henry Bennett
Burke's Law
TV • 1963
Richard Prince (uncredited)
Cheyenne
TV • 1955
December Bride
TV • 1954
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
TV • 1966
Dr. Elmer Spritzer
The Odd Couple
TV • 1970
Groundskeeper
Dragnet
TV • 1951
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Sea Hunt
TV • 1958
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Mr. Stepp
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
TV • 1958
The Millionaire
TV • 1955
Harry Stonewall Jackson
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Gosta Swenson
Thriller
TV • 1960
Streetcar Conductor
Yancy Derringer
TV • 1958
Capt. Sven Larsen
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Pop Bradshaw
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Eddie
Climax!
TV • 1954
Geist
Bronco
TV • 1958
The Philco Television Playhouse
TV • 1948
Gus Gruntle
The Alaskans
TV • 1959
Sugarfoot
TV • 1957
Jens Jensen
Ben Casey
TV • 1961
Racket Squad
TV • 1951
Tightrope
TV • 1959
Dr. Kildare
TV • 1961
Mr. Callahan
Shane
TV • 1966
Old Man
Jericho
TV • 1966
The Third Man
TV • 1959
No Time for Sergeants
TV • 1964
Maverick
TV • 1957
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
TV • 1960
Maverick
TV • 1957
Leland Mills
Tate
TV • 1960
Sam
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Peleg Brewster
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Elmer Shore
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Mr. Crabtree
Mister Ed
TV • 1961
Milo Simmons
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
Frank Casey
Public Defender
TV • 1954
Ames
The Odd Couple
TV • 1970
Mr. Larson
The Odd Couple
TV • 1970
Sam
The Partridge Family
TV • 1970
The Old Man
My Favorite Martian
TV • 1963
Matt
Green Acres
TV • 1965
Mr. Appleby
Green Acres
TV • 1965
Willie Dunhill
Father Knows Best
TV • 1954
Old Man
The Real McCoys
TV • 1957
Frank
The Donna Reed Show
TV • 1958
Zeke
Lawman
TV • 1958
Doc Shea