John Qualen

John Qualen

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

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

all 177

Movies 134

TV Shows 43

self 1

V12 (archive footage) (uncredited)
La Classe américaine

La Classe américaine (1993)

Movie
3.67
Mr. Larson / Sam / Groundskeeper
The Odd Couple

The Odd Couple (1970)

TV
6
Willie Dunhill / Mr. Appleby
Green Acres

Green Acres (1965)

TV
3.5
Svenson (uncredited)
Cheyenne Autumn

Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

Movie
6
Richard Prince (uncredited)
Burke's Law

Burke's Law (1963)

TV
6
Deckhand Who Cries 'Man Overboard' (uncredited)
Donovan's Reef

Donovan's Reef (1963)

Movie
1
Streetcar Conductor
Thriller

Thriller (1960)

TV
Sam - Storekeeper
Elmer Gantry

Elmer Gantry (1960)

Movie
6
Capt. Sven Larsen
Yancy Derringer

Yancy Derringer (1958)

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

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)

TV
4.75
Leonard Haskins
Unchained

Unchained (1955)

Movie
Chief Engineer Schmitt
The Sea Chase

The Sea Chase (1955)

Movie
Harry Stonewall Jackson
The Millionaire

The Millionaire (1955)

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

I, the Jury (1953)

Movie
Pop Bradshaw / Peleg Brewster
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)

TV
Mr. Ferguson (uncredited)
The Jackpot

The Jackpot (1950)

Movie
A Refugee Doctor
The Fugitive

The Fugitive (1947)

Movie
Peter Oberwalder Sr.
High Conquest

High Conquest (1947)

Movie
Jose Maria Corcoran
Tortilla Flat

Tortilla Flat (1942)

Movie
Hasslinger's Clerk
New Wine

New Wine (1941)

Movie
First Carpenter (uncredited)
Saturday's Children

Saturday's Children (1940)

Movie
Meek Man (uncredited)
Honeymoon in Bali

Honeymoon in Bali (1939)

Movie
Dan (uncredited)
Let Us Live

Let Us Live (1939)

Movie
Night Watchman at Subway Construction Site
The Mad Miss Manton

The Mad Miss Manton (1938)

Movie
Fireman (uncredited)
Nothing Sacred

Nothing Sacred (1937)

Movie
Mr. Jenkins (uncredited)
Wife vs. Secretary

Wife vs. Secretary (1936)

Movie
4
Concierge, Dufresne's Hotel (bit)
Charlie Chan in Paris

Charlie Chan in Paris (1935)

Movie
4.17
Chris (as John T. Qualen)
Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread (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
Steve (uncredited)
Hi, Nellie!

Hi, Nellie! (1934)

Movie
Bjorkman / Svente Bjorkman
Let's Fall in Love

Let's Fall in Love (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
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, Canada

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

This article uses material from Wikipedia.

Last updated:

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8 TV Shows
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3 Movies
8 TV Shows
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4 Movies
7 TV Shows
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2 Movies
9 TV Shows
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