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