JQ
John Qualen
Actor
Born December 6, 1899Died September 12, 1987 (87 years)
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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 2013 | John Ford et Monument Valley · as Cast |
| 1993 | La classe américaine · as V12 (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 1990 | Hollywood Mavericks · as Muley Bates |
| 1976 | America at the Movies · as Muley Graves |
| 1974 | Movin' On (TV Series) · as Liggett |
| 1973 | Frasier, the Sensuous Lion · as Old Man On Porch |
| 1972 | The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series) · as Frank Casey |
| 1972 | Getting Away from It All · as Charlie Erickson |
| 1971 | The American West of John Ford · as Actor 'the Searchers' |
| 1970 | The Partridge Family (TV Series) · as The Old Man |
| 1970 | The Odd Couple (TV Series) · as Mr. Larson |
| 1970 | Make Room for Granddaddy (TV Series) · as Folsom |
| 1969 | Hail, Hero! · as Billy Hurd |
| 1969 | Doc · as Luke |
| 1969 | Medical Center (TV Series) · as Charlie |
| 1968 | Firecreek · as Hall |
| 1967 | P.J. · as Poppa |
| 1967 | The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin · as Barber |
| 1966 | Jericho (TV Series) |
| 1966 | The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series) · as Dr. Elmer Spritzer |
| 1966 | Shane (TV Series) · as Old Man |
| 1966 | A Big Hand for the Little Lady · as Jesse Buford |
| 1965 | A Patch of Blue · as Mr. Faber |
| 1965 | The F.B.I. (TV Series) · as Gas Station Attendant |
| 1965 | Green Acres (TV Series) · as Willie Dunhill |
| 1965 | I Spy (TV Series) · as Hannos |
| 1965 | The Sons of Katie Elder · as Charlie Biller |
| 1965 | I'll Take Sweden · as Olaf |
| 1965 | Those Calloways · as Ernie Evans |
| 1964 | 7 Faces of Dr. Lao · as Luther Lindquist |
| 1964 | Cheyenne Autumn · as Svenson (uncredited) |
| 1964 | No Time for Sergeants (TV Series) |
| 1963 | The Prize · as Oscar |
| 1963 | My Favorite Martian (TV Series) · as Matt |
| 1963 | Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1963 | Burke's Law (TV Series) · as Richard Prince (uncredited) |
| 1963 | Donovan's Reef · as Deckhand Who Cries 'man Overboard' (uncredited) |
| 1962 | The Wide Country (TV Series) · as Dr. Henry Demeter |
| 1962 | The Virginian (TV Series) · as Gosta Swenson |
| 1962 | The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance · as Peter Ericson |
| 1961 | Ben Casey (TV Series) |
| 1961 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) · as Mr. Callahan |
| 1961 | Hazel (TV Series) · as Mr. Johansson |
| 1961 | Two Rode Together · as Ole Knudsen |
| 1961 | Mister Ed (TV Series) · as Milo Simmons |
| 1960 | North to Alaska · as Logger |
| 1960 | Klondike (TV Series) · as Larsen |
| 1960 | The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) · as Henry Bennett |
| 1960 | Outlaws (TV Series) · as Mr. Fremont |
| 1960 | The Barbara Stanwyck Show (TV Series) |
| 1960 | Thriller (TV Series) · as Streetcar Conductor |
| 1960 | Elmer Gantry · as Sam - Storekeeper |
| 1960 | |
| 1960 | Overland Trail (TV Series) · as Circuit Judge |
| 1960 | Hell Bent for Leather · as Old Ben |
| 1959 | The Alaskans (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Laramie (TV Series) · as Mr. Elbee |
| 1959 | |
| 1959 | Tightrope (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Anatomy of a Murder · as Deputy Sheriff Sulo |
| 1959 | The Third Man (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Revolt in the Big House · as Doc |
| 1958 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Lawman (TV Series) · as Doc Shannon |
| 1958 | Yancy Derringer (TV Series) · as Capt. Sven Larsen |
| 1958 | The Donna Reed Show (TV Series) · as Zeke |
| 1958 | Bronco (TV Series) |
| 1958 | My World Dies Screaming · as Jonah Snell |
| 1958 | The Gun Runners · as Pop |
| 1958 | Sea Hunt (TV Series) |
| 1957 | The Real McCoys (TV Series) · as Frank |
| 1957 | The Californians (TV Series) · as J. Jimmerson Jones |
| 1957 | Maverick (TV Series) · as Leland Mills |
| 1957 | Sugarfoot (TV Series) · as Jens Jensen |
| 1957 | The Big Land · as Sven Johnson |
| 1956 | The Gale Storm Show (TV Series) · as Olaf Hansen |
| 1956 | Johnny Concho · as Jake |
| 1956 | The Searchers · as Lars Jorgensen |
| 1955 | At Gunpoint · as Livingstone |
| 1955 | Matinee Theater (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1955 | Crossroads (1955) (TV Series) · as Dr. Axel Johnson |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Elmer Shore |
| 1955 | |
| 1955 | Unchained · as Leonard Haskins |
| 1955 | The Sea Chase · as Chief Engineer Schmitt |
| 1955 | Science Fiction Theatre (TV Series) · as Prof. Samuel Avery |
| 1955 | The Millionaire (TV Series) · as Harry Stonewall Jackson |
| 1954 | The Other Woman · as Papasha |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Geist |
| 1954 | Passion · as Gaspar Melo |
| 1954 | December Bride (TV Series) |
| 1954 | Father Knows Best (TV Series) · as Old Man |
| 1954 | The High and the Mighty · as Jose Locota |
| 1954 | The Student Prince · as Willie Klauber |
| 1954 | Public Defender (TV Series) · as Ames |
| 1953 | The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (TV Series) · as Toby |
| 1953 | Make Room for Daddy (TV Series) · as Swenson |
| 1953 | I, the Jury · as Dr. R.h. Vickers, Veterinarian |
| 1953 | Francis Covers the Big Town · as Defense Attorney Cavendish |
| 1953 | Ambush at Tomahawk Gap · as Jonas P. Travis |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) |
| 1952 | Hans Christian Andersen · as Burgomaster |
| 1952 | Omnibus (TV Series) · as (segment "the House") |
| 1952 | Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Francois |
| 1952 | Cavalcade of America (TV Series) · as Waddell |
| 1952 | This Is The Life (TV Series) · as Henry Becker |
| 1952 | Death Valley Days (TV Series) · as Joe Gray |
| 1952 | Rebound (TV Series) · as Prospector |
| 1951 | Dragnet (1951) (TV Series) |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Peleg Brewster |
| 1951 | Celanese Theatre (TV Series) · as Chris |
| 1951 | Goodbye, My Fancy · as Professor Dingley |
| 1951 | Belle Le Grand · as Corky Mcgee |
| 1950 | Racket Squad (TV Series) |
| 1950 | The Flying Missile · as Lars Hansen |
| 1950 | Woman on the Run · as Maibus |
| 1950 | The Jackpot · as Mr. Ferguson (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Ashley Banjo’s Big Town Dance (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Eddie |
| 1950 | Buccaneer's Girl · as Vegetable Seller |
| 1950 | Captain China · as Geech |
| 1949 | The Big Steal · as Julius Seton |
| 1949 | Fireside Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1948 | The Philco Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as Gus Gruntle |
| 1948 | Hollow Triumph · as Swangron |
| 1948 | 16 Fathoms Deep · as Capt. Athos |
| 1948 | My Girl Tisa · as Svenson |
| 1948 | On Our Merry Way · as Mr. Atwood (deleted Sequence) |
| 1948 | Alias a Gentleman · as No End |
| 1948 | Reaching from Heaven · as The Stranger |
| 1947 | The Fugitive · as A Refugee Doctor |
| 1947 | High Conquest · as Peter Oberwalder Sr. |
| 1947 | Song of Scheherazade · as Lorenzo |
| 1945 | Adventure · as Model T |
| 1945 | Captain Kidd · as Bart Blivens |
| 1945 | It Happened in Springfield · as Cast |
| 1945 | Roughly Speaking · as Svend Olsen |
| 1944 | Dark Waters · as Uncle Norbert |
| 1944 | An American Romance · as Anton Dubechek |
| 1944 | Strange Confession · as Monge |
| 1943 | Swing Shift Maisie · as Horatio Curley |
| 1942 | Arabian Nights · as Aladdin |
| 1942 | Casablanca · as Berger |
| 1942 | Tortilla Flat · as Jose Maria Corcoran |
| 1942 | Larceny, Inc · as Sam Bachrach |
| 1942 | Jungle Book · as The Barber |
| 1941 | The Devil and Daniel Webster · as Miser Stevens |
| 1941 | New Wine · as Hasslinger's Clerk |
| 1941 | The Shepherd of the Hills · as Coot Royal |
| 1941 | Out of the Fog · as Olaf Johnson |
| 1941 | Million Dollar Baby · as Dr. Patterson |
| 1941 | Model Wife · as The Janitor |
| 1940 | The Long Voyage Home · as Axel |
| 1940 | Youth Will Be Served · as Clem Howie |
| 1940 | Knute Rockne All American · as Lars Knutson Rockne |
| 1940 | Angels Over Broadway · as Charles Engle |
| 1940 | Babies for Sale · as Howard Anderson |
| 1940 | Saturday's Children · as First Carpenter (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Ski Patrol · as Gustaf |
| 1940 | The Grapes of Wrath · as Muley Graves |
| 1940 | Blondie on a Budget · as Ed Fuddle |
| 1940 | His Girl Friday · as Earl Williams |
| 1939 | Four Wives · as Frank |
| 1939 | Honeymoon in Bali · as Meek Man (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Thunder Afloat · as Milo |
| 1939 | Let Us Live · as Dan (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Stand Up and Fight · as Davy |
| 1938 | The Mad Miss Manton · as Night Watchman At Subway Construction Site |
| 1938 | Five of a Kind · as Asa Wyatt |
| 1938 | The Texans · as Swede |
| 1938 | The Chaser · as Lars |
| 1938 | Joy of Living · as Oswego |
| 1937 | The Bad Man of Brimstone · as Loco |
| 1937 | Nothing Sacred · as Fireman (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Fit for a King · as Otto |
| 1937 | Fifty Roads to Town · as Sheriff Dow |
| 1937 | Seventh Heaven · as Sewer Rat |
| 1936 | The Road to Glory · as Duflous |
| 1936 | Girls' Dormitory · as Toni |
| 1936 | Meet Nero Wolfe · as Olaf |
| 1936 | The Country Doctor · as Asa Wyatt |
| 1936 | Wife vs. Secretary · as Mr. Jenkins (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Ring Around the Moon · as Bill Harvey |
| 1935 | Man of Iron · as Collins |
| 1935 | Whipsaw · as Will Dabson |
| 1935 | The Three Musketeers · as Planchet |
| 1935 | Thunder in the Night · as Hotel Porter |
| 1935 | Orchids to You · as Smith |
| 1935 | The Farmer Takes a Wife · as Sol Tinker |
| 1935 | Doubting Thomas · as Von Blitzen |
| 1935 | Chasing Yesterday · as Coccoz |
| 1935 | Black Fury · as Mike Shemanski |
| 1935 | The Great Hotel Murder · as Ole |
| 1935 | One More Spring · as Auctioneer |
| 1935 | Charlie Chan in Paris · as Concierge, Dufresne's Hotel (bit) |
| 1934 | 365 Nights in Hollywood · as Prof. Herman Ellenbogen |
| 1934 | Our Daily Bread · as Chris (as John T. Qualen) |
| 1934 | Servants' Entrance · as Detective |
| 1934 | Straight Is the Way · as Mr. Clapman (uncredited) |
| 1934 | He Was Her Man · as Dutch, Santa Avila's Cabbie |
| 1934 | Upperworld · as Janitor |
| 1934 | Sing and Like It · as Oswald (as John M. Qualen) |
| 1934 | Hi, Nellie · as Steve (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Fugitive Lovers · as Distressed Parent |
| 1933 | Let's Fall in Love · as Bjorkman |
| 1933 | Counsellor at Law · as Breitstein |
| 1933 | The Devil's Brother · as Man Who Owned The Bull |
| 1931 | Arrowsmith · as Henry Novak (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Street Scene · as Karl Olsen (as John M. Qualen) |
| 1931 | The Easiest Way · as Man Shaving In Room Across Alley |