John Qualen
Acting
🎂 1899-12-06
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.
Cast credits(187)
1957
Leland Mills
1957
Henry Bennett
1960
Geist
1954
1955
Gosta Swenson
1962
1951
Gus Gruntle
1948
Doc Shea
1958
Mr. Callahan
1961
Richard Prince (uncredited)
1963
1961
Milo Simmons
1961
1961
Zeke
1958
Groundskeeper
1970
Mr. Larson
1970
Sam
1970
1958
1958
Harry Stonewall Jackson
1955
Mr. Appleby
1965
Willie Dunhill
1965
Streetcar Conductor
1960
Old Man
1954
Jens Jensen
1957
1958
Mr. Stepp
1955
Mr. Crabtree
1955
Elmer Shore
1955
Frank Casey
1972
Axel
1940
1960
Eddie
1950
Matt
1963
Ames
1954
Old Ben
1960
Berger
1943
1959
Frank
1957
The Old Man
1970
Dr. Elmer Spritzer
1966
1951
1954
1959
Capt. Sven Larsen
1958
1959
Ole Knudsen
1961
Lars Jorgensen
1956
1966
Peter Ericson
1962
Monge
1944
Lars Hansen
1950
Sam
1960
Logger
1960
Earl Williams
1940
Livingstone
1955
Muley Graves
1940
Charlie Biller
1965
Deputy Sheriff Sulo
1959
Jose Locota
1954
Old Man
1966
Pop
1958
Mr. Ferguson (uncredited)
1950
Jonah Snell
1958
Dr. Patterson
1941
Luke
1969
Sam - Storekeeper
1960
Svenson (uncredited)
1964
Mr. Faber
1965
Deckhand Who Cries 'Man Overboard' (uncredited)
1963
Uncle Bill
1945
Chris (as John T. Qualen)
1934
Dr. R.H. Vickers, Veterinarian
1953
Chief Engineer Schmitt
1955
Asa Wyatt
1936
Self
1942
Night Watchman at Subway Construction Site
1938
Jake
1956
The Stranger
1948
Oscar
1963
Leonard Haskins
1955
Peter Oberwalder Sr.
1947
Jesse Buford
1966
Model T
1945
Uncle Norbert
1944
Geech
1950
Luther Lindquist
1964
Asa Wyatt
1936
Professor Dingley
1951
Sol Tinker
1935
Collins
1935
Meek Man (uncredited)
1939
1953
Charlie Erickson
1972
Hall
1968
1964
Pop Bradshaw
1951
Peleg Brewster
1951
Coot Royal
1941
Loco
1937
Vegetable Seller
1950
Mr. Clapman (uncredited)
1934
The Barber
1942
Maibus
1950
Charles Engle
1940
Burgomaster
1952
Oswald (as John M. Qualen)
1934
Bart Blivens
1945
Olaf
1965
Second Prisoner
1955
Ed Fuddle
1940
Henry Novak (uncredited)
1931
Julius Seton
1949
Milo
1939
Will Dabson
1935
Corky McGee
1951
Swangron
1948
Aladdin
1942
A Refugee Doctor
1947
Olaf Johnson
1941
Frank
1939
Oswego
1938
Olaf
1936
V12 (archive footage) (uncredited)
1993
Fireman (uncredited)
1937
Dan (uncredited)
1939
Lars
1938
Poppa
1968
Old Man on Porch
1973
Sewer Rat
1937
Sven Johnson
1957
Auctioneer
1935
Billy Hurd
1969
Horatio Curley
1943
No End
1948
Hasslinger's Clerk
1941
Sleepy
1937
Lorenzo
1947
Waldo Everett
1937
Smith
1935
Jose Maria Corcoran
1942
Ernie Evans
1964
Von Blitzen
1935
Otto
1937
Davy
1939
Concierge, Dufresne's Hotel (bit)
1935
Planchet
1935
Hotel Porter
1935
Asa Wyatt
1938
Bill Harvey
1936
Dutch, Santa Avila's Cabbie
1934
Sam Bachrach
1942
Jonas P. Travis
1953
Duflous
1936
Toni
1936
Karl Olsen (as John M. Qualen)
1931
Mike Shemanski
1935
Doc
1958
Svenson
1948
Miser Stevens
1941
Bjorkman
1933
Svente Bjorkman
1933
Howard Anderson
1940
Mr. Jenkins (uncredited)
1936
Prof. Herman Ellenbogen
1934
Lars Knutson Rockne
1940
Svend Olsen
1945
Steve (uncredited)
1934
Capt. Athos
1948
The Janitor
1941
Gustaf
1940
Coccoz
1935
Stoner
1938
Janitor
1934
Ole
1935
Peters
1940
Detective
1934
Anton Dubechek
1944
Sheriff Dow
1937
Gaspar Melo
1954
Mailman
1939
Clem Howie
1940
Breitstein
1933
First Carpenter (uncredited)
1940
Mr. Fossbender
1935
Papasha
1954