John Qualen

John Qualen

Acting
Born 1899-12-06 - Died 1987-09-12Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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.

Movies (135)

Casablanca
8.1

Casablanca

1943Movie8.1
The Searchers
7.7

The Searchers

1956Movie7.7
His Girl Friday
7.4

His Girl Friday

1940Movie7.4
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
7.8

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

1962Movie7.8
The Grapes of Wrath
7.8

The Grapes of Wrath

1940Movie7.8
Anatomy of a Murder
7.8

Anatomy of a Murder

1959Movie7.8
Hollow Triumph
6.6

Hollow Triumph

1948Movie6.6
Jungle Book
6.4

Jungle Book

1942Movie6.4
A Patch of Blue
7.6

A Patch of Blue

1965Movie7.6
Our Daily Bread
6.7

Our Daily Bread

1934Movie6.7
16 Fathoms Deep
5.6

16 Fathoms Deep

1948Movie5.6
Doc
8.0

Doc

1969Movie8.0
The Sea Chase
6.3

The Sea Chase

1955Movie6.3
The Sons of Katie Elder
7.0

The Sons of Katie Elder

1965Movie7.0
Cheyenne Autumn
6.7

Cheyenne Autumn

1964Movie6.7
The High and the Mighty
6.0

The High and the Mighty

1954Movie6.0
La Classe américaine
7.6

La Classe américaine

1993Movie7.6
Woman on the Run
6.8

Woman on the Run

1950Movie6.8
Buccaneer's Girl
5.8

Buccaneer's Girl

1950Movie5.8
The Long Voyage Home
6.6

The Long Voyage Home

1940Movie6.6
The Shepherd of the Hills
6.6

The Shepherd of the Hills

1941Movie6.6
Angels Over Broadway
5.9

Angels Over Broadway

1940Movie5.9
Hi, Nellie!
6.7

Hi, Nellie!

1934Movie6.7
Elmer Gantry
7.3

Elmer Gantry

1960Movie7.3
Swing Shift Maisie
6.8

Swing Shift Maisie

1943Movie6.8
Let Us Live
6.8

Let Us Live

1939Movie6.8
Adventure
6.4

Adventure

1945Movie6.4
Two Rode Together
6.4

Two Rode Together

1961Movie6.4
North to Alaska
6.5

North to Alaska

1960Movie6.5
Tortilla Flat
5.8

Tortilla Flat

1942Movie5.8
Wife vs. Secretary
6.7

Wife vs. Secretary

1936Movie6.7
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
7.1

A Big Hand for the Little Lady

1966Movie7.1
Captain Kidd
6.3

Captain Kidd

1945Movie6.3
Donovan's Reef
6.2

Donovan's Reef

1963Movie6.2
Breakdowns of 1942
6.0

Breakdowns of 1942

1942Movie6.0
Arabian Nights
6.0

Arabian Nights

1942Movie6.0
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
6.9

7 Faces of Dr. Lao

1964Movie6.9
Out of the Fog
6.3

Out of the Fog

1941Movie6.3
Street Scene
6.8

Street Scene

1931Movie6.8
Firecreek
6.2

Firecreek

1968Movie6.2
My Girl Tisa
9.0

My Girl Tisa

1948Movie9.0
Man on a Bus
5.0

Man on a Bus

1955Movie5.0
The Prize
6.7

The Prize

1963Movie6.7
The Fugitive
6.0

The Fugitive

1947Movie6.0
Nothing Sacred
6.3

Nothing Sacred

1937Movie6.3
The Gun Runners
6.1

The Gun Runners

1958Movie6.1
P.J.
5.7

P.J.

1968Movie5.7
Sing and Like It
5.0

Sing and Like It

1934Movie5.0
All That Money Can Buy
7.0

All That Money Can Buy

1941Movie7.0
One More Spring
6.2

One More Spring

1935Movie6.2
Meet Nero Wolfe
6.7

Meet Nero Wolfe

1936Movie6.7
Those Calloways
6.5

Those Calloways

1964Movie6.5
Knute Rockne All American
6.2

Knute Rockne All American

1940Movie6.2
The Road to Glory
6.5

The Road to Glory

1936Movie6.5
On Their Own
8.0

On Their Own

1940Movie8.0
Reaching from Heaven
8.0

Reaching from Heaven

1948Movie8.0
High Conquest

High Conquest

1947Movie
The Mad Miss Manton
6.4

The Mad Miss Manton

1938Movie6.4
Passion
5.4

Passion

1954Movie5.4
Larceny, Inc.
7.1

Larceny, Inc.

1942Movie7.1
Counsellor at Law
6.5

Counsellor at Law

1933Movie6.5
Captain China
5.5

Captain China

1950Movie5.5
Joy of Living
5.9

Joy of Living

1938Movie5.9
Girls' Dormitory
6.6

Girls' Dormitory

1936Movie6.6
The Big Land
6.5

The Big Land

1957Movie6.5
The Country Doctor
6.5

The Country Doctor

1936Movie6.5
I, the Jury
5.9

I, the Jury

1953Movie5.9
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap
6.6

Ambush at Tomahawk Gap

1953Movie6.6
Unchained
7.0

Unchained

1955Movie7.0
Song of Scheherazade
6.6

Song of Scheherazade

1947Movie6.6
An American Romance
6.1

An American Romance

1944Movie6.1
I'll Take Sweden
5.2

I'll Take Sweden

1965Movie5.2
Charlie Chan in Paris
6.6

Charlie Chan in Paris

1935Movie6.6
The Chaser
8.0

The Chaser

1938Movie8.0
Mickey the Kid
9.0

Mickey the Kid

1939Movie9.0
At Gunpoint
6.7

At Gunpoint

1955Movie6.7
Seventh Heaven
6.4

Seventh Heaven

1937Movie6.4
Saturday's Children
6.9

Saturday's Children

1940Movie6.9
Babies for Sale
6.3

Babies for Sale

1940Movie6.3
The Impostor
6.4

The Impostor

1944Movie6.4
Ring Around the Moon
4.8

Ring Around the Moon

1936Movie4.8
Hell Bent for Leather
6.3

Hell Bent for Leather

1960Movie6.3
He Was Her Man
6.5

He Was Her Man

1934Movie6.5
Four Wives
5.5

Four Wives

1939Movie5.5
365 Nights in Hollywood
9.0

365 Nights in Hollywood

1934Movie9.0
Hans Christian Andersen
6.2

Hans Christian Andersen

1952Movie6.2
Fit for a King
6.0

Fit for a King

1937Movie6.0
Reunion
7.0

Reunion

1936Movie7.0
Model Wife
6.5

Model Wife

1941Movie6.5
Blondie on a Budget
6.2

Blondie on a Budget

1940Movie6.2
The Farmer Takes a Wife
6.2

The Farmer Takes a Wife

1935Movie6.2
The Big Steal
6.6

The Big Steal

1949Movie6.6
Hail, Hero!
6.5

Hail, Hero!

1969Movie6.5
The Jackpot
7.0

The Jackpot

1950Movie7.0
Stand Up and Fight
6.0

Stand Up and Fight

1939Movie6.0
Ski Patrol
4.6

Ski Patrol

1940Movie4.6
Arrowsmith
6.6

Arrowsmith

1931Movie6.6
Black Fury
6.3

Black Fury

1935Movie6.3
Thunder Afloat
6.1

Thunder Afloat

1939Movie6.1
Whipsaw
6.4

Whipsaw

1935Movie6.4
Upperworld
6.1

Upperworld

1934Movie6.1
The Three Musketeers
6.9

The Three Musketeers

1935Movie6.9
Honeymoon in Bali
7.5

Honeymoon in Bali

1939Movie7.5
Goodbye, My Fancy
6.4

Goodbye, My Fancy

1951Movie6.4
Angel's Holiday
6.0

Angel's Holiday

1937Movie6.0
Dark Waters
6.0

Dark Waters

1944Movie6.0
Doubting Thomas
7.5

Doubting Thomas

1935Movie7.5
Million Dollar Baby
6.3

Million Dollar Baby

1941Movie6.3
Let's Fall in Love
8.0

Let's Fall in Love

1933Movie8.0
The Flying Missile
5.3

The Flying Missile

1950Movie5.3
Alias a Gentleman
6.8

Alias a Gentleman

1948Movie6.8
Roughly Speaking
6.8

Roughly Speaking

1945Movie6.8
Five of a Kind
4.8

Five of a Kind

1938Movie4.8
Fifty Roads to Town
10.0

Fifty Roads to Town

1937Movie10.0
Johnny Concho
4.5

Johnny Concho

1956Movie4.5
The Bad Man of Brimstone
6.8

The Bad Man of Brimstone

1937Movie6.8
Getting Away from It All
10.0

Getting Away from It All

1972Movie10.0
My World Dies Screaming
6.2

My World Dies Screaming

1958Movie6.2
River Gang
9.0

River Gang

1945Movie9.0
Orchids to You
6.0

Orchids to You

1935Movie6.0
The Great Hotel Murder
6.0

The Great Hotel Murder

1935Movie6.0
Youth Will Be Served
4.0

Youth Will Be Served

1940Movie4.0
Revolt in the Big House
6.3

Revolt in the Big House

1958Movie6.3
Chasing Yesterday
5.8

Chasing Yesterday

1935Movie5.8
Belle Le Grand
5.3

Belle Le Grand

1951Movie5.3
Frasier, the Sensuous Lion
6.5

Frasier, the Sensuous Lion

1973Movie6.5
The Other Woman
5.2

The Other Woman

1954Movie5.2
Servants' Entrance
8.0

Servants' Entrance

1934Movie8.0
New Wine
10.0

New Wine

1941Movie10.0
She Had to Eat
5.6

She Had to Eat

1937Movie5.6
Man of Iron
7.0

Man of Iron

1935Movie7.0
Thunder in the Night
6.0

Thunder in the Night

1935Movie6.0
Silk Hat Kid
6.5

Silk Hat Kid

1935Movie6.5
Straight Is the Way
6.3

Straight Is the Way

1934Movie6.3
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
6.5

The Strange Case of Dr. Meade

1938Movie6.5

TV Shows (45)

The Andy Griffith Show
7.6

The Andy Griffith Show

1960Series7.6
The Donna Reed Show
6.5

The Donna Reed Show

1958Series6.5
Dragnet
6.5

Dragnet

1951Series6.5
Bonanza
7.5

Bonanza

1959Series7.5
Dr. Kildare
5.7

Dr. Kildare

1961Series5.7
Maverick
7.0

Maverick

1957Series7.0
The Virginian
6.5

The Virginian

1962Series6.5
The Philco Television Playhouse
6.6

The Philco Television Playhouse

1948Series6.6
Father Knows Best
6.6

Father Knows Best

1954Series6.6
Green Acres
7.2

Green Acres

1965Series7.2
Cheyenne
6.2

Cheyenne

1955Series6.2
Lawman
6.0

Lawman

1958Series6.0
Climax!
3.8

Climax!

1954Series3.8
The Odd Couple
7.8

The Odd Couple

1970Series7.8
The Partridge Family
6.8

The Partridge Family

1970Series6.8
The Millionaire
5.8

The Millionaire

1955Series5.8
Ben Casey
5.9

Ben Casey

1961Series5.9
Thriller
6.7

Thriller

1960Series6.7
Burke's Law
6.3

Burke's Law

1963Series6.3
Mister Ed
6.8

Mister Ed

1961Series6.8
My Favorite Martian
6.2

My Favorite Martian

1963Series6.2
Hazel
6.8

Hazel

1961Series6.8
Sugarfoot
5.1

Sugarfoot

1957Series5.1
The Real McCoys
5.9

The Real McCoys

1957Series5.9
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
7.8

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

1955Series7.8
The Streets of San Francisco
7.1

The Streets of San Francisco

1972Series7.1
December Bride
6.3

December Bride

1954Series6.3
Sea Hunt
6.7

Sea Hunt

1958Series6.7
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
6.9

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

1966Series6.9
Bronco
6.0

Bronco

1958Series6.0
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
6.4

The Barbara Stanwyck Show

1960Series6.4
Public Defender
6.3

Public Defender

1954Series6.3
Racket Squad
6.5

Racket Squad

1951Series6.5
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
6.3

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

1958Series6.3
The Third Man
7.2

The Third Man

1959Series7.2
Yancy Derringer
6.2

Yancy Derringer

1958Series6.2
Lux Video Theatre
6.7

Lux Video Theatre

1950Series6.7
Tightrope
6.3

Tightrope

1959Series6.3
The Alaskans
6.7

The Alaskans

1959Series6.7
No Time for Sergeants
1.0

No Time for Sergeants

1964Series1.0
Jericho
7.3

Jericho

1966Series7.3
Shane
6.2

Shane

1966Series6.2
Tate
5.4

Tate

1960Series5.4
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951Series7.2