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John Qualen

John Qualen

Actor, Music Department

Born December 6, 1899 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Died September 12, 1987

See John Qualen Movies Online

Movin' On
Amazon Prime Video
The Partridge Family
Amazon Prime Video
The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin
Disney Plus
Those Calloways
Disney Plus
The Sons of Katie Elder
Amazon Prime Video
The F.B.I.
Now TV
Cheyenne Autumn
HBO Max
My Favorite Martian
Peacock
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Amazon Prime Video
The Virginian
Starz
Thriller
Amazon Prime Video
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
Amazon Prime Video
The Andy Griffith Show
Peacock
Tate
Plex
North to Alaska
Starz
Bonanza
Amazon Prime Video
Anatomy of a Murder
Netflix
Laramie
Starz
Yancy Derringer
Amazon Prime Video
The Gun Runners
Amazon Prime Video
The Donna Reed Show
Amazon Prime Video
The Californians
Amazon Prime Video
The Real McCoys
Peacock
The Searchers
HBO Max
The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna
Classix
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Peacock
Climax!
Classix
Father Knows Best
Amazon Prime Video
General Electric Theater
Classix
The Danny Thomas Show
Amazon Prime Video
Cavalcade of America
Classix
Hans Christian Andersen
Amazon Prime Video
Omnibus
BBC iPlayer
Death Valley Days
Amazon Prime Video
Dragnet
Classix
Woman on the Run
Amazon Prime Video
The Alan Young Show
Zee5
Hollow Triumph
Amazon Prime Video
Captain Kidd
Amazon Prime Video
The Jungle Book
Amazon Prime Video
Casablanca
HBO Max
New Wine
IROKOTV
All That Money Can Buy
Amazon Prime Video
The Shepherd of the Hills
Starz
The Grapes of Wrath
Amazon Prime Video
His Girl Friday
Amazon Prime Video
The Long Voyage Home
HBO Max
Nothing Sacred
Amazon Prime Video
Our Daily Bread
Amazon Prime Video
Upperworld
Amazon Prime Video
Street Scene
Plex
Arrowsmith
Amazon Prime Video

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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 Photos

John Qualen Videos

Movie Trailer: Jungle Book (1942)

Ernest Dickerson on THE JUNGLE BOOK

Filmography

Actor

227

Type

Year

John Ford et Monument Valley Poster

John Ford et Monument Valley Documentary2013

Hollywood Mavericks Poster

Hollywood Mavericks Documentary1990

America at the Movies Poster

America at the Movies Documentary1976

Movin' On Poster

Movin' On TV Series1974

Frasier, the Sensuous Lion Poster

Frasier, the Sensuous Lion Feature Film1973

Getting Away from It All Poster

Getting Away from It All TV Movie1972

The Streets of San Francisco Poster

The Streets of San Francisco TV Series1972

Wednesday Night Out Poster

Wednesday Night Out TV Movie1972

The American West of John Ford Poster

The American West of John Ford Documentary1971

Make Room for Granddaddy Poster

Make Room for Granddaddy TV Series1970

The Odd Couple Poster

The Odd Couple TV Series1970

The Partridge Family Poster

The Partridge Family TV Series1970

Doc TV Movie1969

Hail, Hero! Poster

Hail, Hero! Feature Film1969

Medical Center Poster

Medical Center TV Series1969

Firecreek Poster

Firecreek Feature Film1968

P.J. Feature Film1967

The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin Poster

The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin Feature Film1967

A Big Hand for the Little Lady Poster

A Big Hand for the Little Lady Feature Film1966

Jericho TV Series1966

Shane TV Series1966

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

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. TV Series1966

A Patch of Blue Poster

A Patch of Blue Feature Film1965

Green Acres Poster

Green Acres TV Series1965

I Spy TV Series1965

I'll Take Sweden Poster

I'll Take Sweden Feature Film1965

Sally and Sam TV Movie1965

The F.B.I. Poster

The F.B.I. TV Series1965

The Sons of Katie Elder Poster

The Sons of Katie Elder Feature Film1965

Those Calloways Poster

Those Calloways Feature Film1965

7 Faces of Dr. Lao Poster

7 Faces of Dr. Lao Feature Film1964

Cheyenne Autumn Poster

Cheyenne Autumn Feature Film1964

No Time for Sergeants Poster

No Time for Sergeants TV Series1964

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Poster

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre TV Series1963

Burke's Law Poster

Burke's Law TV Series1963

Donovan's Reef Poster

Donovan's Reef Feature Film1963

My Favorite Martian Poster

My Favorite Martian TV Series1963

The Prize Poster

The Prize Feature Film1963

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Poster

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Feature Film1962

The Virginian Poster

The Virginian TV Series1962

Wide Country Poster

Wide Country TV Series1962

Ben Casey Poster

Ben Casey TV Series1961

Dr. Kildare Poster

Dr. Kildare TV Series1961

Hazel TV Series1961

Mister Ed Poster

Mister Ed TV Series1961

Two Rode Together Poster

Two Rode Together Feature Film1961

Elmer Gantry Poster

Elmer Gantry Feature Film1960

Hell Bent for Leather Poster

Hell Bent for Leather Feature Film1960

Here's Hollywood Poster

Here's Hollywood TV Series1960

Klondike Poster

Klondike TV Series1960

North to Alaska Poster

North to Alaska Feature Film1960

Outlaws TV Series1960

Overland Trail Poster

Overland Trail TV Series1960

Tate TV Series1960

The Andy Griffith Show Poster

The Andy Griffith Show TV Series1960

The Barbara Stanwyck Show Poster

The Barbara Stanwyck Show TV Series1960

Thriller Poster

Thriller TV Series1960

Anatomy of a Murder Poster

Anatomy of a Murder Feature Film1959

Bonanza TV Series1959

Laramie TV Series1959

The Alaskans Poster

The Alaskans TV Series1959

The Third Man Poster

The Third Man TV Series1959

Tightrope Poster

Tightrope TV Series1959

Bronco TV Series1958

Lawman TV Series1958

My World Dies Screaming Poster

My World Dies Screaming Feature Film1958

Revolt in the Big House Poster

Revolt in the Big House Feature Film1958

Sea Hunt Poster

Sea Hunt TV Series1958

The Donna Reed Show Poster

The Donna Reed Show TV Series1958

The Gun Runners Poster

The Gun Runners Feature Film1958

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Poster

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse TV Series1958

Yancy Derringer Poster

Yancy Derringer TV Series1958

Maverick Poster

Maverick TV Series1957

Sugarfoot Poster

Sugarfoot TV Series1957

The Big Land Poster

The Big Land Feature Film1957

The Californians Poster

The Californians TV Series1957

The Real McCoys Poster

The Real McCoys TV Series1957

Johnny Concho Poster

Johnny Concho Feature Film1956

The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna Poster

The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna TV Series1956

The Searchers Poster

The Searchers Feature Film1956

Alfred Hitchcock Presents Poster

Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV Series1955

At Gunpoint Poster

At Gunpoint Feature Film1955

Cheyenne Poster

Cheyenne TV Series1955

Crossroads Poster

Crossroads TV Series1955

Man on a Bus Poster

Man on a Bus Short Film1955

Matinee Theatre Poster

Matinee Theatre TV Series1955

Science Fiction Theatre Poster

Science Fiction Theatre TV Series1955

The Millionaire Poster

The Millionaire TV Series1955

The Sea Chase Poster

The Sea Chase Feature Film1955

Unchained Poster

Unchained Feature Film1955

Climax! TV Series1954

December Bride Poster

December Bride TV Series1954

Father Knows Best Poster

Father Knows Best TV Series1954

Passion Feature Film1954

Public Defender Poster

Public Defender TV Series1954

The High and the Mighty Poster

The High and the Mighty Feature Film1954

The Other Woman Poster

The Other Woman Feature Film1954

The Student Prince Poster

The Student Prince Feature Film1954

Ambush at Tomahawk Gap Poster

Ambush at Tomahawk Gap Feature Film1953

Francis Covers the Big Town Poster

Francis Covers the Big Town Feature Film1953

General Electric Theater Poster

General Electric Theater TV Series1953

I, the Jury Poster

I, the Jury Feature Film1953

The Danny Thomas Show Poster

The Danny Thomas Show TV Series1953

The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse Poster

The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse TV Series1953

Your Favorite Story Poster

Your Favorite Story TV Series1953

Cavalcade of America Poster

Cavalcade of America TV Series1952

Chevron Theatre Poster

Chevron Theatre TV Series1952

Death Valley Days Poster

Death Valley Days TV Series1952

Footlights Theater TV Series1952

Hans Christian Andersen Poster

Hans Christian Andersen Feature Film1952

Omnibus TV Series1952

Rebound TV Series1952

The Ford Television Theatre Poster

The Ford Television Theatre TV Series1952

Belle Le Grand Poster

Belle Le Grand Feature Film1951

Celanese Theatre Poster

Celanese Theatre TV Series1951

Dragnet TV Series1951

Goodbye, My Fancy Poster

Goodbye, My Fancy Feature Film1951

Hollywood Opening Night TV Series1951

Racket Squad Poster

Racket Squad TV Series1951

Schlitz Playhouse Poster

Schlitz Playhouse TV Series1951

Buccaneer's Girl Poster

Buccaneer's Girl Feature Film1950

Captain China Poster

Captain China Feature Film1950

Lux Video Theatre Poster

Lux Video Theatre TV Series1950

Stars Over Hollywood TV Series1950

The Alan Young Show Poster

The Alan Young Show TV Series1950

The Flying Missile Poster

The Flying Missile Feature Film1950

The Jackpot Poster

The Jackpot Feature Film1950

Woman on the Run Poster

Woman on the Run Feature Film1950

The Big Steal Poster

The Big Steal Feature Film1949

16 Fathoms Deep Poster

16 Fathoms Deep Feature Film1948

Alias a Gentleman Poster

Alias a Gentleman Feature Film1948

Hollow Triumph Poster

Hollow Triumph Feature Film1948

My Girl Tisa Poster

My Girl Tisa Feature Film1948

On Our Merry Way Poster

On Our Merry Way Feature Film1948

Reaching from Heaven Poster

Reaching from Heaven Feature Film1948

The Philco Television Playhouse Poster

The Philco Television Playhouse TV Series1948

High Conquest Poster

High Conquest Feature Film1947

Song of Scheherazade Poster

Song of Scheherazade Feature Film1947

The Fugitive Poster

The Fugitive Feature Film1947

Adventure Poster

Adventure Feature Film1945

Captain Kidd Poster

Captain Kidd Feature Film1945

It Happened in Springfield Short Film1945

River Gang Poster

River Gang Feature Film1945

Roughly Speaking Poster

Roughly Speaking Feature Film1945

An American Romance Poster

An American Romance Feature Film1944

Dark Waters Poster

Dark Waters Feature Film1944

Strange Confession Poster

Strange Confession Feature Film1944

Swing Shift Maisie Poster

Swing Shift Maisie Feature Film1943

Arabian Nights Poster

Arabian Nights Feature Film1942

Breakdowns of 1942 Poster

Breakdowns of 1942 Short Film1942

Casablanca Poster

Casablanca Feature Film1942

Larceny, Inc Poster

Larceny, Inc Feature Film1942

The Jungle Book Poster

The Jungle Book Feature Film1942

Tortilla Flat Poster

Tortilla Flat Feature Film1942

All That Money Can Buy Poster

All That Money Can Buy Feature Film1941

Million Dollar Baby Poster

Million Dollar Baby Feature Film1941

Model Wife Poster

Model Wife Feature Film1941

New Wine Poster

New Wine Feature Film1941

Out of the Fog Poster

Out of the Fog Feature Film1941

The Shepherd of the Hills Poster

The Shepherd of the Hills Feature Film1941

Angels Over Broadway Poster

Angels Over Broadway Feature Film1940

Babies for Sale Poster

Babies for Sale Feature Film1940

Blondie on a Budget Poster

Blondie on a Budget Feature Film1940

His Girl Friday Poster

His Girl Friday Feature Film1940

Knute Rockne All American Poster

Knute Rockne All American Feature Film1940

On Their Own Poster

On Their Own Feature Film1940

Saturday's Children Poster

Saturday's Children Feature Film1940

Ski Patrol Poster

Ski Patrol Feature Film1940

The Grapes of Wrath Poster

The Grapes of Wrath Feature Film1940

The Long Voyage Home Poster

The Long Voyage Home Feature Film1940

Youth Will Be Served Poster

Youth Will Be Served Feature Film1940

Career Feature Film1939

Four Wives Poster

Four Wives Feature Film1939

Honeymoon in Bali Poster

Honeymoon in Bali Feature Film1939

Let Us Live Poster

Let Us Live Feature Film1939

Mickey the Kid Poster

Mickey the Kid Feature Film1939

Stand Up and Fight Poster

Stand Up and Fight Feature Film1939

Thunder Afloat Poster

Thunder Afloat Feature Film1939

Five of a Kind Poster

Five of a Kind Feature Film1938

Joy of Living Poster

Joy of Living Feature Film1938

The Chaser Poster

The Chaser Feature Film1938

The Mad Miss Manton Poster

The Mad Miss Manton Feature Film1938

The Strange Case of Dr. Meade Poster

The Strange Case of Dr. Meade Feature Film1938

The Texans Poster

The Texans Feature Film1938

Angel's Holiday Poster

Angel's Holiday Feature Film1937

Fifty Roads to Town Poster

Fifty Roads to Town Feature Film1937

Fit for a King Poster

Fit for a King Feature Film1937

Nothing Sacred Poster

Nothing Sacred Feature Film1937

Seventh Heaven Poster

Seventh Heaven Feature Film1937

She Had to Eat Poster

She Had to Eat Feature Film1937

The Bad Man of Brimstone Poster

The Bad Man of Brimstone Feature Film1937

Girls' Dormitory Poster

Girls' Dormitory Feature Film1936

Meet Nero Wolfe Poster

Meet Nero Wolfe Feature Film1936

Reunion Feature Film1936

Ring Around the Moon Poster

Ring Around the Moon Feature Film1936

The Country Doctor Poster

The Country Doctor Feature Film1936

The Road to Glory Poster

The Road to Glory Feature Film1936

Wife vs. Secretary Poster

Wife vs. Secretary Feature Film1936

Black Fury Poster

Black Fury Feature Film1935

Charlie Chan in Paris Poster

Charlie Chan in Paris Feature Film1935

Chasing Yesterday Poster

Chasing Yesterday Feature Film1935

Doubting Thomas Poster

Doubting Thomas Feature Film1935

Man of Iron Poster

Man of Iron Feature Film1935

One More Spring Poster

One More Spring Feature Film1935

Orchids to You Poster

Orchids to You Feature Film1935

Silk Hat Kid Poster

Silk Hat Kid Feature Film1935

The Farmer Takes a Wife Poster

The Farmer Takes a Wife Feature Film1935

The Great Hotel Murder Poster

The Great Hotel Murder Feature Film1935

The Three Musketeers Poster

The Three Musketeers Feature Film1935

Thunder in the Night Poster

Thunder in the Night Feature Film1935

Whipsaw Feature Film1935

365 Nights in Hollywood Poster

365 Nights in Hollywood Feature Film1934

Fugitive Lovers Poster

Fugitive Lovers Feature Film1934

He Was Her Man Poster

He Was Her Man Feature Film1934

Hi, Nellie Poster

Hi, Nellie Feature Film1934

Our Daily Bread Poster

Our Daily Bread Feature Film1934

Private Scandal Poster

Private Scandal Feature Film1934

Servants' Entrance Poster

Servants' Entrance Feature Film1934

Sing and Like It Poster

Sing and Like It Feature Film1934

Straight Is the Way Poster

Straight Is the Way Feature Film1934

Upperworld Poster

Upperworld Feature Film1934

Counsellor at Law Poster

Counsellor at Law Feature Film1933

Let's Fall in Love Poster

Let's Fall in Love Feature Film1933

The Devil's Brother Poster

The Devil's Brother Feature Film1933

Arrowsmith Poster

Arrowsmith Feature Film1931

Street Scene Poster

Street Scene Feature Film1931

The Easiest Way Poster

The Easiest Way Feature Film1931

Music Department

1

The High and the Mighty Poster

The High and the Mighty Feature Film1954

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