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