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