John Qualen
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- December 6, 1899 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Died
- September 12, 1987
- Active Years
- 1931–1993 (63 Years)
- Total Credits
- 190 credits in database
Acting Born Dec 6, 1899 Died Sep 12, 1987 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 190 credits
Biography
John Qualen was a character actor of Norwegian heritage. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His father was a Lutheran minister who immigrated to Canada from Norway. Qualen's birth name was Johan Mandt Kvalen, and he was known by various surnames including Kvalen, Oleson, and Oleson Kvalen. He specialized in Scandinavian roles. Qualen's acting career involved numerous credits, with a total of 180 known credits. He was a Canadian-American actor. Qualen's birthday is reported as December 6, 1899, and his day of death as September 12, 1987, at the age of 87.
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Career overview
John Qualen was a character actor who specialized in Scandinavian roles. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to Norwegian immigrant parents. Qualen's early life involved frequent moves due to his father's work as a Lutheran minister.
Qualen's acting career is not explicitly detailed in the provided sources. However, it is stated that he was awarded a scholarship to Northwestern University after winning an oratory contest, but he did not attend. Qualen's known credits total 180, but the specific titles and nature of these credits are not specified.
Qualen's acting career spanned several decades, during which he appeared in a variety of roles. He was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage, and his work often featured Scandinavian themes. Qualen's career is notable for its longevity and the range of his performances, but specific details about his notable roles or achievements are not provided in the available sources.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
La Classe américaine
Frasier, the Sensuous Lion
The Streets of San FranciscoGetting Away from It All
The Odd CoupleThe Odd CoupleThe Odd CoupleThe Partridge Family
DocHail, Hero!
FirecreekP.J.
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.JerichoShaneA Big Hand for the Little Lady
Green AcresGreen AcresThe Sons of Katie ElderA Patch of BlueI'll Take Sweden
No Time for SergeantsCheyenne AutumnThose Calloways7 Faces of Dr. Lao
Burke's LawMy Favorite MartianDonovan's ReefThe Prize
The VirginianThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
HazelDr. KildareMister EdMister EdBen Casey
The Andy Griffith ShowThrillerThe Barbara Stanwyck ShowTateNorth to Alaska
BonanzaThe Third ManThe AlaskansTightropeAnatomy of a Murder
The Donna Reed ShowLawmanLawmanSea HuntBronco
The Real McCoysMaverickMaverickSugarfootThe Big Land
The SearchersJohnny Concho
CheyenneThe MillionaireAlfred Hitchcock PresentsAlfred Hitchcock PresentsAlfred Hitchcock Presents
Father Knows BestClimax!December BridePublic DefenderThe High and the Mighty
General Electric TheaterI, the JuryAmbush at Tomahawk Gap
Hans Christian Andersen
DragnetRacket SquadSchlitz Playhouse of StarsSchlitz Playhouse of StarsGoodbye, My Fancy
Lux Video TheatreWoman on the RunBuccaneer's GirlThe JackpotCaptain China
The Big Steal
The Philco Television PlayhouseHollow TriumphReaching from HeavenMy Girl Tisa16 Fathoms Deep
The FugitiveSong of ScheherazadeHigh Conquest
Roughly SpeakingCaptain KiddAdventureRiver Gang
An American RomanceThe ImpostorDark Waters
CasablancaSwing Shift Maisie
Arabian NightsJungle BookBreakdowns of 1942Tortilla FlatLarceny, Inc.
Full Filmography
190 titles- La Classe américaine (1993) as V12 (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Frasier, the Sensuous Lion (1973) as Old Man on Porch
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972) as Frank Casey
- Getting Away from It All (1972) as Charlie Erickson
- The Odd Couple (1970) as Groundskeeper
- The Odd Couple (1970) as Mr. Larson
- The Odd Couple (1970) as Sam
- The Partridge Family (1970) as The Old Man
- Doc (1969) as Luke
- Hail, Hero! (1969) as Billy Hurd
- Firecreek (1968) as Hall
- P.J. (1968) as Poppa
- The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966) as Dr. Elmer Spritzer
- Jericho (1966)
- Shane (1966) as Old Man
- A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966) as Jesse Buford
- Green Acres (1965) as Mr. Appleby
- Green Acres (1965) as Willie Dunhill
- The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) as Charlie Biller
- A Patch of Blue (1965) as Mr. Faber
- I'll Take Sweden (1965) as Olaf
- No Time for Sergeants (1964)
- Cheyenne Autumn (1964) as Svenson (uncredited)
- Those Calloways (1964) as Ernie Evans
- 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) as Luther Lindquist
- Burke's Law (1963) as Richard Prince (uncredited)
- My Favorite Martian (1963) as Matt
- Donovan's Reef (1963) as Deckhand Who Cries 'Man Overboard' (uncredited)
- The Prize (1963) as Oscar
- The Virginian (1962) as Gosta Swenson
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) as Peter Ericson
- Hazel (1961) as Mr. Johansson
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Mr. Callahan
- Mister Ed (1961)
- Mister Ed (1961) as Milo Simmons
- Ben Casey (1961)
- Two Rode Together (1961) as Ole Knudsen
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Henry Bennett
- Thriller (1960) as Streetcar Conductor
- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960)
- Tate (1960) as Sam
- North to Alaska (1960) as Logger
- Elmer Gantry (1960) as Sam - Storekeeper
- Hell Bent for Leather (1960) as Old Ben
- Bonanza (1959) as Parley
- The Third Man (1959)
- The Alaskans (1959)
- Tightrope (1959)
- Anatomy of a Murder (1959) as Deputy Sheriff Sulo Kangas
- The Donna Reed Show (1958) as Zeke
- Lawman (1958) as Doc Shea
- Lawman (1958) as Doc Shay
- Sea Hunt (1958)
- Bronco (1958)
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)
- Yancy Derringer (1958) as Capt. Sven Larsen
- The Gun Runners (1958) as Pop
- Revolt in the Big House (1958) as Doc
- My World Dies Screaming (1958) as Jonah Snell
- The Real McCoys (1957) as Frank
- Maverick (1957)
- Maverick (1957) as Leland Mills
- Sugarfoot (1957) as Jens Jensen
- The Big Land (1957) as Sven Johnson
- The Searchers (1956) as Lars Jorgensen
- Johnny Concho (1956) as Jake
- Cheyenne (1955)
- The Millionaire (1955) as Harry Stonewall Jackson
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Mr. Stepp
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Elmer Shore
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Mr. Crabtree
- The Sea Chase (1955) as Chief Engineer Schmitt
- At Gunpoint (1955) as Livingstone
- Unchained (1955) as Leonard Haskins
- Man on a Bus (1955) as Second Prisoner
- Father Knows Best (1954) as Old Man
- Climax! (1954) as Geist
- December Bride (1954)
- Public Defender (1954) as Ames
- The High and the Mighty (1954) as Jose Locota
- Passion (1954) as Gaspar Melo
- The Other Woman (1954) as Papasha
- General Electric Theater (1953)
- I, the Jury (1953) as Dr. R.H. Vickers, Veterinarian
- Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953) as Jonas P. Travis
- Hans Christian Andersen (1952) as Burgomaster
- Dragnet (1951)
- Racket Squad (1951)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Pop Bradshaw
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Peleg Brewster
- Goodbye, My Fancy (1951) as Professor Dingley
- Belle Le Grand (1951) as Corky McGee
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Eddie
- Woman on the Run (1950) as Maibus
- Buccaneer's Girl (1950) as Vegetable Seller
- The Jackpot (1950) as Mr. Ferguson (uncredited)
- Captain China (1950) as Geech
- The Flying Missile (1950) as Lars Hansen
- The Big Steal (1949) as Julius Seton
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) as Gus Gruntle
- Hollow Triumph (1948) as Swangron
- Reaching from Heaven (1948) as The Stranger
- My Girl Tisa (1948) as Svenson
- 16 Fathoms Deep (1948) as Capt. Athos
- Alias a Gentleman (1948) as No End
- The Fugitive (1947) as A Refugee Doctor
- Song of Scheherazade (1947) as Lorenzo
- High Conquest (1947) as Peter Oberwalder Sr.
- Roughly Speaking (1945) as Svend Olsen
- Captain Kidd (1945) as Bart Blivens
- Adventure (1945) as Model T
- River Gang (1945) as Uncle Bill
- An American Romance (1944) as Anton Dubechek
- The Impostor (1944) as Monge
- Dark Waters (1944) as Uncle Norbert
- Casablanca (1943) as Berger
- Swing Shift Maisie (1943) as Horatio Curley
- Arabian Nights (1942) as Aladdin
- Jungle Book (1942) as The Barber
- Breakdowns of 1942 (1942) as Self
- Tortilla Flat (1942) as Jose Maria Corcoran
- Larceny, Inc. (1942) as Sam Bachrach
- Model Wife (1941) as The Janitor
- The Shepherd of the Hills (1941) as Coot Royal
- All That Money Can Buy (1941) as Miser Stevens
- Million Dollar Baby (1941) as Dr. Patterson
- Out of the Fog (1941) as Olaf Johnson
- New Wine (1941) as Hasslinger's Clerk
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) as Muley Graves
- His Girl Friday (1940) as Earl Williams
- Knute Rockne All American (1940) as Lars Knutson Rockne
- The Long Voyage Home (1940) as Axel
- Blondie on a Budget (1940) as Ed Fuddle
- Angels Over Broadway (1940) as Charles Engle
- Babies for Sale (1940) as Howard Anderson
- Saturday's Children (1940) as First Carpenter (uncredited)
- On Their Own (1940) as Peters
- Youth Will Be Served (1940) as Clem Howie
- Ski Patrol (1940) as Gustaf
- Four Wives (1939) as Frank
- Let Us Live (1939) as Dan (uncredited)
- Thunder Afloat (1939) as Milo
- Stand Up and Fight (1939) as Davy
- Honeymoon in Bali (1939) as Meek Man (uncredited)
- Mickey the Kid (1939) as Mailman
- Five of a Kind (1938) as Asa Wyatt
- The Mad Miss Manton (1938) as Night Watchman at Subway Construction Site
- Joy of Living (1938) as Oswego
- The Chaser (1938) as Lars
- The Strange Case of Dr. Meade (1938) as Stoner
- Nothing Sacred (1937) as Fireman (uncredited)
- Fit for a King (1937) as Otto
- Seventh Heaven (1937) as Sewer Rat
- She Had to Eat (1937) as Sleepy
- The Bad Man of Brimstone (1937) as Loco
- Angel's Holiday (1937) as Waldo Everett
- Fifty Roads to Town (1937) as Sheriff Dow
- Girls' Dormitory (1936) as Toni
- Wife vs. Secretary (1936) as Mr. Jenkins (uncredited)
- Ring Around the Moon (1936) as Bill Harvey
- Meet Nero Wolfe (1936) as Olaf
- The Road to Glory (1936) as Duflous
- The Country Doctor (1936) as Asa Wyatt
- Reunion (1936) as Asa Wyatt
- The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935) as Sol Tinker
- Charlie Chan in Paris (1935) as Concierge, Dufresne's Hotel (bit)
- Black Fury (1935) as Mike Shemanski
- Whipsaw (1935) as Will Dabson
- The Three Musketeers (1935) as Planchet
- One More Spring (1935) as Auctioneer
- Doubting Thomas (1935) as Von Blitzen
- The Great Hotel Murder (1935) as Ole
- Chasing Yesterday (1935) as Coccoz
- Silk Hat Kid (1935) as Mr. Fossbender
- Orchids to You (1935) as Smith
- Man of Iron (1935) as Collins
- Thunder in the Night (1935) as Hotel Porter
- Hi, Nellie! (1934) as Steve (uncredited)
- Our Daily Bread (1934) as Chris (as John T. Qualen)
- Sing and Like It (1934) as Oswald (as John M. Qualen)
- Upperworld (1934) as Janitor
- He Was Her Man (1934) as Dutch, Santa Avila's Cabbie
- Servants' Entrance (1934) as Detective
- 365 Nights in Hollywood (1934) as Prof. Herman Ellenbogen
- Straight Is the Way (1934) as Mr. Clapman (uncredited)
- Counsellor at Law (1933) as Breitstein
- Let's Fall in Love (1933) as Bjorkman
- Let's Fall in Love (1933) as Svente Bjorkman
- Arrowsmith (1931) as Henry Novak (uncredited)
- Street Scene (1931) as Karl Olsen (as John M. Qualen)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Qualen best known for?
John Qualen is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including A-List Living (2023), The Streets of San Francisco (1972), The Rules of Attraction (2002), The Rules of Attraction (2002).
When and where was John Qualen born?
John Qualen was born on December 6, 1899 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They passed away on September 12, 1987.
How many credits does John Qualen have?
John Qualen has accumulated over 190 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1931 to 1993.
What is John Qualen's background in cinema and television?
John Qualen was a character actor of Norwegian heritage. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His father was a Lutheran minister who immigrated to Canada from Norway. Qualen's birth name was Johan Mandt Kvalen, and he was known by various surnames including Kvalen, Oleson, and Oleson Kvalen. He specializ...
John Qualen by the numbers
190credits
136films
54TV series
1931–1993active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Casablanca (1943) as Berger — aged about 43
- The Odd Couple (1970) as Groundskeeper — aged about 70
- The Odd Couple (1970) as Mr. Larson — aged about 70
- The Odd Couple (1970) as Sam — aged about 70
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) as Peter Ericson — aged about 62
- Anatomy of a Murder (1959) as Deputy Sheriff Sulo Kangas — aged about 59
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