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John Qualen (1899–1987)


One of the best and most familiar character actors of the first four decades of sound films, although few who knew his face also knew his name. John Qualen was born in Canada to Norwegian parents. His father was a minister. The family moved to the United States and Qualen (whose real name was Kvalen) grew up in Elgin... See full bio »

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Known For


Filmography

Hide HideActor (212 titles)
1974 Movin' On (TV series)
Liggett
Life Line (1974) … Liggett
 
1973 The Streets of San Francisco (TV series)
Frank Casey
Winterkill (1973) … Frank Casey
 
1973 Frasier, the Sensuous Lion
Old Man on Porch
 
1971-1973 The Odd Couple (TV series)
Groundskeeper / Mr. Larson / Sam
Sometimes a Great Ocean (1973) … Mr. Larson
A Grave for Felix (1971) … Groundskeeper
A Taste of Money (1971) … Sam
 
1972 Wednesday Night Out (TV movie)
 
1972 The Partridge Family (TV series)
The Old Man
My Heart Belongs to a Two Car Garage (1972) … The Old Man
 
1972 Getting Away from It All (TV movie)
Charlie Erickson
 
1971 Make Room for Granddaddy (TV series)
Folsom
The Arm Wrestle (1971) … Folsom
 
1971 Medical Center (TV series)
Charlie
Countdown (1971) … Charlie
 
1968-1970 Green Acres (TV series)
Mr. Appleby / Willie Dunhill
The Ex-Con (1970) … Willie Dunhill
Eb's Romance (1968) … Mr. Appleby
 
1969 Hail, Hero!
Billy Hurd
 
1969 Doc (TV movie)
Luke
 
1968 Firecreek
Hall
 
1968 P.J.
Poppa
 
1967 I Spy (TV series)
Hannos
Red Sash of Courage (1967) … Hannos
 
1967 The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin
Barber (uncredited)
 
1966 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (TV series)
Dr. Elmer Spritzer
The Jewels of Topango Affair (1966) … Dr. Elmer Spritzer
 
1966 Shane (TV series)
Old Man
The Hant (1966) … Old Man
 
1966 Jericho (TV series)
Hentje
Dutch and Go (1966) … Hentje
 
1966 A Big Hand for the Little Lady
Jesse Buford
 
1966 Hazel (TV series)
Mr. Johansson
A Question of Ethics (1966) … Mr. Johansson
 
1966 Burke's Law (TV series)
Richard Prince
Terror in a Tiny Town: Part 2 (1966) … Richard Prince
Terror in a Tiny Town: Part 1 (1966) … Richard Prince
 
1966 The Donna Reed Show (TV series)
Zeke
My Son, the Councilman (1966) … Zeke
 
1961-1965 Mister Ed (TV series)
Axel the Handyman / Justice of Peace / Milo Simmons
Ed the Bridegroom (1965) … Justice of Peace
Pine Lake Lodge (1961) … Milo Simmons
Ed's New Shoes (1961) … Axel the Handyman
 
1965 Sally and Sam (TV short)
Picket
 
1965 The Sons of Katie Elder
Charlie Biller
 
1965 I'll Take Sweden
Olaf
 
1963-1965 Ben Casey (TV series)
John Paul McGarrity / Mr. Wren
The White Ones Are Dolphins (1963) … Mr. Wren
 
1964 Dr. Kildare (TV series)
Callahan
An Exchange of Gifts (1964) … Callahan
 
1964 No Time for Sergeants (TV series)
Dr. Grant
Grandpa's Airlift (1964) … Dr. Grant
 
1964 Cheyenne Autumn
Svenson (uncredited)
 
1964 The Virginian (TV series)
Gosta Swenson
A Bride for Lars (1964) … Gosta Swenson
 
1964 7 Faces of Dr. Lao
Luther Lindquist
 
1964 Make Room for Daddy (TV series)
Swenson, the Janitor
Sense of Humor (1964) … Swenson, the Janitor
 
1964 My Favorite Martian (TV series)
Matt
Now You See It, Now You Don't (1964) … Matt
 
1963 The Prize
Oscar (Welcome Basket)
 
1963 The Third Man (TV series)
An Act of Atonement (1963)
 
1963 Donovan's Reef
Deckhand Who Cries 'Man Overboard' (uncredited)
 
1963 The Wide Country (TV series)
Dr. Henry Demeter
Whose Hand at My Throat? (1963) … Dr. Henry Demeter
 
1962 Laramie (TV series)
Mr. Elbee
Shadow of the Past (1962) … Mr. Elbee
 
1960-1962 Lawman (TV series)
Doc Shannon / Doc Shay / Doc Shea
Explosion (1962) … Doc Shay
Blind Hate (1961) … Doc Shea
Old Stefano (1960) … Doc Shannon
 
1962 The Andy Griffith Show (TV series)
Henry Bennett
The Jinx (1962) … Henry Bennett
 
1958-1961 Maverick (TV series)
Henry Albright / Leland Mills
The Golden Fleecing (1961) … Henry Albright
The Lonesome Reunion (1958) … Leland Mills
 
1961 Bonanza (TV series)
Parley
Springtime (1961) … Parley
 
1961 Two Rode Together
Ole Knudsen
 
1961 The Barbara Stanwyck Show (TV series)
Sam Lundborg
Big Jake (1961) … Sam Lundborg
 
1961 Thriller (TV series)
Streetcar Conductor
Mr. George (1961) … Streetcar Conductor
 
1961 Outlaws (TV series)
Mr. Freemont
Assassin (1961) … Mr. Freemont
 
1961 Klondike (TV series)
Larsen
Queen of the Klondike (1961) … Larsen
 
1960 North to Alaska
Logger Judge
 
1960 Tate (TV series)
Sam
Before Sunup (1960) … Sam
 
1960 Sea Hunt (TV series)
Ulie Olafsen
Changing Patterns (1960) … Ulie Olafsen
 
1960 Elmer Gantry
Sam - Storekeeper (uncredited)
 
1960 Sugarfoot (TV series)
Jens Jensen
Funeral at Forty Mile (1960) … Jens Jensen
 
1960 Overland Trail (TV series)
Circuit Judge
Lawyer in Petticoats (1960) … Circuit Judge
 
1960 Hell Bent for Leather
Old Ben
 
1958-1960 The Gale Storm Show: Oh, Susanna! (TV series)
Olaf Hansen / Clancy
Love by Yiminy (1960) … Olaf Hansen
The Sweepstakes Ticket (1958) … Clancy
 
1959 The Alaskans (TV series)
Jack Despain
Starvation Stampede (1959) … Jack Despain
 
1959 Tightrope (TV series)
Lucas
The Cracking Point (1959) … Lucas
 
1959 Bronco (TV series)
Mr. Colby
The Burning Springs (1959) … Mr. Colby
 
1958-1959 The Californians (TV series)
J. Jimmerson Jones / Vinegar Pete Jones
Stampede at Misery Flats (1959) … Vinegar Pete Jones
J. Jimmerson Jones, Inc. (1958) … J. Jimmerson Jones
 
1959 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV series)
Cooper
Happy Hill (1959) … Cooper
 
1958 Yancy Derringer (TV series)
Capt. Sven Larsen
Old Dixie (1958) … Capt. Sven Larsen
Gallatin Street (1958) … Capt. Sven Larsen
 
1958 The Gun Runners
Pop
 
1958 My World Dies Screaming
Jonah Snell
 
1957 The Big Land
Sven Johnson
 
1957 Cheyenne (TV series)
Charley Dolan
Deadline (1957) … Charley Dolan
 
1957 Lux Video Theatre (TV series)
Eddie
To Have and Have Not (1957) … Eddie
 
1955-1957 December Bride (TV series)
Mr. Thompson / The Count
Royalty (1957) … The Count
Chicken Salad (1955) … Mr. Thompson
 
1956 The Millionaire (TV series)
Harry Stonewall Jackson
The Charles Hartford Simpson Story (1956) … Harry Stonewall Jackson
 
1956 Climax! (TV series)
Geist
The Fog (1956) … Geist
 
1956 Johnny Concho
Jake
 
1956 Crossroads (TV series)
Dr. Axel Johnson
Dig or Die, Brother Hyde (1956) … Dr. Axel Johnson
 
1956 Matinee Theatre (TV series)
People in Glass (1956)
 
1956 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV series)
Elmer Shore / Mr. Crabtree / Mr. Stepp
Help Wanted (1956) … Mr. Crabtree
Shopping for Death (1956) … Elmer Shore
A Bullet for Baldwin (1956) … Mr. Stepp
 
1956 The Searchers
Lars Jorgensen
 
1956 Father Knows Best (TV series)
Old Man
The Bus to Nowhere (1956) … Old Man
 
1955 At Gunpoint
Livingstone
 
1955 Science Fiction Theatre (TV series)
Prof. Avery
Death at Two A.M. (1955) … Prof. Avery
 
1955 The Sea Chase
Chief Engineer Schmitt
 
1955 Unchained
Leonard Haskins
 
1954 The Other Woman
Papasha
 
1952-1954 The Ford Television Theatre (TV series)
Francois / Sparks
Girl in Flight (1954) … Francois
Crossed and Double Crossed (1952) … Sparks
 
1954 Passion
Gaspar Melo
 
1954 The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (TV series)
Portrait of Tobey (1954)
 
1954 The Student Prince
Willie Klauber
 
1954 The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (TV series)
Gus Gruntle
Adapt or Die (1954) … Gus Gruntle
 
1953-1954 Schlitz Playhouse (TV series)
Peleg Brewster / Pop Bradshaw
The Whale on the Beach (1954) … Peleg Brewster
Knave of Hearts (1953) … Pop Bradshaw
 
1954 The High and the Mighty
Jose Locota
 
1954 The Public Defender (TV series)
Teacher Ames
The Prize Fighter Story (1954) … Teacher Ames
 
1954 Omnibus (TV series)
Storekeeper J.P.
Nobody's Fool (1954) … Storekeeper J.P.
 
1953 Cavalcade of America (TV series)
 
1953 Dragnet (TV series)
The Big Revolt (1953)
The Big Fire (1953)
 
1953 I, the Jury
Dr. R.H. Vickers
 
1953 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Thirteen O'Clock (1953)
 
1953 Francis Covers the Big Town
Defense Attorney Cavendish (uncredited)
 
1953 Ambush at Tomahawk Gap
Jonas P. Travis
 
1953 Your Favorite Story (TV series)
 
1952 Hans Christian Andersen
Burgomaster
 
1952 The Schaefer Century Theatre (TV series)
Portrait of Toby (1952)
 
1952 Rebound (TV series)
Prospector
Tennessee's Partner … Prospector
 
1952 Celanese Theatre (TV series)
Chris
Anna Christie (1952) … Chris
 
1952 Chevron Theatre (TV series)
Toby
A Portrait of Toby (1952) … Toby
 
1951 Racket Squad (TV series)
Night Bank (1951)
 
1951 Goodbye, My Fancy
Professor Dingley
 
1951 Stars Over Hollywood (TV series)
Carl Anders
Son of the Rock (1951) … Carl Anders
 
1951 Belle Le Grand
Corky McGee
 
1950 The Flying Missile
Lars Hansen
 
1950 Woman on the Run
Maibus
 
1950 The Jackpot
Mr. Ferguson (uncredited)
 
1950 Buccaneer's Girl
Vegetable Man
 
1950 Captain China
Geech
 
1948 Hollow Triumph
Swangron
 
1948 My Girl Tisa
Svenson
 
1948 On Our Merry Way
Mr. Atwood (scenes deleted)
 
1948 Alias a Gentleman
No End
 
1948 Reaching from Heaven
The Stranger
 
1947 The Fugitive
A Refugee Doctor
 
1947 High Conquest
Peter Oberwalder Sr.
 
1947 Song of Scheherazade
Lorenzo
 
1945 Adventure
Model T
 
1945 Captain Kidd
Bart Blivens
 
1945 River Gang
Uncle Bill
 
1945 Roughly Speaking
Svend Olsen
 
1944 Dark Waters
Uncle Norbert
 
1944 An American Romance
Anton Dubechek
 
1944 Strange Confession
Monge
 
1943 Swing Shift Maisie
Horatio Curley
 
1942 Casablanca
Berger
 
1942 Tortilla Flat
Jose Maria Corcoran
 
1942 Larceny, Inc.
Sam Bachrach
 
1942 Jungle Book
The Barber
 
1941 The Devil and Daniel Webster
Miser Stevens
 
1941 New Wine
Hasslinger's Clerk
 
1941 The Shepherd of the Hills
Coot Royal
 
1941 Out of the Fog
Olaf Johnson
 
1941 Million Dollar Baby
Dr. Patterson, Chemist
 
1941 Model Wife
The Janitor
 
1940 Youth Will Be Served
Clem Howie
 
1940 The Long Voyage Home
Axel
 
1940 Knute Rockne All American
Lars Knutson Rockne
 
1940 Babies for Sale
Howard Anderson
 
1940 On Their Own
Peters
 
1940 Ski Patrol
Gustaf Nerkuu
 
1940 Saturday's Children
First Carpenter (uncredited)
 
1939 Four Wives
Frank
 
1939 Thunder Afloat
Milo
 
1939 Honeymoon in Bali
Meek Man
 
1939 Career
Jeff Trotter (uncredited)
 
1939 Mickey the Kid
Mailman
 
1939 Let Us Live
Dan (uncredited)
 
1939 Stand Up and Fight
Davy
 
1938 Strange Case of Dr. Meade
Stoner
 
1938 Five of a Kind
Asa Wyatt
 
1938 The Mad Miss Manton
Subway Watchman
 
1938 The Chaser
Lars
 
1938 The Texans
Swede (uncredited)
 
1938 Joy of Living
Oswego
 
1937 The Bad Man of Brimstone
'Loco'
 
1937 Nothing Sacred
Fireman (uncredited)
 
1937 Fit for a King
Otto
 
1937 She Had to Eat
Sleepy
 
1937 Fifty Roads to Town
Sheriff Dow
 
1937 Angel's Holiday
Waldo Everett
 
1936 Reunion
Asa Wyatt
 
1936 Meet Nero Wolfe
Olaf
 
1936 The Road to Glory
Scared soldier 1st hears digging
 
1936 The Country Doctor
Asa Wyatt
 
1936 Wife vs. Secretary
Mr. Jenkins (uncredited)
 
1936 Ring Around the Moon
Bill Harvey
 
1935 Man of Iron
Collins - a Factory Worker
 
1935 Whipsaw
Dabson
 
1935 The Three Musketeers
Planchet, d'Artagnan's Servant
 
1935 Thunder in the Night
Porter
 
1935 Orchids to You
Smith
 
1935 The Farmer Takes a Wife
Sol Tinker
 
1935 Doubting Thomas
Von Blitzen
 
1935 Silk Hat Kid
Mr. Fossbender
 
1935 Chasing Yesterday
Aristide Coccoz
 
1935 Black Fury
Mike (as John T. Qualen)
 
1935 One More Spring
Auctioneer
 
1935 Charlie Chan in Paris
Concierge
 
1934 365 Nights in Hollywood
Prof. Herman Ellenbogen
 
1934 Servants' Entrance
Detective
 
1934 Straight Is the Way
Mr. Clapman (uncredited)
 
1934 Our Daily Bread
Chris Larsen
 
1934 He Was Her Man
Dutch, Santa Avila's Cabbie
 
1934 Private Scandal
Schultz (uncredited)
 
1934 Upperworld
Chris, the Janitor
 
1934 Sing and Like It
Oswald (as John M. Qualen)
 
1934 Hi, Nellie!
Steve (uncredited)
 
1933 Let's Fall in Love
Svente Bjorkman (uncredited)
 
1933 The Devil's Brother
Man Who Owned the Bull (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
 
1931 Arrowsmith
Henry Novak (uncredited)
 
1931 Street Scene
Karl Olsen (as John M. Qualen)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (3 titles)
1940 The Long Voyage Home (performer: "Irish Washerwoman" - uncredited, "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" 1912 - uncredited / "Irish Washerwoman" - uncredited)
 
1938 Joy of Living (performer: "You Couldn't Be Cuter" 1938 - uncredited)
 
1933 Let's Fall in Love (performer: "Love Is Love Anywhere" 1933 - uncredited)
 
Show ShowMusic Department (1 title)
1954 The High and the Mighty (composer: additional music - uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (1 title)
1951 The Alan Young Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 6 July 1951 (1951) … Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (2 titles)
1976 America at the Movies (documentary)
Muley Graves
 
1969-1971 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1931) Stage: Appeared in "Counsellor-at-Law" on Broadway. Drama. Written / produced / directed by Elmer Rice. Plymouth Theatre: 6 Nov 1931-Jul 1932 (closing date unknown/292 performances). Cast: Paul Muni (as "George Simon"), Sam Bonnell, Elmer Brown, Jack Collins, June Cox... See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Print Biography  | See more »

Alternate Names:

John M. Qualen | John T. Qualen

Height:

5' 7" (1.70 m)
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

Appeared with John Wayne in nine films: The Long Voyage Home, The Shepherd of the Hills, The High and the Mighty, The Sea Chase, The Searchers, North to Alaska, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Donovan's Reef and The Sons of Katie Elder. See more »

Trademark:

Bumbling comic relief characters See more »

Star Sign:

Sagittarius