John Qualen (born Johan Mandt Kvalen; December 8, 1899 – September 12, 1987) was a Canadian-American actor. He was frequently cast as Scandinavian immigrants, something he had the background for, as he was the son of Norwegian immigrants to Canada. Some of his best-known roles came in His Girl Friday, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
Qualen was married to his high school sweetheart Pearle Larson and the couple had three children. He died of heart failure at the age of 87, about a decade after his retirement from acting.
Works with John Qualen:
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Film
- 1931 The Easiest Way: Man Shaving in Room Across Alley (Uncredited Role)
- 1931 Street Scene: Karl Olsen
- 1931 Arrowsmith: Henry Novak (Uncredited)
- 1933 Counsellor At Law: Johan Breitstein
- 1933 Lets Fall In Love: Svente Bjorkman (Uncredited)
- 1934 Fugitive Lovers: Distressed Parent (Uncredited)
- 1934 Hi Nellie: Steve (Uncredited)
- 1934 Upperworld: Chris – Janitor
- 1934 Sing And Like It: Oswald
- 1934 Private Scandal: Schultz (Uncredited)
- 1934 He Was Her Man: Dutch – Santa Avila’s Cabbie
- 1934 Our Daily Bread: Chris
- 1934 Straight Is The Way: Mr. Chapman (Uncredited)
- 1934 Servants Entrance: Detective
- 1934 Three Hundred Sixty Five Nights In Hollywood: Prof. Herman Ellenbogen
- 1935 Charlie Chan In Paris: Concierge
- 1935 One More Spring: Auctioneer
- 1935 The Great Hotel Murder: Ole
- 1935 Black Fury: Mike
- 1935 Chasing Yesterday: Aristide Coccoz
- 1935 Silk Hat Kid: Mr. Fossbender
- 1935 Doubting Thomas: Von Blitzen
- 1935 The Farmer Takes a Wife: Sol Tinker
- 1935 Orchids To You: Smith
- 1935 Thunder In The Night: Hotel Porter
- 1935 The Three Musketeers: Planchet
- 1935 Whipsaw: Will Dabson
- 1935 Man of Iron: Collins – a Factory Worker
- 1936 Ring Around The Moon: Bill Harvey
- 1936 Wife vs. Secretary: Mr. Jenkins (Uncredited)
- 1936 The Country Doctor: Asa Wyatt
- 1936 The Road To Glory: Scared Soldier
- 1936 Meet Nero Wolfe: Olaf
- 1936 Girls Dormitory: Toni
- 1936 Reunion: Asa Wyatt
- 1937 7th Heaven: Sewer Rat
- 1937 Angels Holiday: Walde Everett
- 1937 Fifty Roads To Town: Sheriff Dow
- 1937 She Had To Eat: Sleepy
- 1937 Fit For A King: Otto
- 1937 Nothing Sacred: Fireman (Uncredited)
- 1937 The Bad Man Of Brimstone: “Loco”
- 1938 Joy Of Living: Oswego
- 1938 The Chaser: Lars
- 1938 The Texans: Swede (Uncredited)
- 1938 The Mad Miss Manton: Subway Watchman
- 1938 Five Of A Kind: Asa Wyatt
- 1938 The Strange Case Of Dr Meade: Stoner
- 1939 Stand Up And Fight: Davy
- 1939 Let Us Live: Dan (Uncredited)
- 1939 Mickey The Kid: Mailman
- 1939 Career: Jeff Trotter (Uncredited)
- 1939 Honeymoon In Bali: Meek Man
- 1939 Thunder Afloat: Milo
- 1939 Four Wives: Frank
- 1940 His Girl Friday: Earl Williams
- 1940 The Grapes of Wrath: Muley Graves
- 1940 Blondie On A Budget: Mr. Ed Fuddle
- 1940 Saturdays Children: First Carpenter (Uncredited)
- 1940 Ski Patrol: Gustaf Nerkuu
- 1940 On Their Own: Peters
- 1940 Babies For Sale: Howard Anderson
- 1940 Angels Over Broadway: Charles Engle
- 1940 Knute Rockne, All American: Lars Knutson Rockne
- 1940 The Long Voyage Home: Axel
- 1940 Youth Will Be Served: Clem Howie
- 1941 Model Wife: The Janitor
- 1941 Million Dollar Baby: Dr. Patterson
- 1941 Out of the Fog: Olaf Johnson
- 1941 The Shepherd Of The Hills: Coot Royal
- 1941 New Wine: Hasslinger’s Clerk
- 1941 All That Money Can Buy: Miser Stevens
- 1942 Jungle Book: The Barber
- 1942 Larceny Inc: Sam Bachrach
- 1942 Tortilla Flat: Jose Maria Corcoran
- 1942 Casablanca: Berger
- 1942 Arabian Nights: Aladdin
- 1943 Swing Shift Maisie: Horatio Curley
- 1944 Strange Confession: Monge
- 1944 An American Romance: Anton Dubechek
- 1944 Dark Waters: Uncle Norbert
- 1945 Roughly Speaking: Svend Olsen
- 1945 River Gang: Uncle Bill
- 1945 Captain Kidd: Bart Blivens
- 1945 Adventure: Model T
- 1947 Song Of Scheherezade: Lorenzo
- 1947 High Conquest: Peter Oberwalder Sr.
- 1947 The Fugitive: A Refugee Doctor
- 1948 Reaching From Heaven: The Stranger
- 1948 Alias A Gentleman: No End
- 1948 On Our Merry Way: Mr. Atwood (Deleted Role)
- 1948 My Girl Tisa: Svenson
- 1948 Sixteen Fathoms Deep: Capt. Athos
- 1948 Hollow Triumph: Swangron
- 1949 The Big Steal: Julius Seton
- 1950 Captain China: Geech
- 1950 Buccaneers Girl: Vegetable Man
- 1950 Woman on the Run: Maibus
- 1950 The Jackpot: Mr. Ferguson (Uncredited)
- 1950 The Flying Missile: Lars Hanson
- 1951 Belle Le Grand: Corky McGee
- 1951 Goodbye My Fancy: Professor Dingley
- 1952 Hans Christian Andersen: Burgomaster
- 1953 Ambush At Tomahawk Gap: Jonas P. Travis
- 1953 Francis Covers The Big Town: Defense Attorney Cavendish (Uncredited)
- 1953 I the Jury: Dr. R.H. Vickers
- 1954 The High And The Mighty: Jose Locota
- 1954 The Student Prince: Willie Klauber
- 1954 Passion: Gaspar Melo
- 1954 The Other Woman: Papasha
- 1955 Unchained: Leonard Haskins
- 1955 The Sea Chase: Chief Engineer Schmitt
- 1955 At Gunpoint: Livingstone
- 1956 The Searchers: Lars Jorgensen
- 1956 Johnny Concho: Jake
- 1957 The Big Land: Sven Johnson
- 1958 My World Dies Screaming: Jonah Snell
- 1958 The Gun Runners: Pop
- 1958 Revolt In The Big House: Doc
- 1959 Anatomy of a Murder: Deputy Sheriff Sulo
- 1960 Hell Bent For Leather: Old Ben
- 1960 Elmer Gantry: Sam – Storekeeper (Uncredited)
- 1960 North to Alaska: Logger Judge
- 1961 Two Rode Together: Ole Knudsen
- 1962 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: Peter Ericson
- 1963 Donovan's Reef: Deckhand Who Cries “Man Overboard” (Uncredited)
- 1963 The Prize: Oscar
- 1964 7 Faces of Dr. Lao: Luther Lindquist
- 1964 Cheyenne Autumn: Svenson (Uncredited)
- 1965 Those Calloways: Ernie Evans
- 1965 Ill Take Sweden: Olaf
- 1965 The Sons of Katie Elder: Charlie Biller
- 1965 A Patch of Blue: Mr. Faber
- 1966 A Big Hand for the Little Lady: Jesse Buford
- 1967 The Adventures Of Bullwhip Griffin: Barber (Uncredited)
- 1967 PJ: Poppa Gonowski
- 1968 Firecreek: Hall
- 1969 Hail Hero: Billy Hurd
- 1972 Getting Away From It All: Charlie Erickson (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1973 Frasier The Sensuous Lion: Old Man on Porch
Short Films
- 1945 It Happened In Springfield
- 1955 Man On A Bus: Second Prisoner
Television
- 1951 Stars Over Hollywood: Carl Anders (1 episode)
- 1951-53 Hollywood Opening Night: Carl Anders (2 episodes)
- 1952 Chevron Theatre: Toby (1 episode)
- 1952 Celanese Theatre: Chris (1 episode)
- 1952 Rebound: Prospector (1 episode)
- 1952-54 The Ford Television Theatre: Sparks/Francois (2 episodes)
- 1953 Footlights Theater: Sparks (1 episode)
- 1953 Cavalcade Of America: Waddell (1 episode)
- 1953-54 Schlitz Playhouse: Pop Bradshaw/Peleg Brewster (2 episodes)
- 1954 Omnibus: Storekeeper J.P. (2 episodes)
- 1954 Public Defender: Ames (1 episode)
- 1954 The Philco Television Playhouse: Gus Gruntle (1 episode)
- 1954 The Pepsi Cola Playhouse: Toby (1 episode)
- 1955 Science Fiction Theatre: Prof. Samuel Avery (1 episode)
- 1955-57 December Bride: Mr. Thompson/The Count (2 episodes)
- 1956 Father Knows Best: Old Man (1 episode)
- 1956 Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Mr. Stepp/Elmer Shore/Mr. Crabtree (3 episodes)
- 1956 Crossroads: Dr. Axel Johnson/Etienne (2 episodes)
- 1956 Climax: Geist (1 episode)
- 1956 The Millionaire: Harry Stonewall Jackson (1 episode)
- 1956 This Is The Life: Henry Becker (1 episode)
- 1957 Lux Video Theatre: Eddie (1 episode)
- 1958 Yancy Derringer: Capt. Sven Larsen (2 episodes)
- 1958-59 The Californians: J. Jimmerson Jones/Vinegar Pete Jones (2 episodes)
- 1958-60 The Gale Storm Show Oh Susannah: Clancy/Olaf Hansen (3 episodes)
- 1958-61 Maverick: Leland Mills/Henry Albright (2 episodes)
- 1959 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse: Cooper (1 episode)
- 1959 Bronco: Mr. Colby (1 episode)
- 1959 Tightrope: Lucas (1 episode)
- 1959 The Alaskans: Jack Despain (1 episode)
- 1960 Overland Trail: Circuit Judge (1 episode)
- 1960 Sugarfoot: Jens Jensen (1 episode)
- 1960 Sea Hunt: Ulie Olafson (1 episode)
- 1960 Tate: Sam (1 episode)
- 1960-62 Lawman: Doc Shannon/Doc Shea/Doc Shay (3 episodes)
- 1961 Klondike: Larsen (1 episode)
- 1961 Outlaws: Mr. Fremont (1 episode)
- 1961 Thriller: Streetcar Conductor (1 episode)
- 1961 The Barbara Stanwyck Show: Sam Lundborg (1 episode)
- 1961 Bonanza: Parley (1 episode)
- 1961-65 Mister Ed: Axel the Handyman/Milo Simmons/Justice of Peace (3 episodes)
- 1962 The Andy Griffith Show: Henry Bennett (1 episode)
- 1962 Laramie: Mr. Elbee (1 episode)
- 1963 Death Valley Days: Joe Gray (1 episode)
- 1963 The Real Mc Coys: Frank (2 episodes)
- 1963-65 Ben Casey: Mr. Wren/John Paul McGarrity (2 episodes)
- 1963 Wide Country: Dr. Henry Demeter (1 episode)
- 1964 My Favorite Martian: Matt (1 episode)
- 1964 The Danny Thomas Show: Swanson, the Janitor (2 episodes)
- 1964 The Virginian: Gosta Swenson (1 episode)
- 1964 No Time For Sergeants: Dr. Grant (1 episode)
- 1964 Dr. Kildare: Mr. Callahan (1 episode)
- 1966 The Donna Reed Show: Zeke (1 episode)
- 1966 Burke's Law: Richard Prince (2 episodes)
- 1966 Hazel: Mr. Johansson (1 episode)
- 1966 Jericho: Heem Hentje (1 episode)
- 1966 Shane: Old Man (1 episode)
- 1966 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.: Dr. Elmer Spritzer (1 episode)
- 1967 I Spy: Hannos (1 episode)
- 1968-70 Green Acres: Mr. Appleby/Willie Dunhill (2 episodes)
- 1971 Medical Center: Charlie (1 episode)
- 1971 Make Room For Grandaddy: Folsom (1 episode)
- 1971-73 The Odd Couple (1970): Sam Mitchell/Groundskeeper/Mr. Larson (3 episodes)
- 1972 The Partridge Family: The Old Man (1 episode)
- 1973 The F.B.I.: Gas Station Attendant (1 episode)
- 1973 The Streets of San Francisco: Frank Casey (1 episode)
- 1974 Movin' On: Liggett (1 episode)
