John Qualen
Intel File

Born:
Dec 06, 1899

Died:
Sep 12, 1987

Age: 87 Deceased

From:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Department:
Acting

Total Credits: 187

Avg Rating: 6.6

Links
Top Rated

Getting Away from It All

10

John Qualen

Also known as: John M. Qualen, John T. Qualen, Johan Mandt Kvalen

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 vers...

Developed By : NJPWELDER (WEBDEV)