Fans of classic Hollywood appreciate the wonderful supporting actors who added so much comedy and drama to all their films. Luckily Hollywood screen writers appreciated them too and wrote some wonderful characters that these skilled performers brought to life.
The names are endless and the more films you watch, the more you want to match name to face.
One memorable face is that of John Qualen (1899-1987).
You look at that face and feel he has all the cares of the world on his shoulders.
John specialised in Scandanavian roles ( his parents were Norwegian). It became his trademark. The names of his characters were usually Lars (3 times!), Olaf,Sven or Swede.
Born Johan Mandt Kualen in Vancouver, British Columbia,John’s family moved to the U.S. when he was only 1 yr. old.
In the book, Reel Characters (Jordan R.Young,1975),John said, “The dialect came easy. I grew up around it.” He also said, “I didn’t draw on myself for any of my parts I’ve played.None of them are like me.”
His breakthrough came in 1929 when Elmer Rice cast him as ‘Olsen’,the Swedish janitor in Street Scene. Five members of the cast,including John and Beulah Bondi,were retained by Sam Goldwyn for the movie version.
John Ford then cast him as a Swedish farmer in Arrowsmith. Then he went back to Broadway,with Paul Muni in Counsellor at Law – another role he did in Hollywood. John thought “Muni was one of the greatest.”
John moved to Hollywood,and was already typecast as a Swede..His screen occupations ranged from barber,porter,factory worker,to store keeper and mail man. He was usually decent, mild mannered and sometimes downtrodden.
John said, “Fox put me into one after another,many of them was just two or three days work. Later when I could afford to – when I didn’t act in order to eat – I studied the script first.”
John Ford didn’t forget him and in 1940,John was cast in The Grapes of Wrath and The Long Voyage Home.
In his interview in Reel Characters, John said, “John Ford was wonderful to me. He had tears in his eyes when I did that scene in The Grapes of Wrath about my father working the land – the greatest scene I ever had in a picture.”
In Grapes of Wrath, John played ‘Muley’, a sharecropper being ordered off his land.Muley wants to take out his anger on someone,but who….”Then who do we shoot ? – the company who own the land? – the Bank?”
1940 was a good year for John. The Long Voyage Home was the first of nine John Wayne films he appeared in,as the faithful friend of John Wayne.
The Long Voyage Home
He was death row prisoner,’Earl Williams’ in His Girl Friday, a sad,pathetic figure in contrast to the bright,fast comedy of Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.
He had a good role in Out of The Fog,with Thomas Mitchell and John Garfield. And was ‘Berger’,the Norwegian resistance member in Casablanca.
John made over 100 films. And he was active on TV from the 50s to the 70s with over 1000 appearances.
He had few regrets but would have liked to play the undertaker in I Remember Mama.
He retired to Torrance,California. John was married from 1924 to his death in 1987.
A master of his craft.
This is my contribution to the O CANADA blogathon . Lots of interesting articles on all film subjects Canadian can be seen at Silver Screenings or Speakeasy You can read about Yvonne de Carlo,Alexander Knox, Niagara, Norma Shearer,Marie Dressler, I Confess,Tyrone Power as The Pony Soldier – and many more.
Vienna's Classic Hollywood 
Great to see Qualen highlighted. Character actors added so much to films of the classic era, and so many are merely faces we now recognize but can’t recall the names. If the importance of guys like this is in any doubt, then just try imagining the movies without them.
Qualen was instantly familiar – the voice and hangdog expression – and he had a kind of edgy pathos which was unique.
Nice tribute.
Isn’t it great to think he had such a long and busy career.
Quite. On his TV roles, he had a handful of great parts on Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Often playing downtrodden characters such as Berger in Casablanca, he always gave a good steady performance and was more than just a capable actor.
A true talent who brightens every film he ever appeared in. And I might add even appeared in The Andy Griffith show in a very typical Qualen type role. 🙂 Love the interview clips.
A very successful character actor and without all the possible problems of stardom.
Must try and catch some of his TV appearances.
A very useful bio — many thanks.
Thanks. Full list of films at IMDB.
Wonderful tribute! I sometimes think the list of movies he wasn’t in would be shorter than the ones he was in! And Out of the Fog — don’t get me started!! John Qualen and Thomas Mitchell — best bromance ever!! Thank you again for this!!
I agree Qualen and Mitchell were a great team in Out Of The Fog.
familiar and welcome face, always good work from him in the movies, like Colin I remember the Alfred Hitchcock presents work. thanks for this good pick and for being part of this event 🙂
I remember how surprised I was when I figured out the same guy who was a regular in John Ford films – like the restaurant owner in THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE and Vera Miles’ father in THE SEARCHERS – was also Berger in CASABLANCA. Qualen was truly one of the great reliable character actors, and I always look forward to seeing him whenever I see he’s in a film. Nice write-up.
Whenever I see John Qualen, I say (out loud), “Oh, THAT guy!” I could never remember his name, but I think I will now, after reading your post.
Thank you for joining the blogathon and for profiling this Canadian who truly was a master at his craft.
Thanks to you and Kristina for organising the Blogathon .
Among the first of the character actors that my late dad made certain his daughters knew. He especially liked to point out Qualen’s Canadian place of birth. Such an impressive and enviable career.
Wonder if Mr.Qualen ever returned to Canada for a visit.
Great reminder of an often overlooked actor. I must admit I didn’t know he was Canadian, he obviously inhabited those Scandi roles a little too well!
I didn’t know he was Canadian either, till I saw the list of possible subjects on the blogathon.
He certainly ‘inhabited’ the roles, as you say.
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