John Qualen
Biography
John Qualen was a Canadian-American character actor who specialized in Scandinavian parts, often with comic accents. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and left the University of Toronto after four years to join a traveling troupe. He worked the Chautauqua Circuit before his Broadway break in 1929, playing the janitor Carl Olsen in Elmer Rice's Street Scene; he repeated the part on screen in 1931. Arrowsmith followed, and began his long association with John Ford, which included The Searchers (1956) and Cheyenne Autumn (1964). Across more than a hundred films he appeared in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), His Girl Friday (1940), Casablanca (1942) and The High and the Mighty (1954), and he acted on television into the 1970s. A flautist from the age of eight, he also played with professional orchestras.
87years old at death
- Born Vancouver
- Died Torrance
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Movie Career
- Films
- 46
- Career span
- 37 years1931 to 1968
Genres
First and latest
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Big break
Qualen's big break came on Broadway in 1929, playing the Swedish janitor Carl Olsen in Elmer Rice's play Street Scene. Two years later he re-created that role in the film adaptation, which began his movie career.
First role
Qualen began his career with the Chautauqua Circuit, driving stakes for a tent until he replaced a missing lecturer after showing the manager a high school oratory medal.
Early training
Qualen spent four years at the University of Toronto, then quit his studies to become an actor with a traveling troupe based in Toronto.
Beyond film
Qualen started playing the flute when he was eight. While studying at the University of Toronto he kept up his musical training, and later performed with professional orchestras such as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
Getting ready for a role
In Ford's The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Qualen played Muley, a man who recounts how the bank destroyed his farm. Qualen used a Midwestern dialect, and his performance reportedly moved director Ford to tears.
John Qualen movies on Netflix
Firecreekas Hall
A Big Hand for the Little Ladyas Jesse Buford
A Patch of Blueas Mr. Faber
The Sons of Katie Elderas Charlie Biller
7 Faces of Dr. Laoas Luther Lindquist
Those Callowaysas Ernie Evans
The Prizeas Oscar
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valanceas Peter Ericson
Two Rode Togetheras Ole Knudsen
Elmer Gantryas Sam - Storekeeper
Hell Bent for Leatheras Old Ben
North to Alaskaas Logger Judge
Anatomy of a Murderas Deputy Sheriff Sulo
The Searchersas Lars Jorgensen
At Gunpointas Livingstone
The Sea Chaseas Chief Engineer Schmitt
The High and the Mightyas Jose Locota
Hans Christian Andersenas Burgomaster
The Jackpotas Mr. Ferguson
Woman on the Runas Maibus
The Big Stealas Julius Seton
Hollow Triumphas Dr. Swangron
The Fugitiveas A Refugee Doctor
Adventureas Model T
Captain Kiddas Bart Blivens
Dark Watersas Uncle Norbert
Arabian Nightsas Aladdin
Casablancaas Berger
Jungle Bookas The Barber
Larceny, Inc.as Sam Bachrach
Tortilla Flatas Jose Maria Corcoran
All That Money Can Buyas Miser Stevens
Out of the Fogas Olaf Johnson
The Shepherd of the Hillsas Coot Royal
Angels Over Broadwayas Charles Engle
His Girl Fridayas Earl Williams
Knute Rockne All Americanas Lars Knutson Rockne
The Grapes of Wrathas Muley Bates
The Long Voyage Homeas Axel
Girls Dormitoryas Toni
Wife vs. Secretaryas Mr. Jenkins
Charlie Chan in Parisas Concierge, Dufresne's Hotel (bit)
Doubting Thomasas Von Blitzen
Our Daily Breadas Chris
Counsellor at Lawas Breitstein
Street Sceneas Karl Olsen
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
John Ford directed six of these films, Henry Hathaway three and Lloyd Bacon two. John Wayne appears in eight of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.









Films together
John Wayne8 films together, 1940 to 1965
John Wayne's page The Sons of Katie Elder1965IMDb rating 7.1Qualen as Charlie BillerWayne as John Elder
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962IMDb rating 8.1Qualen as Peter EricsonWayne as Tom Doniphon
North to Alaska1960IMDb rating 6.9Qualen as Logger JudgeWayne as Sam McCord
The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8Qualen as Lars JorgensenWayne as Ethan Edwards
The Sea Chase1955IMDb rating 6.4Qualen as Chief Engineer SchmittWayne as Captain Karl Ehrlich
The High and the Mighty1954IMDb rating 6.6Qualen as Jose LocotaWayne as Dan Roman
The Shepherd of the Hills1941IMDb rating 6.9Qualen as Coot RoyalWayne as Young Matt Matthews
The Long Voyage Home1940IMDb rating 6.9Qualen as AxelWayne as Ole Olsen
James Stewart6 films together, 1936 to 1968
James Stewart's page Firecreek1968IMDb rating 6.8Qualen as HallStewart as Johnny Cobb
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962IMDb rating 8.1Qualen as Peter EricsonStewart as Ransom Stoddard
Two Rode Together1961IMDb rating 6.7Qualen as Ole KnudsenStewart as Marshal Guthrie McCabe
Anatomy of a Murder1959IMDb rating 8.0Qualen as Deputy Sheriff SuloStewart as Paul Biegler
The Jackpot1950IMDb rating 6.6Qualen as Mr. FergusonStewart as Bill Lawrence
Wife vs. Secretary1936IMDb rating 7.0Qualen as Mr. JenkinsStewart as Dave
Ward Bond5 films together, 1940 to 1956
Ward Bond's page The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8Qualen as Lars JorgensenBond as Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton
The Fugitive1947IMDb rating 6.3Qualen as A Refugee DoctorBond as James Calvert, aka 'El Gringo'
The Shepherd of the Hills1941IMDb rating 6.9Qualen as Coot RoyalBond as Wash Gibbs
The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1Qualen as Muley BatesBond as Policeman
The Long Voyage Home1940IMDb rating 6.9Qualen as AxelBond as Yank
Thomas Mitchell5 films together, 1940 to 1945
Thomas Mitchell's page Adventure1945IMDb rating 6.2Qualen as Model TMitchell as Mudgin
Dark Waters1944IMDb rating 6.5Qualen as Uncle NorbertMitchell as Mr. Sydney
Out of the Fog1941IMDb rating 6.7Qualen as Olaf JohnsonMitchell as Jonah Goodwin
Angels Over Broadway1940IMDb rating 6.5Qualen as Charles EngleMitchell as Gene Gibbons
The Long Voyage Home1940IMDb rating 6.9Qualen as AxelMitchell as Driscoll
Henry Fonda4 films together, 1940 to 1968
Henry Fonda's page Firecreek1968IMDb rating 6.8Qualen as HallFonda as Bob Larkin
A Big Hand for the Little Lady1966IMDb rating 7.3Qualen as Jesse BufordFonda as Meredith
The Fugitive1947IMDb rating 6.3Qualen as A Refugee DoctorFonda as A Fugitive
The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1Qualen as Muley BatesFonda as Tom Joad
Bess Flowers3 films together, 1936 to 1963
Bess Flowers's page The Prize1963IMDb rating 6.8Qualen as OscarFlowers as Lady In Audience
Angels Over Broadway1940IMDb rating 6.5Qualen as Charles EngleFlowers as Nightclub Patron
Wife vs. Secretary1936IMDb rating 7.0Qualen as Mr. JenkinsFlowers as Party Guest
John FordDirector, 6 films, 1940 to 1962
All films by John Ford The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962IMDb rating 8.1Qualen as Peter Ericson
Two Rode Together1961IMDb rating 6.7Qualen as Ole Knudsen
The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8Qualen as Lars Jorgensen
The Fugitive1947IMDb rating 6.3Qualen as A Refugee Doctor
The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1Qualen as Muley Bates
The Long Voyage Home1940IMDb rating 6.9Qualen as Axel
Henry HathawayDirector, 3 films, 1941 to 1965
All films by Henry Hathaway The Sons of Katie Elder1965IMDb rating 7.1Qualen as Charlie Biller
North to Alaska1960IMDb rating 6.9Qualen as Logger Judge
The Shepherd of the Hills1941IMDb rating 6.9Qualen as Coot Royal
Lloyd BaconDirector, 2 films, 1940 to 1942
All films by Lloyd Bacon Larceny, Inc.1942IMDb rating 7.3Qualen as Sam Bachrach
Knute Rockne All American1940IMDb rating 6.7Qualen as Lars Knutson Rockne
Also three films together10 more actors
- John CarradineThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Captain Kidd (1945) and The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
- Paul FixThe Sons of Katie Elder (1965), The Sea Chase (1955) and The High and the Mighty (1954)
- George ChandlerThe High and the Mighty (1954), Hans Christian Andersen (1952) and Hollow Triumph (1948)
- Harry CordingCaptain Kidd (1945), Arabian Nights (1942) and Charlie Chan in Paris (1935)
- John DoucetteThe Sons of Katie Elder (1965), 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) and The Sea Chase (1955)
- Karl SwensonThe Sons of Katie Elder (1965), The Prize (1963) and North to Alaska (1960)
- Vera MilesThose Calloways (1964), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and The Searchers (1956)
- James GriffithA Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966), North to Alaska (1960) and At Gunpoint (1955)
- Andrew TombesThe Jackpot (1950), Larceny, Inc. (1942) and Doubting Thomas (1935)
- Rex IngramElmer Gantry (1960), Adventure (1945) and Dark Waters (1944)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What John Qualen's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$88.7 million
10 of the 46 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 46 films: 10 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 33 figure not found.
- 10Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 33Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 94% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$23M25.9% of the total
- 2$11M12.4% of the total
- 3$10M11.8% of the total
- 4$10M11.7% of the total
- 5$8.0M9.0% of the total
- 6$8.0M9.0% of the total
- 7$6.8M7.7% of the total
- 8$6.0M6.8% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.













