Matinee Classics - John Qualen Biography & Filmography

John Qualen ACTOR

PHOTOS

JOHN QUALEN BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

John Qualen was born on December 8th, 1899 in Vancouver, British Columbia with the birth name Johan Mandt Kvalen. His family relocated from Canada to the United States and he was raised in Elgin, Illinois. After graduating from high school he received a scholarship to study at Northwestern University and began to develop an interest in acting while in college.

His experience in acting first began when he would appear in tent shows on the Lyceum-Chautaqua circuit as well as stock theater. Soon he made the move to New York and began appearing in such productions as, "Street Scene".

After gaining some more experience as a stage actor he broke into the film industry and was soon adding such credits as, "Arrowsmith" (1931), "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940) starring Henry Fonda, "The Long Voyage Home" (1940) starring John Wayne, Thomas Mitchell and Barry Fitzgerald, "Knute Rockne All American" (1940) starring Pat O'Brien and Ronald Reagan, "The Shepherd of the Hills" (1941) starring John Wayne, Betty Field, Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond and Harry Carey, "The High and the Mighty" (1954) starring John Wayne, "The Sea Chase" (1955) starring John Wayne, Lana Turner, Tab Hunter, James Arness and Lyle Bettger, "The Searchers" (1956) starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Harry Carey Jr., Natalie Wood and Ward Bond, "North to Alaska" (1960) starring John Wayne, Stewart Granger and Fabian Forte, "Two Rode Together" (1961) starring James Stewart, Richard Widmark, Shirley Jones, John McIntire, Linda Cristal, Andy Devine and Willis Bouchey, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962) starring John Wayne, James Stewart, Lee Marvin, Andy Devine, Vera Miles, Woody Strode and Edmond O'Brien, "Donovan's Reef" (1963) starring John Wayne and Lee Marvin and "The Sons of Katie Elder" (1965) starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Earl Holliman, Michael Anderson Jr., George Kennedy, Martha Hyer, James Gregory and Dennis Hopper.

Along with his over 100 film appearances he also appeared on a variety of television series such as, "Racket Squad" starring Reed Hadley, The Public Defender", Climax!", "I Spy" starring Bill Cosby and Robert Culp, "Medical Center" starring Chad Everett, "Green Acres" starring Eddie Albert, Eva Gabor and Pat Buttram, "The Odd Couple" starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, "Hazel" starring Shirley Booth and Don DeFore, "Burke's Law" starring Gene Barry, "Sea Hunt" starring Lloyd Bridges, "Mister Ed" starring Alan Young and "Ben Casey" starring Vince Edwards and Sam Jaffe and "The Danny Thomas Show".

John Qualen married once to Pearle Larson and they had three children together. He worked all the way up to his passing with his final roles being on the television series, "Movin' On" starring Frank Converse and Claude Akins, and "The Streets of San Francisco" starring Karl Malden and Michael Douglas. He passed away on September 12th, 1987 in Torrance, California after suffering from heart failure. His remains are interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.