CINEFILER

Moroni Olsen

Born
June 26, 1889
Died
November 22, 1954
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Moroni Olsen (June 27, 1889 – November 22, 1954) was an American actor. Olsen was born in Ogden, Utah, to Mormon parents Edward Arenholt Olsen and Martha Hoverholst, who named him after the Moroni found in the Book of Mormon. Some sources have claimed that Olsen's birth name was John Willard Clawson, but there appears to be no support for this claim. Olsen studied at Weber Stake Academy, the predecessor of Weber State University. He then went to study at the University of Utah, where one of his teachers was Maud May Babcock. During World War I, he sold war bonds for the United States Navy. He also studied and performed in the Eastern United States around this time. In 1923, Olsen organized the "Moroni Olsen Players" out of Ogden. They performed at both Ogden's Orpheum Theatre and at various other locations spread from Salt Lake City to Seattle. After having worked on Broadway, he made his film debut in a 1935 adaptation of The Three Musketeers. He later played a different role in a 1939 comedy version of the story, starring Don Ameche as D'Artagnan and the Ritz Brothers as three dimwitted lackeys who are forced to substitute for the musketeers, who have drunk themselves into a stupor. His most famous role was the voice of the Slave in The Magic Mirror in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Olsen also provided the voice of the senior angel in It's a Wonderful Life. Olsen was an active member of the LDS Church, being a teacher of youth in the Hoolwood Ward. He also was director of the Pilgramage Play of Hollywood for several years.
Known For
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(1937)
Magic Mirror (voice) (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946)
Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited)
Samson and Delilah
(1949)
Targil
Notorious
(1946)
Walter Beardsley
Mildred Pierce
(1945)
Inspector Peterson
Father of the Bride
(1950)
Herbert Dunstan
The Fountainhead
(1949)
Chairman
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
(1944)
General (uncredited)
Call Northside 777
(1948)
Parole Board Chairman
Possessed
(1947)
Dr. Ames - Mrs. Smith's psychiatrist
Madame Curie
(1943)
President of Businessman's Board (uncredited)
Marie Antoinette
(1938)
Bearded Leader of the People (uncredited)
Santa Fe Trail
(1940)
Robert E. Lee
Mission to Moscow
(1943)
Col. Faymonville
Air Force
(1943)
Col. Blake
Life with Father
(1947)
Dr. Humphries
Full Filmography
Acting
Seven Keys to Baldpate
(1935)
Mayor Jim Cargen
The Three Musketeers
(1935)
Porthos
We're Only Human
(1935)
R.J. Curran
Annie Oakley
(1935)
Col. William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody
M'Liss
(1936)
Jake
Grand Jury
(1936)
Davis, the bodyguard
Yellow Dust
(1936)
Missouri
The Witness Chair
(1936)
Lt. Poole
The Plough and the Stars
(1936)
General Connally
Two in Revolt
(1936)
Cyrus Benton
Mary of Scotland
(1936)
John Knox
Mummy's Boys
(1936)
Dr. Edward Sterling
The Farmer in the Dell
(1936)
Chester Hart
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(1937)
Magic Mirror (voice) (uncredited)
Adventure's End
(1937)
First Mate Rand Husk
The Last Gangster
(1937)
Detective Danny Shea (uncredited)
The Soldier and the Lady
(1937)
Tartar Chief (Voice) (Uncredited)
Gold Is Where You Find It
(1938)
Senator Hearst
Kidnapped
(1938)
Douglas
What Do You Think? Tupapaoo
(1938)
Kurt Larsen
That Certain Age
(1938)
Fullerton's Associate (uncredited)
Kentucky
(1938)
John Dillon - 1938
Submarine Patrol
(1938)
The Fleet Captain
Marie Antoinette
(1938)
Bearded Leader of the People (uncredited)
There Goes My Heart
(1938)
Fisherman (uncredited)
Rose of Washington Square
(1939)
Buck Russell
Homicide Bureau
(1939)
Captain Haines
Dust Be My Destiny
(1939)
Slim Jones
Off the Record
(1939)
Juvenal Court Judge
The Three Musketeers
(1939)
Bailiff
Allegheny Uprising
(1939)
Tom Calhoon
Barricade
(1939)
Managing Editor
The Bill of Rights
(1939)
Royal Governor Dunmore
That's Right - You're Wrong
(1939)
Jonathan Forbes
Code of the Secret Service
(1939)
The friar
Invisible Stripes
(1939)
The Warden
Susannah of the Mounties
(1939)
Supt. Andrew Standing
If I Had My Way
(1940)
Mr. Blair
East of the River
(1940)
Judge R.D. Davis
Brigham Young
(1940)
Doc Richards
Virginia City
(1940)
Cameron
Santa Fe Trail
(1940)
Robert E. Lee
Brother Rat and a Baby
(1940)
Major Terry
One Foot in Heaven
(1941)
Dr. John Romer
Dive Bomber
(1941)
Senior Surgeon at San Diego
Life with Henry
(1941)
Sylvanus Q. Sattherwaite
Dangerously They Live
(1941)
Mr. John Goodwin
Three Sons o' Guns
(1941)
Philip G. Talbot
Respect the Law
(1941)
Dr. Walter Terriss
Reunion in France
(1942)
Paul Grebeau
My Favorite Spy
(1942)
Major Allen
Nazi Agent
(1942)
Brenner
Sundown Jim
(1942)
Andrew Barr
The Glass Key
(1942)
Ralph Henry
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
(1942)
Dr. Henry Olcott
Air Force
(1943)
Col. Blake
Madame Curie
(1943)
President of Businessman's Board (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
(1943)
Col. Faymonville
We've Never Been Licked
(1943)
Commandant
Roger Touhy, Gangster
(1944)
Riley
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
(1944)
General (uncredited)
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
(1944)
Caliph Hassan
Buffalo Bill
(1944)
Sen. Frederici
Cobra Woman
(1944)
MacDonald
Week-End at the Waldorf
(1945)
House Detective
Pride of the Marines
(1945)
Capt. Burroughs
Mildred Pierce
(1945)
Inspector Peterson
Don't Fence Me In
(1945)
Henry Bennett
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946)
Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited)
Boys' Ranch
(1946)
Judge Henderson
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
(1946)
Bishop Martin
The Strange Woman
(1946)
Rev. Thatcher
Notorious
(1946)
Walter Beardsley
From This Day Forward
(1946)
Tim Bagley
That Hagen Girl
(1947)
Trenton Gateley
The Long Night
(1947)
Chief of Police Bob McManus
Life with Father
(1947)
Dr. Humphries
High Wall
(1947)
Dr. Philip Dunlap
Possessed
(1947)
Dr. Ames - Mrs. Smith's psychiatrist
Black Gold
(1947)
Don Toland
Up in Central Park
(1948)
Big Jim Fitts
Call Northside 777
(1948)
Parole Board Chairman
Command Decision
(1948)
Congressman Stone
Samson and Delilah
(1949)
Targil
Task Force
(1949)
Adm. Ames
The Fountainhead
(1949)
Chairman
Father of the Bride
(1950)
Herbert Dunstan
Father's Little Dividend
(1951)
Herbert Dunstan
No Questions Asked
(1951)
Henry Manston
Payment on Demand
(1951)
Mr. Barton
Submarine Command
(1951)
Rear Adm. Joshua Rice
Lone Star
(1952)
Sam Houston
At Sword's Point
(1952)
Porthos
Washington Story
(1952)
Speaker Of The House
So This Is Love
(1953)
Arnold Reuben
Marry Me Again
(1953)
Mr. Courtney
The Long, Long Trailer
(1954)
Mr. Tewitt
Sign of the Pagan
(1954)
Pope Leo I
Data provided by TMDB