Moroni Olsen
Biography
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
Walter Beardsley
Notorious
Magic Mirror (voice) (uncredited)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Robert E. Lee
Santa Fe Trail
Inspector Peterson
Mildred Pierce
Dr. Ames - Mrs. Smith's psychiatrist
Possessed
Herbert Dunstan
Father of the Bride
Herbert Dunstan
Father's Little Dividend
Chairman
The Fountainhead
Mr. Tewitt
The Long, Long Trailer
Kurt Larsen
What Do You Think? Tupapaoo
Slim Jones
Dust Be My Destiny
Parole Board Chairman
Call Northside 777
Rev. Thatcher
The Strange Woman
Dr. Philip Dunlap
High Wall
Dr. Humphries
Life with Father
Sen. Frederici
Buffalo Bill
Tom Calhoon
Allegheny Uprising
Buck Russell
Rose of Washington Square
Caliph Hassan
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Col. William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody
Annie Oakley
Chief of Police Bob McManus
The Long Night
Brenner
Nazi Agent
Ralph Henry
The Glass Key
Senior Surgeon at San Diego
Dive Bomber
Detective Danny Shea (uncredited)
The Last Gangster
Mr. John Goodwin
Dangerously They Live
Capt. Burroughs
Pride of the Marines
Henry Manston
No Questions Asked
Doc Richards
Brigham Young
Dr. John Romer
One Foot in Heaven
House Detective
Week-End at the Waldorf
Mr. Courtney
Marry Me Again
Bishop Martin
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
General (uncredited)
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Porthos
The Three Musketeers
Riley
Roger Touhy, Gangster
Porthos
At Sword's Point
Judge R.D. Davis
East of the River
Speaker Of The House
Washington Story
Mayor Jim Cargen
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Davis, the bodyguard
Grand Jury
Judge Henderson
Boys' Ranch
The friar
Code of the Secret Service
Managing Editor
Barricade
Trenton Gateley
That Hagen Girl
Arnold Reuben
So This Is Love
Sylvanus Q. Sattherwaite
Life with Henry
Big Jim Fitts
Up in Central Park
Dr. Henry Olcott
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
R.J. Curran
We're Only Human
Jake
M'Liss
Targil
Samson and Delilah
Missouri
Yellow Dust
The Fleet Captain
Submarine Patrol
John Dillon - 1938
Kentucky
Supt. Andrew Standing
Susannah of the Mounties
John Knox
Mary of Scotland
Sam Houston
Lone Star
Fisherman (uncredited)
There Goes My Heart
Jonathan Forbes
That's Right – You're Wrong
Congressman Stone
Command Decision
Captain Haines
Homicide Bureau
Cyrus Benton
Two in Revolt
Dr. Edward Sterling
Mummy's Boys
Cameron
Virginia City
Bailiff
The Three Musketeers
Philip G. Talbot
Three Sons o' Guns
Lt. Poole
The Witness Chair
Henry Bennett
Don't Fence Me In
First Mate Rand Husk
Adventure's End
Douglas
Kidnapped
Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
Col. Blake
Air Force
Adm. Ames
Task Force
Major Terry
Brother Rat and a Baby
Chester Hart
The Farmer in the Dell
Rear Adm. Joshua Rice
Submarine Command
General Connally
The Plough and the Stars
Senator Hearst
Gold Is Where You Find It
Fullerton's Associate (uncredited)
That Certain Age
Don Toland
Black Gold
Major Allen
My Favorite Spy
Dr. Walter Terriss
Respect the Law
Andrew Barr
Sundown Jim
Mr. Barton
Payment on Demand
Tartar Chief (Voice) (Uncredited)
The Soldier and the Lady
Pope Leo I
Sign of the Pagan
Juvenal Court Judge
Off the Record
Mr. Blair
If I Had My Way
Royal Governor Dunmore
The Bill of Rights
Col. Faymonville
Mission to Moscow
President of Businessman's Board (uncredited)
Madame Curie
Commandant
We've Never Been Licked
Tim Bagley
From This Day Forward
MacDonald
Cobra Woman
Paul Grebeau
Reunion in France
The Warden
Invisible Stripes
Bearded Leader of the People (uncredited)
Marie Antoinette
Cardinal De Valle (uncredited)
Death Takes a Holiday
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
99
Gender
Male
Birthday
1889-06-26
Place of Birth
Ogden, Utah, USA
Also Known As
Maroni Olsen