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.
Acted in 101
1950s
- 1954
Sign of the Pagan
Pope Leo I
- 1953
Marry Me Again
Mr. Courtney
So This Is Love
Arnold Reuben
- 1952
Washington Story
Speaker Of The House
At Sword's Point
Porthos
- 1951
Submarine Command
Rear Adm. Joshua Rice
- 1950
1940s
- 1949
Task Force
Adm. Ames
The Fountainhead
Chairman
- 1948
Command Decision
Congressman Stone
Up in Central Park
Big Jim Fitts
- 1947
High Wall
Dr. Philip Dunlap
That Hagen Girl
Trenton Gateley
Black Gold
Don Toland
- 1946
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
Bishop Martin
From This Day Forward
Tim Bagley
- 1945
Don't Fence Me In
Henry Bennett
Week-End at the Waldorf
House Detective
Behind City Lights
Curtis Holbrook
Pride of the Marines
Capt. Burroughs
- 1944
Roger Touhy, Gangster
Riley
Cobra Woman
MacDonald
- 1943
We've Never Been Licked
Commandant
Mission to Moscow
Col. Faymonville
Air Force
Col. Blake
- 1942
Reunion in France
Paul Grebeau
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
Dr. Henry Olcott
The Glass Key
Ralph Henry
Sundown Jim
Andrew Barr
Nazi Agent
Brenner
- 1941
Dangerously They Live
Mr. John Goodwin
One Foot in Heaven
Dr. John Romer
Dive Bomber
Senior Surgeon at San Diego
Three Sons o' Guns
Philip G. Talbot
Life with Henry
Sylvanus Q. Sattherwaite
Respect the Law
Dr. Walter Terriss
- 1940
East of the River
Judge R.D. Davis
Brigham Young
Doc Richards
If I Had My Way
Mr. Blair
Brother Rat and a Baby
Major Terry
1930s
- 1939
Barricade
Managing Editor
That's Right – You're Wrong
Jonathan Forbes
Allegheny Uprising
Tom Calhoon
Dust Be My Destiny
Slim Jones
The Bill of Rights
Royal Governor Dunmore
Susannah of the Mounties
Andrew Standing
Code of the Secret Service
The friar
Rose of Washington Square
Buck Russell
The Three Musketeers
Bailiff
Off the Record
Juvenal Court Judge
Homicide Bureau
Captain Haines
- 1938
Kentucky
John Dillon - 1938
Submarine Patrol
The Fleet Captain
There Goes My Heart
Fisherman (uncredited)
That Certain Age
Fullerton's Associate (uncredited)
What Do You Think? Tupapaoo
Kurt Larsen
Gold Is Where You Find It
Senator Hearst
- 1937
Adventure's End
First Mate Rand Husk
- 1936
The Plough and the Stars
General Connally
Mummy's Boys
Dr. Edward Sterling
Grand Jury
Davis, the bodyguard
M'Liss
Jake
The Witness Chair
Lt. Poole
Two in Revolt
Cyrus Benton
The Farmer in the Dell
Chester Hart
Yellow Dust
Missouri
- 1935
We're Only Human
R.J. Curran
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Mayor Jim Cargen
The Three Musketeers
Porthos
- 1934
Death Takes a Holiday
Cardinal De Valle (uncredited)
Appearances1
1950s
- 1955
