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
I Love Lucy
1951
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1938
It's a Wonderful Life
1946
MGM Parade
1955
Samson and Delilah
1949
Notorious
1946
Mildred Pierce
1945
Father's Little Dividend
1951
Father of the Bride
1950
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
1944
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
1944
The Fountainhead
1949
Filmography
I Love Lucy
as Judge · 1951
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
as Magic Mirror (voice) (uncredited) · 1938
It's a Wonderful Life
as Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited) · 1946
MGM Parade
as Self · 1955
Samson and Delilah
as Targil · 1949
Notorious
as Walter Beardsley · 1946
Mildred Pierce
as Inspector Peterson · 1945
Father's Little Dividend
as Herbert Dunstan · 1951
Father of the Bride
as Herbert Dunstan · 1950
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
as General (uncredited) · 1944
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
as Caliph Hassan · 1944
The Fountainhead
as Chairman · 1949
Air Force
as Col. Blake · 1943
Santa Fe Trail
as Robert E. Lee · 1940
Marie Antoinette
as Bearded Leader of the People (uncredited) · 1938
Life with Father
as Dr. Humphries · 1947
The Long Night
as Chief of Police Bob McManus · 1947
Lone Star
as Sam Houston · 1952
The Long, Long Trailer
as Mr. Tewitt · 1954
The Strange Woman
as Rev. Thatcher · 1946
Annie Oakley
as Buffalo Bill · 1935
Sign of the Pagan
as Pope Leo I · 1954
Invisible Stripes
as The Warden · 1939
Dive Bomber
as Senior Surgeon at San Diego · 1941
Call Northside 777
as Parole Board Chairman · 1948
Susannah of the Mounties
as Andrew Standing · 1939
At Sword's Point
as Porthos · 1952
The Glass Key
as Ralph Henry · 1942
Virginia City
as Cameron · 1940
Boys' Ranch
as Judge Henderson · 1946
Allegheny Uprising
as Tom Calhoon · 1939
Gold Is Where You Find It
as Senator Hearst · 1938
Death Takes a Holiday
as Cardinal De Valle (uncredited) · 1934
Madame Curie
as President of Businessman's Board (uncredited) · 1943
If I Had My Way
as Mr. Blair · 1940
Brigham Young
as Doc Richards · 1940
One Foot in Heaven
as Dr. John Romer · 1941
Pride of the Marines
as Capt. Burroughs · 1945
Mary of Scotland
as John Knox · 1936
Payment on Demand
as Mr. Barton · 1951
East of the River
as Judge R.D. Davis · 1940
Command Decision
as Congressman Stone · 1948
Week-End at the Waldorf
as House Detective · 1945
There Goes My Heart
as Fisherman (uncredited) · 1938
Rose of Washington Square
as Buck Russell · 1939
Submarine Command
as Rear Adm. Joshua Rice · 1951
Reunion in France
as Paul Grebeau · 1942
Buffalo Bill
as Sen. Frederici · 1944
Mission to Moscow
as Col. Faymonville · 1943
From This Day Forward
as Tim Bagley · 1946
The Plough and the Stars
as General Connally · 1936
Cobra Woman
as MacDonald · 1944
The Soldier and the Lady
as Tartar Chief (Voice) (Uncredited) · 1937
The Last Gangster
as Detective Danny Shea (uncredited) · 1937
Dust Be My Destiny
as Slim Jones · 1939
Submarine Patrol
as The Fleet Captain · 1938
So This Is Love
as Arnold Reuben · 1953
Possessed
as Dr. Ames · 1947
Task Force
as Adm. Ames · 1949
Seven Keys to Baldpate
as Mayor Jim Cargen · 1935
Kidnapped
as Douglas · 1938
The Farmer in the Dell
as Chester Hart · 1936
Sundown Jim
as Andrew Barr · 1942
Three Sons o' Guns
as Philip G. Talbot · 1941
That's Right – You're Wrong
as Jonathan Forbes · 1939
Code of the Secret Service
as The friar · 1939
Don't Fence Me In
as Henry Bennett · 1945
The Three Musketeers
as Porthos · 1935
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
as Bishop Martin · 1946
The Bill of Rights
as Royal Governor Dunmore · 1939
High Wall
as Dr. Philip Dunlap · 1947
We're Only Human
as R.J. Curran · 1935
Brother Rat and a Baby
as Major Terry · 1940
We've Never Been Licked
as Commandant · 1943
No Questions Asked
as Henry Manston · 1951
My Favorite Spy
as Major Allen · 1942
The Three Musketeers
as Bailiff · 1939
Nazi Agent
as Brenner · 1942
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
as Dr. Henry Olcott · 1942
Dangerously They Live
as Mr. John Goodwin · 1941
Black Gold
as Don Toland · 1947
Up in Central Park
as Big Jim Fitts · 1948
That Certain Age
as Fullerton's Associate (uncredited) · 1938
That Hagen Girl
as Trenton Gateley · 1947
What Do You Think? Tupapaoo
as Kurt Larsen · 1938
Life with Henry
as Sylvanus Q. Sattherwaite · 1941
Homicide Bureau
as Captain Haines · 1939
Mummy's Boys
as Dr. Edward Sterling · 1936
Adventure's End
as First Mate Rand Husk · 1937
Off the Record
as Juvenal Court Judge · 1939
Marry Me Again
as Mr. Courtney · 1953
Kentucky
as John Dillon - 1938 · 1938
Roger Touhy, Gangster
as Riley · 1944
Barricade
as Managing Editor · 1939
Grand Jury
as Davis, the bodyguard · 1936
The Witness Chair
as Lt. Poole · 1936
Respect the Law
as Dr. Walter Terriss · 1941
Washington Story
as Speaker Of The House · 1952
M'Liss
as Jake · 1936
Two in Revolt
as Cyrus Benton · 1936
Behind City Lights
as Curtis Holbrook · 1945
Yellow Dust
as Missouri · 1936