Moroni Olsen
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.
Filmography
Sign of the Pagan
as Pope Leo I
Sign of the Pagan
as Pope Leo I
The Long, Long Trailer
as Mr. Tewitt
The Long, Long Trailer
as Mr. Tewitt
So This Is Love
as Arnold Reuben
So This Is Love
as Arnold Reuben
Lone Star
as Sam Houston
Lone Star
as Sam Houston
Washington Story
as Speaker Of The House
Washington Story
as Speaker Of The House
At Sword's Point
as Porthos
At Sword's Point
as Porthos
Submarine Command
as Rear Adm. Joshua Rice
Submarine Command
as Rear Adm. Joshua Rice
No Questions Asked
as Henry Manston
No Questions Asked
as Henry Manston
Father's Little Dividend
as Herbert Dunstan
Father's Little Dividend
as Herbert Dunstan
Payment on Demand
as Mr. Barton
Payment on Demand
as Mr. Barton
Father of the Bride
as Herbert Dunstan
Father of the Bride
as Herbert Dunstan
Samson and Delilah
as Targil
Samson and Delilah
as Targil
Task Force
as Adm. Ames
Task Force
as Adm. Ames
The Fountainhead
as Chairman
The Fountainhead
as Chairman
Command Decision
as Congressman Stone
Command Decision
as Congressman Stone
Up in Central Park
as Big Jim Fitts
Up in Central Park
as Big Jim Fitts
Call Northside 777
as Parole Board Chairman
Call Northside 777
as Parole Board Chairman
High Wall
as Dr. Philip Dunlap
High Wall
as Dr. Philip Dunlap
That Hagen Girl
as Trenton Gateley
That Hagen Girl
as Trenton Gateley
Black Gold
as Don Toland
Black Gold
as Don Toland
Life with Father
as Dr. Humphries
Life with Father
as Dr. Humphries
Possessed
as Dr. Ames
Possessed
as Dr. Ames
The Long Night
as Chief of Police Bob McManus
The Long Night
as Chief of Police Bob McManus
It's a Wonderful Life
as Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
as Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited)
Notorious
as Walter Beardsley
Notorious
as Walter Beardsley
Boys' Ranch
as Judge Henderson
Boys' Ranch
as Judge Henderson
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
as Bishop Martin
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
as Bishop Martin
From This Day Forward
as Tim Bagley
From This Day Forward
as Tim Bagley
Mildred Pierce
as Inspector Peterson
Mildred Pierce
as Inspector Peterson
Don't Fence Me In
as Henry Bennett
Don't Fence Me In
as Henry Bennett
Week-End at the Waldorf
as House Detective
Week-End at the Waldorf
as House Detective
Behind City Lights
as Curtis Holbrook
Behind City Lights
as Curtis Holbrook
Pride of the Marines
as Capt. Burroughs
Pride of the Marines
as Capt. Burroughs
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
as General (uncredited)
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
as General (uncredited)
Roger Touhy, Gangster
as Riley
Roger Touhy, Gangster
as Riley
Cobra Woman
as MacDonald
Cobra Woman
as MacDonald
Buffalo Bill
as Sen. Frederici
Buffalo Bill
as Sen. Frederici
Madame Curie
as President of Businessman's Board (uncredited)
Madame Curie
as President of Businessman's Board (uncredited)
We've Never Been Licked
as Commandant
We've Never Been Licked
as Commandant
Mission to Moscow
as Col. Faymonville
Mission to Moscow
as Col. Faymonville
Reunion in France
as Paul Grebeau
Reunion in France
as Paul Grebeau
The Glass Key
as Ralph Henry
The Glass Key
as Ralph Henry
My Favorite Spy
as Major Allen
My Favorite Spy
as Major Allen
Nazi Agent
as Brenner
Nazi Agent
as Brenner
Dangerously They Live
as Mr. John Goodwin
Dangerously They Live
as Mr. John Goodwin
One Foot in Heaven
as Dr. John Romer
One Foot in Heaven
as Dr. John Romer
Life with Henry
as Sylvanus Q. Sattherwaite
Life with Henry
as Sylvanus Q. Sattherwaite
Santa Fe Trail
as Robert E. Lee
Santa Fe Trail
as Robert E. Lee
East of the River
as Judge R.D. Davis
East of the River
as Judge R.D. Davis
Brigham Young
as Doc Richards
Brigham Young
as Doc Richards
Brother Rat and a Baby
as Major Terry
Brother Rat and a Baby
as Major Terry
Barricade
as Managing Editor
Barricade
as Managing Editor
That's Right – You're Wrong
as Jonathan Forbes
That's Right – You're Wrong
as Jonathan Forbes
Susannah of the Mounties
as Andrew Standing
Susannah of the Mounties
as Andrew Standing
Rose of Washington Square
as Buck Russell
Rose of Washington Square
as Buck Russell
Off the Record
as Juvenal Court Judge
Off the Record
as Juvenal Court Judge
Kentucky
as John Dillon - 1938
Kentucky
as John Dillon - 1938
Submarine Patrol
as The Fleet Captain
Submarine Patrol
as The Fleet Captain
There Goes My Heart
as Fisherman (uncredited)
There Goes My Heart
as Fisherman (uncredited)
Marie Antoinette
as Bearded Leader of the People (uncredited)
Marie Antoinette
as Bearded Leader of the People (uncredited)
Kidnapped
as Douglas
Kidnapped
as Douglas
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
as Magic Mirror (voice) (uncredited)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
as Magic Mirror (voice) (uncredited)
The Plough and the Stars
as General Connally
The Plough and the Stars
as General Connally
Mummy's Boys
as Dr. Edward Sterling
Mummy's Boys
as Dr. Edward Sterling
Grand Jury
as Davis, the bodyguard
Grand Jury
as Davis, the bodyguard
Two in Revolt
as Cyrus Benton
Two in Revolt
as Cyrus Benton
We're Only Human
as R.J. Curran
We're Only Human
as R.J. Curran
Seven Keys to Baldpate
as Mayor Jim Cargen
Seven Keys to Baldpate
as Mayor Jim Cargen
Annie Oakley
as Buffalo Bill
Annie Oakley
as Buffalo Bill
The Three Musketeers
as Porthos
The Three Musketeers
as Porthos
Death Takes a Holiday
as Cardinal De Valle (uncredited)
Death Takes a Holiday
as Cardinal De Valle (uncredited)