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