Moroni Olsen photo

Moroni Olsen

Acting
1889-06-26
Ogden, Utah, USA
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 102 titles
Cobra Woman (1944) subtitle poster
Cobra Woman
1944 Movie
as MacDonald
Subtitles
Sign of the Pagan (1954) subtitle poster
Sign of the Pagan
1954 Movie
as Pope Leo I
Subtitles
Nazi Agent (1942) subtitle poster
Nazi Agent
1942 Movie
as Brenner
Subtitles
Invisible Stripes (1939) subtitle poster
Invisible Stripes
1939 Movie
as The Warden
Subtitles
Buffalo Bill (1944) subtitle poster
Buffalo Bill
1944 Movie
as Sen. Frederici
Subtitles
High Wall (1947) subtitle poster
High Wall
1947 Movie
as Dr. Philip Dunlap
Subtitles
Life with Henry (1941) subtitle poster
Life with Henry
1941 Movie
as Sylvanus Q. Sattherwaite
Subtitles
Dangerously They Live (1941) subtitle poster
Dangerously They Live
1941 Movie
as Mr. John Goodwin
Subtitles
Command Decision (1948) subtitle poster
Command Decision
1948 Movie
as Congressman Stone
Subtitles
Father's Little Dividend (1951) subtitle poster
Father's Little Dividend
1951 Movie
as Herbert Dunstan
Subtitles
Task Force (1949) subtitle poster
Task Force
1949 Movie
as Adm. Ames
Subtitles
The Glass Key (1942) subtitle poster
The Glass Key
1942 Movie
as Ralph Henry
Subtitles
Submarine Patrol (1938) subtitle poster
Submarine Patrol
1938 Movie
as The Fleet Captain
Subtitles
Reunion in France (1942) subtitle poster
Reunion in France
1942 Movie
as Paul Grebeau
Subtitles
Barricade (1939) subtitle poster
Barricade
1939 Movie
as Managing Editor
Subtitles
Death Takes a Holiday (1934) subtitle poster
Death Takes a Holiday
1934 Movie
as Cardinal De Valle (uncredited)
Subtitles
Kidnapped (1938) subtitle poster
Kidnapped
1938 Movie
as Douglas
Subtitles
Off the Record (1939) subtitle poster
Off the Record
1939 Movie
as Juvenal Court Judge
Subtitles
The Three Musketeers (1939) subtitle poster
The Three Musketeers
1939 Movie
as Bailiff
Subtitles
The Long Night (1947) subtitle poster
The Long Night
1947 Movie
as Chief of Police Bob McManus
Subtitles
The Strange Woman (1946) subtitle poster
The Strange Woman
1946 Movie
as Rev. Thatcher
Subtitles
Brigham Young (1940) subtitle poster
Brigham Young
1940 Movie
as Doc Richards
Subtitles
Dust Be My Destiny (1939) subtitle poster
Dust Be My Destiny
1939 Movie
as Slim Jones
Subtitles
My Favorite Spy (1942) subtitle poster
My Favorite Spy
1942 Movie
as Major Allen
Subtitles
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