Moroni Olsen
Acting
🎂 1889-06-26
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.
Cast credits(100)
Judge
1951
Magic Mirror (voice) (uncredited)
1938
Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited)
1946
Dr. Humphries
1947
Targil
1949
Walter Beardsley
1946
Herbert Dunstan
1951
Robert E. Lee
1940
Inspector Peterson
1945
Herbert Dunstan
1950
President of Businessman's Board (uncredited)
1943
Dr. Ames - Mrs. Smith's psychiatrist
1947
Caliph Hassan
1944
Chief of Police Bob McManus
1947
Chairman
1949
Parole Board Chairman
1948
Cameron
1940
Mr. Tewitt
1954
Bearded Leader of the People (uncredited)
1938
House Detective
1945
Pope Leo I
1954
General (uncredited)
1944
Rev. Thatcher
1946
Brenner
1942
Col. Blake
1943
Rear Adm. Joshua Rice
1951
Dr. Philip Dunlap
1947
Sam Houston
1952
Fisherman (uncredited)
1938
Col. Faymonville
1943
John Dillon - 1938
1938
Adm. Ames
1949
Doc Richards
1940
Senator Hearst
1938
Ralph Henry
1942
John Knox
1936
Mr. Barton
1951
Cardinal De Valle (uncredited)
1934
MacDonald
1944
Bailiff
1939
Sen. Frederici
1944
Major Allen
1942
Col. William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody
1935
The Warden
1939
Tom Calhoon
1939
Bishop Martin
1946
Congressman Stone
1948
Mr. Courtney
1953
Managing Editor
1939
Royal Governor Dunmore
1939
Paul Grebeau
1942
Tim Bagley
1946
Tartar Chief (Voice) (Uncredited)
1937
Henry Manston
1951
Detective Danny Shea (uncredited)
1937
Senior Surgeon at San Diego
1941
Major Terry
1940
Supt. Andrew Standing
1939
The friar
1939
Slim Jones
1939
Mr. John Goodwin
1941
Lt. Poole
1936
Big Jim Fitts
1948
Dr. John Romer
1941
Douglas
1938
Capt. Burroughs
1945
Trenton Gateley
1947
General Connally
1936
Porthos
1952
Judge Henderson
1946
Captain Haines
1939
Henry Bennett
1945
Arnold Reuben
1953
Riley
1944
Jonathan Forbes
1939
First Mate Rand Husk
1937
The Fleet Captain
1938
Dr. Edward Sterling
1936
Commandant
1943
Buck Russell
1939
Judge R.D. Davis
1940
Fullerton's Associate (uncredited)
1938
Porthos
1935
Mr. Blair
1940
R.J. Curran
1935
Davis, the bodyguard
1936
Speaker Of The House
1952
Sylvanus Q. Sattherwaite
1941
Chester Hart
1936
Missouri
1936
Jake
1936
Juvenal Court Judge
1939
Mayor Jim Cargen
1935
Andrew Barr
1942
Don Toland
1947
Cyrus Benton
1936
Dr. Henry Olcott
1942
Philip G. Talbot
1941
Dr. Walter Terriss
1941
Kurt Larsen
1938