Moroni Olsen (June 27, 1889November 22, 1954) was an American actor.

Life and career

Olsen was born in

Ogden, Utah Ogden ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Weber County, Utah, Weber County, Utah, United States, approximately east of the Great Salt Lake and north of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,321 in 2020, according to the United States Census ...

, to

Latter-day Saint The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded b ...

parents Edward Arenholt Olsen and Martha ( Hoverholst) Olsen, who named him after the Moroni found in the

Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, first published in 1830 by Joseph Smith as ''The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi''. The book is one of ...

. His father was Bishop of the Fourth Ward of Ogden. Olsen studied at Weber Stake Academy, the predecessor of

Weber State University Weber State University (pronounced ) is a public university in Ogden, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1889 as Weber Stake Academy and earned its current name in 1991. As of fall 2023, the student population reached 30,536 students, cons ...

. He then went to study at the

University of Utah The University of Utah (the U, U of U, or simply Utah) is a public university, public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret (Book of Mormon), Deseret by the General A ...

, where one of his teachers was Maud May Babcock. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he sold war bonds for the United States Navy. He also studied and performed in the eastern United States around this time. In 1920, he was teaching drama at the Cornish School (later

Cornish College of the Arts Cornish College of the Arts (CCA) was a Private college, private art school, art college in Seattle, Washington. It was founded in 1914 by music teacher Nellie Cornish. The college's main campus is in the Denny Triangle, Seattle, Denny Triangle ...

) in Seattle, Washington. In 1923, Olsen organized the "Moroni Olsen Players," based in Ogden. They performed at both Ogden's Orpheum Theatre and at various other locations spread from

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in the state. The city is the core of the Salt Lake Ci ...

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

. After working 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 Don Ameche (; born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, comedian and vaudevillian. After playing in college shows, repertory theatre, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 19 ...

D'Artagnan Charles de Batz de Castelmore (), also known as d'Artagnan and later Count d'Artagnan ( 1611 – 25 June 1673), was a French Musketeer who served Louis XIV as captain of the Musketeers of the Guard. He died at the siege of Maastricht in the Fr ...

and the Ritz Brothers as three dimwitted lackeys who are forced to substitute for the musketeers, who have drunk themselves into a stupor. He appeared in scores of films during his career. His most famous role was the voice of the Slave in The Magic Mirror in

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney ( ; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer, voice actor, and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the Golden age of American animation, American animation industry, he introduced several develop ...

's ''

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs "Snow White" is a German fairy tale, first written down in the early 19th century. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection ''Grimms' Fairy Tales'', numbered as Tale 53. The original title was ''Sneewittch ...

'' (1937). Olsen provided the voice of the senior angel in '' It's a Wonderful Life''. His roles before the camera include a Secret Service officer in

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...

's 1946 film '' Notorious'' and the father-in-law of

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was an English and American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 19 ...

in the film comedies '' Father of the Bride'' (1950) and '' Father's Little Dividend'' (1951). Olsen was an active member of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

, being a teacher of youth in the Hollywood Ward. He also was director of the Pilgrimage Play of Hollywood for several years. Olsen died on November 22, 1954, of a heart attack at the age of 65. He is buried in the Ogden City Cemetery.

Broadway roles

* '' Mary of Scotland'' (1933) as

John Knox John Knox ( – 24 November 1572) was a Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He was the founder of the Church of Scotland. Born in Giffordgate, a street in Haddington, East Lot ...

Selected filmography

*''

The Three Musketeers ''The Three Musketeers'' () is a French historical adventure novel written and published in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is the first of the author's three d'Artagnan Romances. As with some of his other works, he wrote it in col ...

'' (1935) as Porthos *''

Annie Oakley Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American marksman, sharpshooter and folk heroine who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoveris ...

'' (1935) as William 'Buffalo Bill' Cody *'' Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (1935) as Mayor Jim Cargan *'' We're Only Human'' (1935) as Inspector J.R. Curran *'' Yellow Dust'' (1936) as Missouri *''

The Farmer in the Dell "The Farmer in the Dell" is a singing game, nursery rhyme, folksong, and children's song. It probably originated in Germany and was brought to America by immigrants.I. Opie and P. Opie, ''The Singing Game'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985) ...

'' (1936) as Chester Hart *''

Two in Revolt 2 (two) is a number, numeral (linguistics), numeral and numerical digit, digit. It is the natural number following 1 and preceding 3. It is the smallest and the only even prime number. Because it forms the basis of a Dualistic cosmology, duali ...

'' (1936) as Cyrus Benton *'' The Witness Chair'' (1936) as Lieutenant Poole *'' M'Liss'' (1936) as Jake *'' Mary of Scotland'' (1936) as John Knox *''

Grand Jury A grand jury is a jury empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether criminal charges should be brought. A grand jury may subpoena physical evidence or a person to testify. A grand ju ...

'' (1936) as Davis, Taylor's Bodyguard *'' Mummy's Boys'' (1936) as Dr. Edward Sterling *'' The Plough and the Stars'' (1936) as Irish Leader *'' The Soldier and the Lady'' (1937) as Tartar Chief (voice, uncredited) *'' The Life of Emile Zola'' (1937) as Capt. Guignet (uncredited) *'' The Last Gangster'' (1937) as Detective Danny Shea (uncredited) *'' Manhattan Merry-Go-Round'' (1937) as Jonathan (uncredited) *''

Adventure's End ''Adventure's End'' is a 1937 American adventure film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring John Wayne and Diana Gibson. It was distributed by Universal Pictures.Zmijewsky, Steve; Ricci, Mark (1970). "The Complete Films of John Wayne". Citadel ...

'' (1937) as First Mate Rand Husk *''

'' (1937) as Magic Mirror (voice, uncredited) *'' Gold Is Where You Find It'' (1938) as Senator Hearst *'' Kidnapped'' (1938) as Douglas *''

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette (; ; Maria Antonia Josefa Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last List of French royal consorts, queen of France before the French Revolution and the establishment of the French First Republic. She was the ...

'' (1938) as Bearded Leader of the People (uncredited) *'' That Certain Age'' (1938) as Fullerton's Associate (uncredited) *'' There Goes My Heart'' (1938) as Fisherman (uncredited) *''

Submarine Patrol ''Submarine Patrol'' is a 1938 film directed by John Ford. The screenplay was by Rian James, Darrell Ware, and Jack Yellen. The film starred Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly and Preston Foster. The supporting cast features George Bancroft, Eli ...

'' (1938) as The Fleet Captain *''

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

'' (1938) as John Dillon – 1938 *'' Homicide Bureau'' (1939) as Capt. Haines *'' Off the Record'' (1939) as Juvenal Court Judge *''

'' (1939) as Bailiff *'' Rose of Washington Square'' (1939) as Major Buck Russell *''Sons of Liberty'' (1939, Short) as Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance (uncredited) *''

Code of the Secret Service ''Code of the Secret Service'' is a 1939 film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring Ronald Reagan. It is the second of four films in the U.S. Secret Service Agent Brass Bancroft series, having been preceded by '' Secret Service of the Air'' ( ...

'' (1939) as The Friar *''

Susannah of the Mounties ''Susannah of the Mounties'' is a children's novel by Canadian author Muriel Denison, first published in 1936. In the book 9-year-old Susannah is sent to Regina, Saskatchewan to spend the summer with her uncle who is a Mountie. There are severa ...

'' (1939) as Supt. Andrew Standing *'' Dust Be My Destiny'' (1939) as Slim Jones – Defense Attorney *''

Allegheny Uprising ''Allegheny Uprising'' (released in the UK as ''The First Rebel'') is a 1939 American Adventure Western film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Claire Trevor and John Wayne. Based on the 1937 novel ''The First Rebel'' by Neil H. Swanson ...

'' (1939) as Calhoon *''

That's Right—You're Wrong ''That's'' is a brand name used by a set of English-language listings magazines in the People's Republic of China. They were owned by Shanghai-based publishing group, Urbanatomy Media; as of May 2020, the publisher was JY International Cultural C ...

'' (1939) as Jonathan Forbes *''

Barricade Barricade (from the French ''barrique'' - 'barrel') is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction. Adopted as a military term, a barricade denotes ...

'' (1939) as Shanghai Managing Editor *'' Invisible Stripes'' (1939) as The Warden *''

Brother Rat and a Baby ''Brother Rat and a Baby'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Ray Enright and written by John Cherry Monks, Jr. and Fred F. Finklehoffe. It is the sequel to the 1938 film ''Brother Rat''. The film stars Priscilla Lane, Wayne Morris, Ja ...

'' (1940) as Maj. Terry *'' Virginia City'' (1940) as Dr. Robert Cameron *'' If I Had My Way'' (1940) as Mr. Blair *''

Brigham Young Brigham Young ( ; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second President of the Church (LDS Church), president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1847 until h ...

'' (1940) as Doc Richards *''

East of the River ''East of the River'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and written by Fred Niblo, Jr. The film stars John Garfield, Brenda Marshall, Marjorie Rambeau, George Tobias, William Lundigan and Moroni Olsen. The film was re ...

'' (1940) as Judge R.D. Davis *'' Life with Henry'' (1940) as Sylvanus Q. Sattherwaite *''

Santa Fe Trail The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century route through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri, with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1821 by William Becknell, who departed from the Boonslick region along the Missouri River, the ...

'' (1940) as

Robert E. Lee Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a general officers in the Confederate States Army, Confederate general during the American Civil War, who was appointed the General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate ...

*''

Three Sons o' Guns 3 (three) is a number, numeral (linguistics), numeral and numerical digit, digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious and cul ...

'' (1941) as Philip Talbot *''

Dive Bomber A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target simplifies the bomb's trajectory and allows the pilot to keep visual contact througho ...

'' (1941) as Senior Surgeon at San Diego *''

One Foot in Heaven ''One Foot in Heaven'' is a 1941 American biographical drama film directed by Irving Rapper and starring Fredric March, Martha Scott, Beulah Bondi, Gene Lockhart and Elisabeth Fraser. The film was adapted by Casey Robinson from the autobi ...

'' (1941) as Dr. John Romer *'' Dangerously They Live'' (1941) as Mr. Goodwin *'' Nazi Agent'' (1942) as Brenner *'' Sundown Jim'' (1942) as Andrew Barr *'' Ship Ahoy'' (1942) as Inspector Davis (uncredited) *'' My Favorite Spy'' (1942) as Major Allen *''

The Glass Key ''The Glass Key'' is a novel by American writer Dashiell Hammett. First published as a serial in '' Black Mask'' magazine in 1930, it then was collected in 1931 (in London; the American edition followed 3 months later). It tells the story of a ...

'' (1942) as Ralph Henry *'' Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' (1942) as Dr. Olcott *'' Reunion in France'' (1942) as Paul Grebeau *''

Air Force An air force in the broadest sense is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army aviati ...

'' (1943) as Col. Blake *''

Mission to Moscow Mission (from Latin 'the act of sending out'), Missions or The Mission may refer to: Geography Australia *Mission River (Queensland) Canada * Mission, British Columbia, a district municipality * Mission, Calgary, Alberta, a neighbourhood * ...

'' (1943) as Col. Faymonville *'' We've Never Been Licked'' (1943) as Commandant *'' Madame Curie'' (1943) as President of Businessman's Board (uncredited) *'' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943) as Chaplain (uncredited) *''

Buffalo Bill William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846January 10, 1917), better known as Buffalo Bill, was an American soldier, bison hunter, and showman. One of the most famous figures of the American Old West, Cody started his legend at the young age ...

'' (1944) as Sen. Frederici *''

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" () is a folk tale in Arabic added to the ''One Thousand and One Nights'' in the 18th century by its French translator Antoine Galland, who heard it from Syrian storyteller Hanna Diyab. As one of the most popul ...

'' (1944) as Caliph Hassan *''

Cobra Woman ''Cobra Woman'' is a 1944 American South Seas adventure film from Universal Pictures, directed by Robert Siodmak that stars Maria Montez, Jon Hall, and Sabu. Shot in Technicolor, this film is typical of Montez's career at Universal, and, al ...

'' (1944) as MacDonald *''

Roger Touhy, Gangster ''Roger Touhy, Gangster'' is a 1944 American gangster film based on the life of Chicago mob figure Roger Touhy, directed by film noir specialist Robert Florey. Parts of the film were shot at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet, Illinoi ...

'' (1944) as Riley *''

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo ''Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo'' is a 1944 American war film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The screenplay by Dalton Trumbo is based on the 1943 book of the same name by Captain Ted W. Lawson. Lawson was a pilot on the historic Doolittle Raid, Ame ...

'' (1944) as General (uncredited) *'' The Valley of Decision'' (1945) as Richard Kane (uncredited) *'' Pride of the Marines'' (1945) as Capt. Burroughs *'' Behind City Lights'' (1945) as Curtis Holbrook *'' Mildred Pierce'' (1945) as Inspector Peterson *'' Week-End at the Waldorf'' (1945) as House Detective Blake *'' Don't Fence Me In'' (1945) as Henry Bennett, aka Harry Benson *''

From This Day Forward ''From This Day Forward'' is a 1946 American drama film directed by John Berry and starring Joan Fontaine, Mark Stevens and Rosemary DeCamp. It was produced and distributed by RKO Pictures. Plot Army sergeant Bill Cummings ( Mark Stevens) is ...

'' (1946) as Tim Bagley (uncredited) *'' Night in Paradise'' (1946) as High Priest *'' The Walls Came Tumbling Down'' (1946) as Bishop Martin *'' Boys' Ranch'' (1946) as Judge Henderson *'' Notorious'' (1946) as Walter Beardsley *'' The Strange Woman'' (1946) as Rev. Thatcher *'' It's a Wonderful Life'' (1946) as Senior Angel (voice, uncredited) *'' The Beginning or the End'' (1947) as Dr. Arthur H. Compton *'' The Long Night'' (1947) as Chief of Police Bob McManus *''

Possessed Possessed may refer to: Possession * Possession (disambiguation), having some degree of control over something else ** Spirit possession, whereby gods, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body *** ...

'' (1947) as Dr. Ames *'' Life with Father'' (1947) as Dr. Humphries *'' Black Gold'' (1947) as Don Toland *'' That Hagen Girl'' (1947) as Trenton Gateley *'' High Wall'' (1947) as Dr. Philip Dunlap *''

Call Northside 777 ''Call Northside 777'' is a 1948 American drama film directed by Henry Hathaway. The film parallels the true story of a Chicago newspaper reporter who proved that a man jailed for murder 11 years previously was wrongly convicted. James Stewart ...

'' (1948) as Parole Board Chairman *''

Up in Central Park ''Up in Central Park'' is a Broadway musical with a book by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and music by Sigmund Romberg. The musical, originally called "Central Park" before Broadway (see image of sheet music), was ...

'' (1948) as Big Jim Fitts *'' Command Decision'' (1948) as Congressman Stone *''

The Fountainhead ''The Fountainhead'' is a 1943 novel by Russian-American author Ayn Rand, her first major literary success. The novel's protagonist, Howard Roark, is an intransigent young architect who battles against conventional standards and refuses to com ...

'' (1949) as Chairman *''

Task Force A task force (TF) is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology. Many ...

'' (1949) as Adm. Ames *'' Samson and Delilah'' (1949) as Targil *'' Father of the Bride'' (1950) as Herbert Dunstan *''

Payment on Demand ''Payment on Demand'' is a 1951 American Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and starring Bette Davis and Barry Sullivan (actor), Barry Sullivan. The screenplay by Bernhardt and Bruce Manning chronicles a marriage ...

'' (1951) as Arnold Barton (uncredited) *'' Father's Little Dividend'' (1951) as Herbert Dunstan *'' No Questions Asked'' (1951) as Henry Manston *'' Submarine Command'' (1951) as Rear Adm. Joshua Rice *'' Lone Star'' (1952) as Sam Houston *''

At Sword's Point ''At Sword's Point'', also known as ''Sons of the Three Musketeers'', is a 1952 American historical action adventure film directed by Lewis Allen and starring Cornel Wilde and Maureen O'Hara. It was shot in Technicolor by RKO Radio Pictures. T ...

'' (1952) as Porthos *'' Washington Story'' (1952) as Speaker of the House *'' So This Is Love'' (1953) as Arnold Reuben (uncredited) *'' Marry Me Again'' (1953) as Mr. Courtney *'' The Long, Long Trailer'' (1954) as Mr. Tewitt *'' Sign of the Pagan'' (1954) as Pope Leo I (posthumous release; final film role)

References

External links

*
Moroni Olsen
at

Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie channel, movie-oriented pay television, pay-TV television network, network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcas ...

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen, Moroni 1889 births 1954 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male stage actors Latter Day Saints from California Latter Day Saints from Utah Male Western (genre) film actors Male actors from Utah People from Ogden, Utah University of Utah alumni Weber State University alumni