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, 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 US Census Bureau, making it Utah's eighth ...

Latter-day Saint Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into sever ...

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, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 421 and during an interlude ...

. 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. It was founded in 1889 as Weber Stake Academy. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. History Weber State University was found ...

. He then went to study at the

University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of D ...

, where one of his teachers was

Maud May Babcock Maud May Babcock (May 2, 1867 – December 31, 1954) was the first female member of the University of Utah's faculty. She taught at the university for 46 years, beginning in 1892. While there she established the University Theater, originated th ...

. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, 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 Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a port, seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the county seat, seat of King County, Washington, King County, Washington (state), Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in bo ...

. 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, stock, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 1930s, which l ...

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. 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 and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

's '' Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' (1937). Olsen provided the voice of the senior angel in ''

It's a Wonderful Life ''It's a Wonderful Life'' is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story and booklet '' The Greatest Gift'', which Philip Van Doren Stern self-published in 1943 and is in turn loo ...

''. 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 filmmaker. 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 featur ...

's 1946 film ''

Notorious Notorious means well known for a negative trait, characteristic, or action. It may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Notorious'' (1946 film), a thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock * ''Notorious'' (1992 film), a TV film re ...

'' and the father-in-law of

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-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 1950s. ...

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 nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. 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 ( gd, Iain Cnocc) (born – 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 Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Born in Giffordga ...

Selected filmography

*'' The Three Musketeers'' (1935) as Porthos *'' Annie Oakley'' (1935) as William 'Buffalo Bill' Cody *''

Seven Keys to Baldpate Seven Keys to Baldpate may refer to: * '' Seven Keys to Baldpate'', a novel by Earl Derr Biggers * ''Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (play), a 1913 play by George M. Cohan based on the novel * ''Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (1916 film), a 1916 Australian si ...

'' (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'' (1936) as Chester Hart *'' Two in Revolt'' (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—a group of citizens—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 ...

'' (1936) as Davis, Taylor's Bodyguard *'' Mummy's Boys'' (1936) as Dr. Edward Sterling *''

The Plough and the Stars ''The Plough and the Stars'' is a four-act play by the Irish writer Seán O'Casey that was first performed on 8 February 1926 at the Abbey Theatre. It is set in Dublin and addresses the 1916 Easter Rising. The play's title references the Star ...

'' (1936) as Irish Leader *'' The Soldier and the Lady'' (1937) as Tartar Chief (voice, uncredited) *''

The Life of Emile Zola ''The Life of Emile Zola'' is a 1937 American biographical film about the 19th-century French author Émile Zola starring Paul Muni and directed by William Dieterle. It premiered at the Los Angeles Carthay Circle Theatre to great critical and ...

'' (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'' (1937) as First Mate Rand Husk *'' Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' (1937) as Magic Mirror (voice, uncredited) *'' Gold Is Where You Find It'' (1938) as Senator Hearst *''

Kidnapped Kidnapped may refer to: * subject to the crime of kidnapping In criminal law, kidnapping is the unlawful confinement of a person against their will, often including transportation/asportation. The asportation and abduction element is typically ...

'' (1938) as Douglas *''

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette Josèphe Jeanne (; ; née Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last queen of France before the French Revolution. She was born an archduchess of Austria, and was the penultimate child ...

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

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virgini ...

'' (1938) as John Dillon – 1938 *'' Homicide Bureau'' (1939) as Capt. Haines *'' Off the Record'' (1939) as Juvenal Court Judge *'' The Three Musketeers'' (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'' (1939) as The Friar *'' Susannah of the Mounties'' (1939) as Supt. Andrew Standing *''

Dust Be My Destiny ''Dust Be My Destiny'' is a 1939 American drama film starring John Garfield as a man who gets into trouble after being sentenced to a work farm. Plot Joe Bell (John Garfield) becomes embittered after he is jailed for 16 months for burglary . Late ...

'' (1939) as Slim Jones – Defense Attorney *'' Allegheny Uprising'' (1939) as Calhoon *'' That's Right—You're Wrong'' (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 denot ...

'' (1939) as Shanghai Managing Editor *'' Invisible Stripes'' (1939) as The Warden *'' Brother Rat and a Baby'' (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 his ...

'' (1940) as Doc Richards *'' East of the River'' (1940) as Judge R.D. Davis *'' Life with Henry'' (1940) as Sylvanus Q. Sattherwaite *'' Santa Fe Trail'' (1940) as

Robert E. Lee Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, towards the end of which he was appointed the overall commander of the Confederate States Army. He led the Army of Nort ...

*'' Three Sons o' Guns'' (1941) as Philip Talbot *''

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

'' (1941) as Senior Surgeon at San Diego *'' One Foot in Heaven'' (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 My Favorite Spy may refer to: * My Favorite Spy (1942 film), an American comedy film * My Favorite Spy (1951 film) ''My Favorite Spy'' is a 1951 comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Bob Hope and Hedy Lamarr. Plot US intelligen ...

'' (1942) as Major Allen *'' The Glass Key'' (1942) as Ralph Henry *''

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch ''Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' is a 1901 novel by American author Alice Hegan Rice, about a southern family humorously coping with poverty. It was highly popular on its release,Lowell Hayes Harrison, ''A New History of Kentucky'' (1997), p. ...

'' (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 ar ...

'' (1943) as Col. Blake *'' Mission to Moscow'' (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), known as "Buffalo Bill", was an American soldier, bison hunter, and showman. He was born in Le Claire, Iowa Territory (now the U.S. state of Iowa), but he lived for several years ...

'' (1944) as Sen. Frederici *'' Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves'' (1944) as Caliph Hassan *'' Cobra Woman'' (1944) as MacDonald *'' Roger Touhy, Gangster'' (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, ...

'' (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 ''Mildred Pierce'' is a psychological drama by James M. Cain published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1941. A story of “social inequity and opportunity in America" set during the Great Depression, ''Mildred Pierce'' follows the trajectory of a lower- ...

'' (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'' (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 *''

'' (1946) as Walter Beardsley *'' The Strange Woman'' (1946) as Rev. Thatcher *''

'' (1946) as Senior Angel (voice, uncredited) *''

The Beginning or the End ''The Beginning or the End'' is a 1947 American docudrama film about the development of the atomic bomb in World War II, directed by Norman Taurog, starring Brian Donlevy, Robert Walker, and Tom Drake, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Th ...

'' (1947) as Dr. Arthur H. Compton *''

The Long Night Long Night or The Long Night may refer to: Film and television * ''The Long Night'' (1947 film), a film noir * The Long Night (2022 film), an American horror film *"Long Night", an episode of ''Please Teacher!'' * "The Long Night" (''Babylon 5''), ...

'' (1947) as Chief of Police Bob McManus *'' Possessed'' (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 reality-based newspaper drama directed by Henry Hathaway. The film parallels the true story of a Chicago reporter who proved that a man jailed for murder was wrongly convicted 11 years before. James Stewart star ...

'' (1948) as Parole Board Chairman *'' Up in Central Park'' (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 comp ...

'' (1949) as Chairman *'' Task Force'' (1949) as Adm. Ames *'' Samson and Delilah'' (1949) as Targil *'' Father of the Bride'' (1950) as Herbert Dunstan *'' Payment on Demand'' (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'' (1952) as Porthos *'' Washington Story'' (1952) as Speaker of the House *''

So This Is Love So This Is Love may refer to: * "So This Is Love?" (song), by Van Halen * "So This Is Love" (song), by The Future Sound of London (recording as Mental Cube) * "So This Is Love", a song by Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers * "So This Is Love", a song ...

'' (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

References

External links

*
Moroni Olsen
at

Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie-oriented pay-TV network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasting campus in the Midtown business district of ...

* * {{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