Moroni Olsen

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Moroni Olsen (born June 27, 1889 in Ogden , Utah , † November 22, 1954 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American actor .

Life

Moroni Olsen was born in Ogden to Mormon parents. Its name is derived from the prophet Moroni , who, according to the church founder Joseph Smith , is said to have summarized the scriptures of the Book of Mormon . Olsen began working as an actor on tent stages at an early age. He used this form of acting until he was 30 years old. The Moroni Players were well known at the time, and Moroni Olsen also played on Broadway stages for a number of years .

Olsen came to film in 1935. His debut as Porthos in The Three Musketeers was, like the entire film, rather weak. Nevertheless, Hollywood producers showed interest in him because of his deep and sonorous voice, which was also trained through his stage appearances. In the following years he was often booked for historical roles. He was seen in his second film role as Buffalo Bill in the western Annie Oakley at the side of Barbara Stanwyck . A year later followed an appearance on Katharine Hepburn's side as John Knox in the historical drama Mary of Scotland . He had already played this role successfully on Broadway. In 1940 he starred in a film for which he was predestined by his faith. He was the only Mormon to play in Trek to Utah , the story of the Mormon march to Utah. Shortly thereafter, he was seen as Southern General Robert E. Lee in Land of the Wicked , 1952 as Texas General Sam Houston in Man to Man . In the same year he played the porthos again. In The Sons of the Three Musketeers he can be seen as old Porthos in a small supporting role. This was his third film appearance in a musketeer film. In 1939 he played a small role as Bailiff in the comedy version of Allan Dwan .

Moroni Olsen has appeared in films several times. So he was the voice of the magic mirror in the original version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . He also spoke one of the two conversing galaxies in Isn't Life Beautiful? . Olsen's range of roles was limited to villains, dogged officials, humorless doctors, and important men. In his last film he played a historical person again: Pope Leo I in Attila, the king of the Huns by Douglas Sirk .

Moroni Olsen, who, in addition to his work as an actor, also supervised the annual Hollywood Pilgrim Fathers' performances as a director, died on November 22, 1954 at the age of 65 as a result of a heart attack .

Filmography (selection)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Olsen, Moroni
BRIEF DESCRIPTION US-American actor
DATE OF BIRTH June 27, 1889
PLACE OF BIRTH Ogden , Utah , United States
DATE OF DEATH November 22, 1954
Place of death Los Angeles , California , United States