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Born on October 3, 1879, Warner Oland was from Västerbotten County, Sweden. Warner Oland was listed as a film actor, stage actor and translator. Death is recorded on August 6, 1938, at the age of 58.
My Take
Oland is a complicated figure I find genuinely compelling. A Swede born Johan Verner Olund, he became Hollywood's go-to face for Chinese roles, playing Charlie Chan sixteen times alongside Fu Manchu. By modern standards that casting rightly invites scrutiny, and I won't pretend otherwise. Yet the sheer commitment and presence he brought to those parts was real craftsmanship, and his survival through the wrenching shift from silent film to sound speaks to genuine adaptability. I respect him as an actor of his era while holding the discomfort honestly. History rarely offers tidy heroes, and he is no exception.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Warner Oland
- Name (Japanese)
- ワーナー・オーランド
- Reading
- わーなー・おーらんど
- Born
- October 3, 1879 – August 6, 1938
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Rabbit
- Origin
- Västerbotten County, Sweden
- Occupation
- actor / film actor / stage actor / translator
2. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner%20Oland
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23957
3. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Warner Oland born?
Born October 3, 1879.
When did Warner Oland die?
Died August 6, 1938, aged 58.
Where was Warner Oland from?
Warner Oland was from Västerbotten County, Sweden.
What did Warner Oland do?
Warner Oland worked as actor, film actor, stage actor, translator.
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