Johan Verner Olund, later known as Warner Oland, was born on October 3, 1879, in the small village of Nyby in Bjurholm parish, Vasterbotten county, Sweden. His family emigrated to the United States on October 15, 1892. Oland's father, Jonas, was a shopkeeper, and his mother, Maria Johanna (nee Forsberg),came from a farming background.
After completing his education, Oland worked on Broadway during his 20s and later settled in California, where he worked odd jobs. He changed his name to Warner Oland and began working as a stage actor before transitioning to film in the 1910s and 1920s.
Oland's breakthrough role came in 1931 when he was cast as Charlie Chan, a Honolulu-based Chinese-American police detective, in the film "Charlie Chan Carries On." The character was based on the popular detective mystery series by Earl Derr Biggers. Oland's performance as the seemingly mild-mannered but razor-sharp Asian detective earned him critical acclaim, leading to his reprisal of the role in the sequel, "The Black Camel."
The success of the Charlie Chan character turned Oland into a valuable property for Fox Studios, and he became wealthy. However, he struggled with alcoholism and exhibited bizarre delusional behavior after periods of drinking.
Oland appeared in 16 Charlie Chan films from 1931 to 1937, often working under tight schedules and playing the character exclusively. He also appeared in other films during this period but was increasingly typecast as a mysterious Asian.
In the mid-1930s, Oland's physical and mental health began to decline, and he suffered a nervous breakdown. His wife, Edith, filed for divorce in 1937, and Oland's erratic behavior on set became more frequent. He eventually walked out of production on "Charlie Chan at the Ringside" and never returned.
Oland's film career came to an end in 1938, when he returned to his mother's home in Sweden. He died there on August 6, 1938, at the age of 57, due to bronchial pneumonia.
