Ragnar Qvale immigrated to the US at the age of 13. While studying architecture at the University of Washington he joined the ski team. He taught skiing to Darryl F. Zanuck in 1939. Zanuck gave him a screen test and signed him as a $75 a week contract player. His acting career was cut short by WWII service. After the war, he gave up acting and established the architectural firm of Ragnar C. Qvale and Associates; and Q.A. Architectural Arts.