Stellan Skarsgård

'Stellan Skarsgård' (qv) was born in Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden, to Gudrun (Larsson) and Jan Skarsgård. He became a star in his teens through the title role in the TV-series _Bombi Bitt och jag (1968)_ (qv). Between the years 1972-88 he was employed at The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, where he participated in "Vita rum" (1988), 'August Strindberg' (qv)'s "Ett drömspel" (1986) and "Mäster Olof" (1988). Simultaneously Skarsgård did outstanding film roles, notably in _The Simple-Minded Murderer (1982)_ (qv) by 'Hans Alfredson' (qv) and with 'Fred Ward' (qv) in _American Playhouse: Noon Wine (1985)_ (qv). The fantastic performance gave him both a well-earned Guldbagge and Silver Berlin Bear. He portrayed the Skagen-painter Sören Kröyer in _Hip Hip Hurrah! (1987)_ (qv) and the Swedish ambassador Raoul Wallenberg in _Guten Abend, Herr Wallenberg (1990)_ (qv), both directed by 'Kjell Grede' (qv). _Codename Coq Rouge (1989)_ (qv) and _The Democratic Terrorist (1992)_ (qv) he played 'Jan Guillou' (qv)'s Swedish superagent Carl Hamilton. He also had the leading part in the Oscar nominated _The Ox (1991)_ (qv) directed by the world-famous cinematographer Sven Nykvist. Skarsgård did his first (but small) role in an big American film with _The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)_ (qv). The role of Captain Tupolev in _The Hunt for Red October (1990)_ (qv) was at supposed to be biggest part in a Hollywood-film, but unfortunately it was cut down. His breakthrough instead came with 'Lars von Trier' (qv)'s _Breaking the Waves (1996)_ (qv) opposite newcomer 'Emily Watson' (qv). After that Skarsgård got several supporting roles in American films, such as in _My Son the Fanatic (1997)_ (qv), 'Gus Van Sant' (qv)'s _Good Will Hunting (1997)_ (qv) and 'Steven Spielberg' (qv)'s _Amistad (1997)_ (qv).::Fredrik Klasson <[email protected]>