Biography for
Stellan Skarsgård More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

13 June 1951, Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden

Birth Name

John Stellan Skarsgård

Nickname

Skarzie

Height

6' 4" (1.93 m)

Mini Biography

Stellan Skarsgård became a star in his teens through the title role in the TV-series "Bombi Bitt och jag" (1968). Between the years 1972-88 he was employed at The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, where he participated in "Vita rum" (1988), August Strindberg's "Ett drömspel" (1986) and "Mäster Olof" (1988). Simultaneously Skarsgård did outstanding film roles, notably in Den enfaldige mördaren (1982) by Hans Alfredson and with Fred Ward in Noon Wine (1985) (TV). The fantastic performance gave him both a well-earned Guldbagge and Silver Berlin Bear. He portrayed the Skagen-painter Sören Kröyer in Hip hip hurra! (1987) and the Swedish ambassador Raoul Wallenberg in God afton, Herr Wallenberg - En Passionshistoria från verkligheten (1990), both directed by Kjell Grede. Täcknamn Coq Rouge (1989) and Den demokratiske terroristen (1992) he played Jan Guillou's Swedish superagent Carl Hamilton. He also had the leading part in the Oscar nominated Oxen (1991) 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). The role of Captain Tupolev in The Hunt for Red October (1990) 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's Breaking the Waves (1996) opposite newcomer Emily Watson. After that Skarsgård got several supporting roles in American films, such as in My Son the Fanatic (1997), Gus Van Sant's Good Will Hunting (1997) and Steven Spielberg's Amistad (1997).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Fredrik Klasson

Spouse

Megan Everett	(12 January 2009 - present) 1 child
My Skarsgård	(27 April 1975 - 1 May 2007) (divorced) 6 children

Trivia

His ex-wife is a doctor.

Been friends with Peter Stormare since 1976.

He has six children with his ex-wife My Skarsgård: Alexander Skarsgård (born 1976), Gustaf Skarsgård (born 1980), Sam Skarsgård (born 1982), Bill Skarsgård (born 1990), Eija Skarsgård (born 1992) and Valter Skarsgård (born 1995).

Signed the appeal Swedish Film Workers for Peace and Freedom in an Independent Palestine. [2001]

Claims people frequently mistake him for Liam Neeson.

Was considered for the part of Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List (1993).

Released the single "Bombi Bitt/Ler Mot Dej" in 1968, of which he is very ashamed today.

Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany's son Stellan was named after Skarsgard, who is a friend of Bettany's.

Invited to join AMPAS in 2005.

The Skarsgård family has a summer house in Öland, an island just off the coast of Kalmar, Sweden.

Frequently visits the city of Kalmar in the southeast of Sweden for summer vacation as he has family there.

Seventh child, a son named Ossian, was born on April 26, 2009.

Personal Quotes

In Hollywood you got work around you all the time. You can't get a taxi without that the driver hands you a script. Where I live [in Sweden] people still read books that can't be made into film.

It takes a long time to make me beautiful, but it goes fast to make me ugly.

There is no overacting, only untrue acting.

I'm not religious or anything, but to me it's great fun and it's nice to have a lot of kids. They take care of each other.

[on his first time on stage] I played a heap of snow in a school play. I was under a sheet, and crawled out when spring came. I often say I'll never reach the same artistic level again.

Where Are They Now

(July 2009) Kalmar and Öland, Sweden

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