Stellan Skarsgård (/ˈstɛlən ˈskɑːrsɡɑːrd/, Swedish: [ˈstɛ̂lːan ˈskɑ̌ːʂɡoːɖ] (listen); born 13 June 1951) is a Swedish actor. He is known for his collaborations with director Lars von Trier appearing in Breaking the Waves (1996), Dancer in the Dark (2000), Dogville (2007), Melancholia (2011), and Nymphomaniac (2014). Skarsgård's early English-speaking film roles include The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Good Will Hunting (1997), Ronin (1998), and King Arthur (2004).
Stellan Skarsgård | |
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![]() Skarsgård at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival | |
Born | Stellan John Skarsgård (1951-06-13) 13 June 1951 (age 71) Gothenburg, Sweden |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1968–present |
Spouses |
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Children | 8, including Alexander, Gustaf, Bill and Valter |
Skarsgård has since starred in various blockbusters such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007). He also starred in Mamma Mia! (2008), Angels and Demons (2009), David Fincher's thriller The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011) and Dune (2021).[1] Since 2011 he has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portraying Dr. Erik Selvig in Thor (2011), The Avengers (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).
He is also known for his work in television portraying as Boris Shcherbina in the HBO miniseries Chernobyl (2019) for which he received the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film and a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. He stars in the Star Wars prequel series Andor (2022) on Disney+.
Skarsgård was born in Gothenburg, the son of Gudrun (née Larsson; born 1930) and Jan Skarsgård (1920–1998).[2][3] He moved often in his childhood and lived, amongst other places, in Helsingborg, Totebo, Kalmar, Marielund, and Uppsala.[4]
Skarsgård started his acting career early; and, by the age of 21, his experience in film, TV and stage was considerable.[5] Most of his early roles were in Swedish television (such as Bombi Bitt) and films. Of Skarsgård's work in Swedish film, he is perhaps best known for Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg, where he portrays Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who worked to save Holocaust victims.[6]
Skarsgård is particularly associated with director Lars von Trier and has appeared in six of the Danish auteur's features: The Kingdom, Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Dogville, Melancholia, and Nymphomaniac. His most personal working relationship, however, is with Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland, who has directed the actor in Zero Kelvin, Aberdeen, In Order of Disappearance, and A Somewhat Gentle Man. Skarsgård considers Moland a close friend and, in 2009, he said of their relationship: "We're like an old married couple and I get separation anxiety."[7] Another Scandinavian work that he is known for is the 1997 Norwegian film Insomnia, in which he plays the guilt-ridden policeman Jonas Engström.[8]
Skarsgård's first American film was the 1985 film Noon Wine, directed by Michael Fields, in which Skarsgård played a mentally disturbed immigrant farmhand being chased by a bounty hunter. He acted opposite Fred Ward, who portrayed the farmer.[6] In 1990, he starred in another American film, The Hunt for Red October, playing the character of Captain Tupolev, a Soviet submarine commander.
He was considered for the role of Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List. Skarsgård has said that people often mistook him for Liam Neeson, who portrayed Schindler in the film, and Skarsgård later replaced Neeson in the 2004 film Exorcist: The Beginning. He appeared as a guest star on Entourage as Verner Vollstedt, the German director of the fictional film Smokejumpers, who is hostile to the main character Vincent Chase.[9] Skarsgård appeared as Bootstrap Bill Turner in both Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. In 2008, he starred as Bill Anderson in Universal Pictures' Mamma Mia! and reprised the role 10 years later in its sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Skarsgård played Dr. Erik Selvig in the 2011 film Thor, and later reprised the role in Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022),[10] as well as The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Skarsgård reteamed with Thor director Kenneth Branagh for the 2015 live-action adaptation of Disney's Cinderella, in which he played The Grand Duke.[11] In 2021, he played Vladimir Harkonnen in Denis Villeneuve's Dune.[12]
Skarsgård has appeared in music videos alongside fellow Swedes. He was in Eva Dahlgren's "Vem tänder stjärnorna" (Who Lights the Stars) in 1991[13] and Lykke Li's 2011 music video, "Sadness Is a Blessing".[14]
He married My Skarsgård (born 1956),[15] a physician, in April 1975; together they have six children: Alexander (born 1976); Gustaf (born 1980); Sam (born 1982); Bill (born 1990); Eija (born 1992); and Valter (born 1995). Alexander, Gustaf, Bill, and Valter are also actors, while Eija is a former model.[16] Skarsgård and My divorced in May 2007. Stellan married Megan Everett in January 2009.[17] The couple have two sons.[18][19] Skarsgård has had a vasectomy, stating that he felt eight children was enough.[20][21][22]
Skarsgård was brought up by humanist, atheist[23] parents, and had an atheist grandfather and a deeply religious grandmother. According to Skarsgård, this never led to any problems because of the family's mutual respect for each other's opinions.[24] After the 11 September attacks, Skarsgård set out to read the Bible and the Quran, both of which he condemns as violent.[24] Skarsgård is also a critic of religious independent schools in the Swedish educational system.[24] He has said he considers the notion of God absurd and that if a real God were actually so vain as to constantly demand worship, then he would not be worthy of it.[24]
In 2009, Skarsgård, along with other non-religious artists, authors, and entrepreneurs including Christer Sturmark, Björn Ulvaeus, and Christer Fuglesang, wrote an article in Dagens Nyheter stressing the importance of secularity.[25] The group also criticised the UN for its stance on blasphemy laws.[25]
Year | Film | Role | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | Strandhugg i somras | Erik | ||
Firmafesten | Peter | |||
1973 | Åttonde budet | Short | ||
Fem døgn i August | Christer | |||
Bröllopet | Roffe Eriksson | |||
Anita: Swedish Nymphet | Erik | Torgny Wickman | ||
1974 | Swedish Sex Games | Peter Delaney, their son | aka The Intruders and Let Us Play Sex | |
1977 | Taboo | Jan-Erik | ||
Hemåt i natten | Kurt Sjöberg | |||
1981 | Kyssen | Short | ||
1982 | The Simple-Minded Murderer | Sven | Hans Alfredson | |
1983 | P & B | Karl-Johan 'Charlie' Pettersson | ||
1984 | Åke och hans värld | Ebenholtz | Allan Edwall | |
1985 | Falsk som vatten | Stig | Hans Alfredson | |
Noon Wine | Olaf Helton | Michael Fields | ||
Peter-No-Tail in Americat | Pelle Swanson (voice) | Stig Lasseby Jan Gissberg |
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1986 | Ormens väg på hälleberget | Karl Orsa Markström | Bo Widerberg | |
1987 | Jim & Piraterna Blom | Gustav, Jim's Father | Hans Alfredson | Also writer |
Hip hip hurra! | Peder Severin Krøyer | Kjell Grede | ||
1988 | The Unbearable Lightness of Being | The Engineer | Philip Kaufman | |
Vargens tid | Peder Ulfstand | Hans Alfredson | ||
Friends | Matt | Kjell-Åke Andersson | ||
The Perfect Murder | Axel Svensson | Zafar Hai | ||
1989 | S/Y Glädjen | Klas Larsson | Göran du Rées | |
Täcknamn Coq Rouge | Carl Hamilton | Per Berglund | ||
Kvinnorna på taket | Willy | Carl-Gustav Nykvist | ||
1990 | The Hunt for Red October | Captain Viktor Tupolev | John McTiernan | |
Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg | Raoul Wallenberg | Kjell Grede | ||
1991 | The Ox | Helge Roos | Sven Nykvist | |
1992 | Den demokratiske terroristen | Carl Hamilton | Per Berglund | |
Wind | Joe Heiser | Carroll Ballard | ||
1993 | The Slingshot | Fritiof Schütt | Åke Sandgren | |
Sista dansen | Host in Norrköping | Colin Nutley | ||
1995 | Jönssonligans största kupp | Herman Melvin | Hans Åke Gabrielsson | |
Zero Kelvin | Randbæk | Hans Petter Moland | ||
The Dogs of Riga | Magnus Björk | Per Berglund | ||
1996 | Harry och Sonja | Harry Olsson | Björn Runge | |
Breaking the Waves | Jan Nyman | Lars von Trier | ||
1997 | Insomnia | Jonas Engström | Erik Skjoldbjærg | |
My Son the Fanatic | Schitz | Udayan Prasad | ||
Good Will Hunting | Prof. Gerald Lambeau | Gus Van Sant | ||
Amistad | Tappan | Steven Spielberg | ||
1998 | Glasblåsarns barn | Albert | Anders Grönros | |
Savior | Peter Dominic | Predrag Antonijević | ||
Ronin | Gregor | John Frankenheimer | ||
1999 | Deep Blue Sea | Jim Whitlock | Renny Harlin | |
2000 | Harlan County War | Warren Jakopovich | Tony Bill | |
Passion of Mind | William Granther | Alain Berliner | ||
Signs and Wonders | Alec | Jonathan Nossiter | ||
Timecode | Alex Green | Mike Figgis | ||
Dancer in the Dark | Doctor | Lars von Trier | ||
Aberdeen | Tomas | Hans Petter Moland | Also associate producer | |
2001 | Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) | Felix | Stewart Sugg | |
Powder Keg | Harvey Jacobs | Alejandro González Iñárritu | Segment from the BMW short film series The Hire | |
Taking Sides | Dr. Wilhelm Furtwängler | István Szabó | ||
The Glass House | Terrence 'Terry' Glass | Daniel Sackheim | ||
2002 | No Good Deed | Tyrone | Bob Rafelson | |
City of Ghosts | Joseph Kaspar | Matt Dillon | ||
2003 | To Kill a Child | Narrator | Alexander Skarsgård | Short |
Dogville | Chuck | Lars von Trier | ||
2004 | Eiffeltornet | Jakob | Niklas Rådström | Short |
King Arthur | Cerdic | Antoine Fuqua | ||
Exorcist: The Beginning | Father Lankester Merrin | Renny Harlin | ||
2005 | Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist | Paul Schrader | ||
Torte Bluma | Stangl | Benjamin Ross | Short | |
Beowulf & Grendel | Hrothgar | Sturla Gunnarsson | ||
Guilty Hearts | Stangl | George Gargurevich Krystoff Pizykucki Paul Black Phil Dornfield Ravi Kumar Savina Dellicour Benjamin Ross |
Segment: "Torte Bluma" | |
2006 | Kill Your Darlings | Erik's Father | Björne Larson | |
Goya's Ghosts | Francisco Goya | Miloš Forman | ||
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest | Bootstrap Bill Turner | Gore Verbinski | ||
2007 | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | |||
The Killing Gene | Eddie Argo | Tom Shankland | ||
Arn – The Knight Templar | Birger Brosa | Peter Flinth | ||
2008 | Arn – The Kingdom at Road's End | |||
Mamma Mia! | Bill Anderson | Phyllida Lloyd | ||
God on Trial | Baumgarten | Andy De Emmony | ||
2009 | Angels & Demons | Commander Maximilian Richter | Ron Howard | |
Boogie Woogie | Bob Maccelstone | Duncan Ward | ||
Metropia | Ralph Parker | Tarik Saleh | Voice | |
2010 | A Somewhat Gentle Man | Ulrik | Hans Petter Moland | |
Frankie and Alice | Dr. Oz | Geoffrey Sax | ||
Moomins and the Comet Chase | Moominpapa / Hemulens | Maria Lindberg | Voices | |
Submission | Narrator | Stefan Jarl | English version Documentary | |
As If I Am Not There | Doctor | Juanita Wilson | ||
King of Devil's Island | Bestyreren | Marius Holst | Also executive producer | |
2011 | Melancholia | Jack | Lars von Trier | |
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | Martin Vanger | David Fincher | ||
Thor | Erik Selvig | Kenneth Branagh | ||
2012 | The Avengers | Joss Whedon | ||
2013 | Thor: The Dark World | Alan Taylor | ||
Romeo and Juliet | Prince of Verona | Carlo Carlei | ||
The Railway Man | Finlay | Jonathan Teplitzky | ||
Nymphomaniac | Seligman | Lars von Trier | ||
The Physician | Barber | Philipp Stölzl | ||
2014 | In Order of Disappearance | Nils | Hans Petter Moland | Also executive producer and stunt driver |
Hector and the Search for Happiness | Edward | Peter Chelsom | ||
2015 | Cinderella | The Grand Duke | Kenneth Branagh | |
Avengers: Age of Ultron | Erik Selvig | Joss Whedon | ||
2016 | Our Kind of Traitor | Dima | Susanna White | |
2017 | Return to Montauk | Max Frisch | Volker Schlöndorff | |
Borg McEnroe | Lennart Bergelin | Janus Metz Pedersen | ||
Moomins and the Winter Wonderland | Moominpappa | Ira Carpelan Jakub Wronski |
English dub | |
Gordon & Paddy | Gordon | Linda Hambäck | Voice | |
2018 | The Man Who Killed Don Quixote | The Boss | Terry Gilliam | |
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again | Bill Anderson / Kurt | Ol Parker | ||
2019 | Out Stealing Horses | Trond | Hans Petter Moland | |
The Painted Bird | Hans | Václav Marhoul | ||
Music, War and Love | Benno Moser | Martha Coolidge | Titled changed to I'll Find You | |
Hope | Tomas | Maria Sødahl | ||
2021 | Apstjärnan | Tord | Linda Hambäck | |
Dune | Baron Vladimir Harkonnen | Denis Villeneuve | ||
2022 | Thor: Love and Thunder | Erik Selvig | Taika Waititi | Cameo |
2023 | Dune: Part Two[26] | Baron Vladimir Harkonnen | Denis Villeneuve | Filming |
Year | Series | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1968 | Bombi Bitt och jag | Bombi Bitt | 5 episodes |
1972 | Magnetisören | Soldier | Television film |
1981 | Skärp dig, älskling | Georg | Episode: "Tack för igår" |
1981 | Babels hus | Dr. Mattsson | Episode: "Del 4" |
1981 | Olsson per sekund eller Det finns ingen anledning till oro | The tardy one | Television film |
1983 | Farmor och vår herre | Nathan | 2 episodes |
1983 | Hustruskolan | Horace | Television film |
1985 | Den tragiska historien om Hamlet – Prins av Danmark | Hamlet | Television film |
1985 | August Strindberg: Ett liv | Verner von Heidenstam | 2 episodes |
1989 | The Wild Duck | Gregers Werle | 3 episodes |
1989 | Förhöret | Carl Hamilton | Television film |
1990 | S*M*A*S*H | Statssekreteraren | Episode: "Wow, håll käften!" |
1990 | Parker Kane | Nathan Van Adams | Television film |
1994 | Rapport till himlen | Gary | 4 episodes |
1997 | The Kingdom II | Stig Helmers advokat | Episode: "Gargantua" |
2000 | Harlan County War | Warren Jakopovich | Television film |
2001 | D-dag – Den færdige film | Lise's Mand | Television film |
2003 | Helen of Troy | Theseus | Television film |
2008 | Masterpiece Contemporary | Baumgarten | Episode: "God on Trial" |
2008 | Entourage | Verner Vollstedt | 3 episodes |
2010 | Arn | Birger Brosa | 6 episodes |
2012 | Rouge Brésil | Villegagnon | 4 episodes |
2012 | Playhouse Presents | The Man | Episode: "The Man" |
2014 | Quarry | The Broker | Unaired pilot |
2015 | River | John River | 6 episodes |
2019 | Chernobyl | Boris Shcherbina | 5 episodes |
2020 | The Simpsons | Himself (voice) | Episode: "Podcast News" |
2022–present | Andor | Luthen Rael | Main role |
Award | Year | Category | Film | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Berlin International Film Festival | 1982 | Best Actor | The Simple-Minded Murderer | Won | [27] |
Bodil Awards | 2014 | Bodil Award for Best Actor | Nymphomaniac | Nominated | |
British Academy Television Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor | Chernobyl | Nominated | [28] |
Denmark's National Association of Film Critics | 2004 | Best Supporting Actor | Dogville | Nominated | [29] |
Critics' Choice Television Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie | Chernobyl | Won | [30] |
European Film Academy | 1998 | European Film Award for Achievement in World Cinema | Amistad Good Will Hunting |
Won | [31] |
2000 | Best Actor | Aberdeen | Nominated | [32] | |
2001 | Taking Sides | Nominated | [33] | ||
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | 2006 | Best Actor | Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist | Nominated | [34] |
Golden Globe Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor – Series, Limited Series or Television Film | Chernobyl | Won | [35] |
Guldbagge Awards | 1981/1982 | Best Actor | The Simple-Minded Murderer | Won | [36] |
1989 | Täcknamn Coq Rouge The Women on the Roof |
Won | [36] | ||
2017 | Best Supporting Actor | Borg McEnroe | Won | [37] [38] [36] | |
International Press Academy | 2008 | Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | God on Trial | Nominated | [39] |
Jameson Dublin International Film Festival | 2012 | Career Achievement Award | – | Won | [40] |
Mar del Plata Film Festival | 2002 | Best Actor | Taking Sides | Won | [41] |
Norwegian International Film Festival | 2010 | Best Actor | A Somewhat Gentle Man | Won | [42] |
People's Choice Awards | 2009 | Favorite Cast | Mamma Mia! | Nominated | [43] |
Primetime Emmy Awards | 2019 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Chernobyl | Nominated | [44] |
Robert Award | 2004 | Best Supporting Actor | Dogville | Nominated | [45] |
Satellite Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Film | Chernobyl | Nominated | [46] |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | 1998 | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Good Will Hunting | Nominated | [47] |
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National libraries | |
Biographical dictionaries | |
Other |
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