Swedish Actors & Actresses 1930s, 1940s & 1950s (Nor & Den)
by pierregbg | created - 23 Sep 2020 | updated - 26 Oct 2020 | Public
1. Sickan Carlsson
Actress | Charlotte Löwensköld
Her first public performance was on radio at the age of 10, together with her friend Birgit Tengroth. She debuted in a revue held at her father's place of work when she was 15. This led to more work at the theatre, a screen test for Svensk Filmindustri and a small role in Kära släkten (...
2. Dagmar Ebbesen
Actress | Skicka hem Nr. 7
Dagmar Ebbesen was born on October 1, 1891 in Stockholm, Sweden. She was an actress, known for Send Home Number 7 (1937), A Lesson in Love (1954) and Summer with Monika (1953). She died on November 6, 1954.
3. Åke Söderblom
Actor | Flottans kavaljerer
Åke Söderblom was born on January 20, 1910 in Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden. He was an actor and writer, known for Flottans kavaljerer (1948), Två man om en änka (1933) and Boman får snurren (1949). He was married to Franzén Gunilla, Anna-Lisa Söderblom and Anne-Marie ...
4. Edvard Persson
Actor | Baldevins bröllop
Edvard Persson began his career with small parts at the Folkets Hus theater in Malmö. At the age of 18 he joined a traveling theater company, Opera Comique. Soon enough he was given the leading roles in operas and operettas. The company traveled around Sweden with plays such as Värmlänningarna or ...
5. Thor Modéen
Actor | Annonsera!
Thor Modéen is the great Swedish comedian of the 1930s and 1940s, both in the movies and at the theatre. His presence in a movie usually meant that it was rescued from disaster at the box-offices, even if he only appeared in a small role. He usually played cigar-smoking wholesalers, carefree ...
6. Wiktor Andersson
Actor | Harald Handfaste
Wiktor Andersson was born on June 19, 1887 in Kungsbacka, Hallands län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Harald Handfaste (1946), Sjätte skottet (1943) and En kvinna ombord (1941). He was married to Edith Viktorsson. He died on September 13, 1966 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
7. Elof Ahrle
Actor | Tre skojiga skojare
Elof Ahrle was born on January 21, 1900 in Nyköping, Södermanlands län, Sweden. He was an actor and director, known for Tre skojiga skojare (1942), Tre glada tokar (1942) and I gult och blått (1942). He was married to Birgit Rosengren and Naemi Briese. He died on June 3, 1965.
8. John Botvid
Actor | Fattiga riddare
John Botvid was born on September 12, 1889 in Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden. He was an actor and writer, known for Fattiga riddare (1944), En förtjusande fröken (1945) and Som folk är mest (1944). He was married to Gunborg Maria Johnson. He died on February 20, 1964.
9. Julia Cæsar
Actress | Bröderna Östermans huskors
Her career began with small parts at the theatre, and she considered her debut to have been made in 1905. Just like Edvard Persson she worked at the Apollo Theatre in Helsinki, Finland, during World War I. When she returned to Sweden she worked in Stockholm's popular park theatres, such as ...
10. Lars Ekborg
Actor | Sommaren med Monika
Lars Ekborg was born on June 6, 1926 in Uppsala, Uppsala län, Sweden. He was an actor and writer, known for Summer with Monika (1953), The Magician (1958) and Lille Fridolf och jag (1956). He was married to Lola Ekborg. He died on October 7, 1969 in Sweden.
11. Hasse Ekman
Writer | Sommarnöje sökes
Being the son of actor / theatre director Gösta Ekman, it was natural for him to start a career in the movie business. He was first noticed for playing against his father in Intermezzo (1936). He also showed a talent for writing, and his first script was filmed as Blixt och dunder (1938). Producer ...
12. John Elfström
Actor | En lektion i kärlek
John Elfström was born on April 20, 1902 in Ovansjö, Gävleborgs län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for A Lesson in Love (1954), Gengångare (1967) and The Yellow Squadron (1954). He was married to Inga-Lisa Britz and Ulla Björkman. He died on March 27, 1981 in Täby, Stockholms län, Sweden.
13. Annalisa Ericson
Actress | Greven från gränden
At the age of 5, she began ballet lessons at the Royal Opera in Stockholm and got small parts in the ballets that were performed. The parts became bigger and she wanted to try acting. She did apply to become a student at the Royal Dramatic Theatre but failed in the final test. Instead, she began at...
14. Åke Grönberg
Actor | Gycklarnas afton
Åke Grönberg was born on March 26, 1914 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was an actor and writer, known for Sawdust and Tinsel (1953), I Roslagens famn (1945) and Summer with Monika (1953). He was married to Sonja Margareta Lund and Rut Holm. He died on September 15, 1969.
15. Douglas Håge
Actor | Lille Fridolf och jag
Douglas Håge was born on March 6, 1898 in Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Lille Fridolf och jag (1956), Lille Fridolf blir morfar (1957) and Fridolfs farliga ålder (1959). He was married to Maja Håge. He died on November 18, 1959 in Gothenburg, Västra ...
16. Stig Järrel
Actor | Hets
Once one of Sweden's hardest working actors, he has descibed himself as a workaholic during the 1940s. He has played all kinds of roles, both comedy as in Fram för lilla Märta eller På livets ödesvägar: Ett biografdrama i prolog, epilog och ett antal tableauxer (1945) as ...
17. Sture Lagerwall
Actor | Djävulens öga
After a few years as an intern and actor at the Oscarsteatern in Stockholm 1931-1934 he was engaged by Gösta Ekman at Vasateatern and then, 1934-1936, at The Royal Dramatic Theatre. After 1936 he became a freelancer and worked on all the theatres in Stockholm, particularly so for Per-Axel Branner ...
18. Jan Molander
Director | Kvinna i leopard
Jan Molander was born on April 2, 1920 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden. He was an actor and director, known for Kvinna i leopard (1958), Lille Fridolf och jag (1956) and Gustaf Wasa (1960). He died on June 30, 2009 in Sweden.
19. Fridolf Rhudin
Actor | Muntra musikanter
Fridolf Rhudin was born on October 10, 1895 in Munkfors, Värmlands län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Muntra musikanter (1932), Kronans kavaljerer (1930) and Fridolf i lejonkulan (1933). He died on March 6, 1935 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
20. Gaby Stenberg
Actress | Rederiet
Gaby Stenberg was born on January 9, 1923 in Tokyo, Japan. She was an actress, known for Rederiet (1992), Löjtnantshjärtan (1942) and Hendes store aften (1954). She was married to Fredrik Koch. She died on September 20, 2011 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
21. Karin Swanström
Actress | Juninatten
Karin Swanström was born on June 13, 1873 in Norrköping, Östergötlands län, Sweden. She was an actress and production manager, known for June Night (1940), Kalle Utter (1925) and Flickan i frack (1926). She was married to Stellan Claësson. She died on July 5, 1942 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, ...
22. Håkan Westergren
Actor | Kvinnors väntan
Håkan Westergren was born on April 29, 1899 in Solna, Stockholms län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Secrets of Women (1952), Säg det i toner (1929) and Swedenhielms (1935). He was married to Inga Tidblad. He died on October 15, 1981 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
23. Olof Winnerstrand
Actor | Hets
Olof Winnerstrand was born on August 26, 1875 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Torment (1944), A Lesson in Love (1954) and Kastrullresan (1950). He was married to Frida Winnerstrand. He died on July 16, 1956 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
24. Ingrid Bergman
Actress | Casablanca
Ingrid Bergman was one of the greatest actresses from Hollywood's lamented Golden Era. Her natural and unpretentious beauty and her immense acting talent made her one of the most celebrated figures in the history of American cinema. Bergman is also one of the most Oscar-awarded actresses, tied with ...
25. Karl-Arne Holmsten
Actor | Den gula bilen
Karl-Arne Holmsten was born on August 14, 1911 in Uppsala, Uppsala län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Den gula bilen (1963), Damen i svart (1958) and Ljuvlig är sommarnatten (1961). He was married to Inga Gill and Saga Sjöberg. He died on February 22, 1995 in Lidingö, Stockholms län, ...
26. Signe Hasso
Actress | Heaven Can Wait
Young Signe Larsson was only 12 when she started to work as a child extra at The Royal Dramatic Theater and was the youngest ever enrolled for acting studies there at 16. She quickly got leading roles in movies and always received very good reviews. In 1940 she went to Hollywood and signed a ...
27. Tollie Zellman
Actress | Söderpojkar
Made her debut in 1907. As time passed she became on of Swedens most famous comediennes. Often got to play the role of retired actresses and prima donnas. From 1941-47 she appeared in several operettas at the Oscar Theater in Stockholm. Her biggest success on stage and radio was as Mrs Baxter in a ...
28. Gunnar Björnstrand
Actor | Persona
Being the son of an acting father, Oscar Johanson, it isn't surprising that he wanted to be an actor already as a child. However, he first worked as a baker's apprentice, in a barber shop or in the docks. After the conscription he got his first role, a bit part on the theater Lilla Teatern in ...
29. Emy Hagman
Actress | Bröderna Östermans huskors
Emy Hagman was born on June 9, 1906 in Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden. She was an actress, known for Bröderna Östermans huskors (1945), Pippi Långstrump (1949) and Stiliga Augusta (1946). She was married to Carl Hagman. She died on January 30, 1976 in Stockholm, Stockholms...
30. Sven Lindberg
Actor | Glädjekällan
His early life became a bit embarrasing - he started school in a girls' school, where his aunt was a teacher. He played theatre in high school but that didn't gave him any dreams of becoming an actor. He continued to the university of Stockholm and read litterature- and art history. He continued ...
31. Viveca Lindfors
Actress | Creepshow
Ms. Lindfors was a Swedish-born actress whose stage and screen career in the U.S. and Sweden spanned more than half a century. She was brought to Hollywood in 1946 by Warner Brothers in the hope that she would be a new Greta Garbo or Ingrid Bergman. She appeared with Ronald Reagan in her first ...
32. Mai Zetterling
Actress | The Witches
Mai Zetterling was born in Sweden in 1925, and lived briefly in Australia while still a child. She's known as a director and actor and trained on the Stockholm repertory stage, she began appearing in war-era films starting in her teens. Following her debut in Lasse Maja (1941), she made quite an ...
33. Alf Kjellin
Actor | Ice Station Zebra
Although trained for the stage in his native Sweden, Alf Kjellin appeared in only a few stage productions before entering films. His work in Torment (1944) resulted in his being noticed by Hollywood, and he made his American film debut in 1949 under the name Christopher Kent. He soon went back to ...
34. Allan Bohlin
Actor | Valfångare
Allan Bohlin was born on November 5, 1907 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Valfångare (1939), Prästen som slog knockout (1943) and Se opp för spioner! (1944). He was married to Ulla Sorbon. He died on January 23, 1959.
35. Naima Wifstrand
Actress | Smultronstället
Raised by a single mother, she grew up in a poor home at Fleminggatan in Stockholm. She was working extra in a small shop for sewing materials and the owner encouraged her acting dreams. In 1905 she was accepted to accompany the Anna Lundberg travelling theatre company around Sweden. This led to ...
36. Marianne Löfgren
Actress | Juninatten
Marianne Löfgren was born on February 24, 1910 in Stockholm, Sweden. She was an actress, known for June Night (1940), Only One Night (1939) and En förtjusande fröken (1945). She was married to Bergvall, Tycho. She died on September 4, 1957 in Solna, Stockholms län, Sweden.
37. Povel Ramel
Soundtrack | En man som heter Ove
Ramel grew up in the posh neighbourhood Östermalm in Stockholm. His father was a lawyer and his mother a homemaker. When they died in a traffic accident in 1938 he stayed with an aunt who saw his potential and he debuted in the Aftonbladet young talent show "Vi som vill opp" in 1939. He made his ...
38. Marguerite Viby
Actress | Peggy på vift
Marguerite Viby was born on June 25, 1909 in Viby Jylland, Denmark. She was an actress, known for Peggy på vift (1946), Milly, Maria och jag (1938) and I dag gifter sig min man (1943). She was married to Erik Henry Tangfelt, Preben Mahrt, Knud Wold, Emanuel Gregers and Poul Christian Guldager...
39. Tutta Rolf
Actress | Sara lär sig folkvett
Tutta Rolf was born on October 7, 1907 in Kristiania, Norway [now Oslo, Norway]. She was an actress, known for Sara Learns Manners (1937), Swedenhielms (1935) and En stilla flirt (1934). She was married to Hasse Ekman, Jack Donohue and Ernst Rolf. She died on October 26, 1994 in Los Angeles, ...
40. Nils Poppe
Actor | Det sjunde inseglet
While studying, he became interested in acting and was discovered when performing in a school play.
His talent for comedic acting made him known for the public when he debuted with Pengar - en tragikomisk saga (1947), which he directed himself. He is today best remembered for his character Fabian ...
41. Inga Landgré
Actress | The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Inga Landgré was born on August 6, 1927 in Stockholm, Sweden. She was an actress, known for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), The Seventh Seal (1957) and Crisis (1946). She was married to Roger Björnstjerna and Nils Poppe. She died on July 31, 2023 in Norberg, Västmanlands län, Sweden.
42. Anita Björk
Actress | Fröken Julie
Anita Björk is able to use simple means to give depth and character to a role. She has a way of expressing any emotion just by raising an eyebrow or twitching her lips. This was something she used to a large extent in her best movie, Alf Sjöberg's Miss Julie (1951) where she played the young lady ...
43. Jarl Kulle
Actor | Fanny och Alexander
Hadn't it been for his school teacher, who managed to get him money for a theater education, he would probably never had become an actor. After two failed attempts at becoming a student at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school he succeeded at the age of 19. During these years in the beginning ...
44. Eva Dahlbeck
Actress | Sommarnattens leende
Eva Dahlbeck was born on March 8, 1920 in Saltsjö-Duvnäs, Stockholms län, Sweden. She was an actress and writer, known for Smiles of a Summer Night (1955), Brink of Life (1958) and A Lesson in Love (1954). She was married to Sven Lampell. She died on February 8, 2008 in Hässelby, Stockholm, ...
45. Sigge Fürst
Actor | Mästerdetektiven Blomkvist
As a youth, Sigge Fürst wanted to be a police officer. By coincidence, he got into acting, and so began a long and successful career. He had many talents: he could play revue as well as drama, act as well as sing. He started off as a revue actor, and then moved on to play musicals, theatre, and ...
46. Rut Holm
Actress | Hanna i societén
Rut Holm was born on November 1, 1900 in Avesta, Dalarnas län, Sweden. She was an actress, known for Hanna in Society (1940), När Bengt och Anders bytte hustrur (1950) and Trav, hopp och kärlek (1945). She died on July 4, 1971.
47. Mim Persson
Actress | Jens Månsson i Amerika
Mim Persson was born on November 8, 1902 in Lund, Skåne län, Sweden. She was an actress, known for Jens Mansson in America (1947), Life in the Country (1943) and Turn of the Century (1944). She was married to Edvard Persson. She died on November 16, 1982 in Helsingborg, Skåne län, Sweden.
48. Max Hansen
Soundtrack | It Chapter Two
Max Hansen was born in Mannheim, Germany, but was raised by his step parents in Munich. His mother was a Danish Actress, Eva Haller, his father's name was von Waldheim. In his school days, he already sang at the Opera House, so he earned the nickname "The Little Caruso" ("Der kleine Caruso"). Later...
49. Hjördis Petterson
Actress | Lille Fridolf och jag
When Hjördis Petterson was twelve years old, the local movie theatre in Visby needed somebody who could play the piano, so they gave her the opportunity. She also played the piano for the local amateur theatre, Visby Amatörsällskap, and eventually she got her first part. She became interested and ...
50. Inga Tidblad
Actress | Pistolen
Inga Tidblad was born on May 29, 1901 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden. She was an actress, known for Pistolen (1973), Intermezzo (1936) and There Burns a Fire (1943). She was married to Håkan Westergren and Ragnar Billberg. She died on September 12, 1975 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
51. Eva Henning
Actress | Elvira Madigan
Eva was born in New York, USA, with a Norwegian father and a Swedish mother, Ragni. They divorced when Eva was 6 years old and Ragni remarried the actor Uno Henning.
Eva was accepted to the Royal Dramatic Theater's acting school in 1938. She had some minor roles both on the stage and in a few movies...
52. Birgit Tengroth
Actress | Flicka och hyacinter
She debuted in Sven Jerring's radio show 'Barnens Brevlaada' together with her friend Sickan Carlsson at the age of 10. She studied at Royal Opera's ballet school 1926-31. Her first work for the movies was a small part in Mordbrännerskan (1926). She got a contract with Svensk Filmindustri (SF)...
53. Holger Löwenadler
Actor | Lacombe Lucien
Holger Löwenadler was born on April 1, 1904 in Jönköping, Jönköpings län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Lacombe, Lucien (1974), A Ship to India (1947) and The Heavenly Play (1942). He died on June 18, 1977 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
54. Sif Ruud
Actress | Smultronstället
Sif Ruud was born in an well-off family, but when her stepfather had spent all of her mother's money, conditions for the family became more modest. A friend of her mother's was told about young Sif's interest in acting and gave her acting lessons. In 1934 she began her studies at the Royal Dramatic...
55. George Fant
Actor | Körkarlen
George Fant was born on July 11, 1916 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Körkarlen (1958), Life in the Country (1943) and Harald Handfaste (1946). He was married to Maj Fant. He died on February 21, 1998 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
56. Inga Gill
Actress | Det sjunde inseglet
Inga Gill was born on May 2, 1925 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden. She was an actress, known for The Seventh Seal (1957), Cries & Whispers (1972) and Lille Fridolf och jag (1956). She was married to Karl-Arne Holmsten. She died on October 18, 2000 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
57. Meg Westergren
Actress | Lille Fridolf blir morfar
Meg Westergren was born on May 16, 1932 in Stockholm, Sweden. She is an actress, known for Lille Fridolf blir morfar (1957), Rederiet (1992) and The Yellow Squadron (1954). She is married to Magnus Nyström. She was previously married to Tore Wretman.
58. Bibi Andersson
Actress | Persona
Her artistic dreams came early in life and were further supported by her older sister Gerd Andersson who became a ballet dancer at the Royal Opera and made her acting debut in 1951. Bibi, on the other side, had to make do with bit parts and commercials. She debuted in Dum-Bom (1953), playing ...
59. Harriet Andersson
Actress | Viskningar och rop
Discovered at age 20 by celebrated director Ingmar Bergman, she became part of Bergman's regular stable of performers; in fact, he wrote Summer with Monika (1953) especially for her breakthrough. Extraordinary and versatile as an actress, her roles have ranged from the naive young wife in Sawdust ...
60. Gösta Cederlund
Director | Uppåt igen
One of Sweden's most popular and appreciated male character actors in Swedish films in the 1930s-50s, highly appreciated for his naturalness as an actor (rare of his 1880s theatre generation) that he always presented on screen and his warm comedy play. With his 130-plus film roles in his life he's ...
61. Elsa Carlsson
Actress | Onkel Vanja
Elsa Carlsson was born on February 13, 1892 in Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden. She was an actress, known for Onkel Vanja (1967), Åh, en så'n grabb (1939) and Modärna fruar (1932). She died on October 13, 1978 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
62. Gudrun Brost
Actress | Jungfrukällan
Gudrun Brost was born on April 6, 1910 in Malmö, Skåne län, Sweden. She was an actress, known for The Virgin Spring (1960), Hour of the Wolf (1968) and June Night (1940). She was married to Sven Forssell. She died on June 28, 1993 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
63. Gunwer Bergkvist
Actress | Ratataa eller The Staffan Stolle Story
Gunwer Bergkvist was born on August 3, 1932 in Malmö, Skåne län, Sweden. She is an actress, known for Ratataa eller The Staffan Stolle Story (1956), This Can't Happen Here (1950) and Säg det med blommor (1952).
64. Gunn Wållgren
Actress | Fanny och Alexander
Constantly considered to be one of the greatest actresses in modern Swedish theater history, Gunn Wållgren is mostly known for her many roles in plays by Ibsen, Strindberg and Chekhov, and internationally; for her wonderful part as the grandmother in director Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander (...
65. Georg Rydeberg
Actor | Harald Handfaste
His father was a sea captain, but he refused to allow his son to became a sailor like him. But that could not scare the 14-year old Rydeberg, and at the age of 14, he was steward on a boat to Hull, UK, and the next year he was a sailor on a ship to Lagos, Africa. He got a job as an office clerk, ...
66. Viveca Serlachius
Actress | Pippi Långstrump
Viveca Serlachius was born on March 2, 1923 in Helsinki, Finland. She was an actress, known for Pippi Långstrump (1949), Foreign Intrigue (1951) and Skolka skolan (1949). She died on January 9, 1993.
67. Greta Garbo
Actress | Ninotchka
Greta Garbo was born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson on September 18, 1905, in Stockholm, Sweden, to Anna Lovisa (Johansdotter), who worked at a jam factory, and Karl Alfred Gustafsson, a laborer. She was fourteen when her father died, which left the family destitute. Greta was forced to leave school and ...
68. Mimi Pollak
Actress | Höstsonaten
Mimi Pollak was born on April 9, 1903 in Karlstad, Värmlands län, Sweden. She was an actress and director, known for Autumn Sonata (1978), Malin går hem (1953) and Amatörfilmen (1922). She was married to Nils Lundell. She died on August 11, 1999 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.
69. Isa Quensel
Actress | Körkarlen
Swedish actress and opera singer Isa Quensel was born in Gothenburg on the 21st of September 1905, as daughter of Robert Ferdinand Schulz and the British born Anna 'Annie' Mathilda Philip. Young Anna Lisa (Isa) attended the New Elementary School for girls in Gothenburg 1913-24 and already in early ...
70. Birgitta Andersson
Actress | Jönssonligans största kupp
Birgitta Andersson was born on April 20, 1933 in Mariestad, Västra Götalands län, Sweden. She is an actress and writer, known for The Jonsson Gang's Greatest Robbery (1995), Madicken (1979) and The Return of the Jonsson League (1986).
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