Ove Sprogøe
Known For: Acting
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: December 21, 1919
Day of Death: September 14, 2004 (85 years old)
Place of Birth: Odense, Danmark
Ove Wendelboe Sprogøe Petersen (21 December 1919 – 14 September 2004) was a Danish actor. Born in Odense, his parents were Arthur and Inger Sprogøe. He married Eva Rasmussen in 1945, with whom he had three children. One of these is actor Henning Sprogøe. He made his debut in the film Hans Store Aften (His Big Night). His characteristic prominent chin that had been feared an obstacle of his career did not prevent him from being one of the most versatile and used Danish actors. His strength laid in the almost diabolic, michievous and brash but he effortlessly played meek and shy types as well as elegantiers. Among his many roles on stage in classic plays might be mentioned Mephisto in Faust, the title figure of Strindberg’s The Father and some Molière and Bertolt Brecht characters. An extremely popular actor in Denmark, he played many diverse roles, including several recurring television parts. He appeared in 157 films, making him one of the hardest-working actors in the history of Danish film. In his early years he often was the part of a duo working together with his friend and colleague Dirch Passer. He is probably best known for playing one of the lead roles in the Olsen Gang movies, along with Morten Grunwald and Poul Bundgaard, playing the gang leader Egon Olsen, known for his short temper, striped suit, and cigar. By this role he earned an international fame though mostly in Eastern Europe, in the GDR he together with his colleagues became almost a cult figure. Among his TV roles must be mentioned his elegant and humorous ex-burglar Larsen in the series Huset på Christianshavn (“The House at Christianshavn” - the first Danish sitcom) and his role as the wise and courageous doctor Louis Hansen in the epic, historical drama-series Matador, both also shown outside Denmark. He was an able singer especially in shows or revues and his interpretation of Tim Spencer’s Cigarettes, whiskey and wild wild women (in Danish re-creation: Fandens Oldemor – “The Devil’s Great-Grandmother”) almost became his signature tune. He was an actor who combined great public sympathy with the ability to remain a private person with a modest lifestyle. After his death it was revealed that he had been a passionate art enthusiast and had amassed a valuable collection of modern paintings. Shortly after his death in 2004, Nordisk Film (the company that made the Olsen Gang movies) established a scholarship for actors in his name. The state-owned road to Vridsløselille Statsfængsel (the prison where his Egon Olsen character was a frequent "guest"), was renamed by the city of Albertslund to Egon Olsens Vej (Egon Olsen Road). On 24 October 2005, his native city of Odense named a square Ove Sprogøes Plads (Ove Sprogøe Square) in his honour. And the bar 'Cafe Halvvejen', named a shot in his honor. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ove Sprogøe, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Actor Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang
Actor Gunnar
Days in My Father's House
Actor Kristian
The Veterinarian's Adopted Children
Actor Politiassistent Møller
Magic in Town
Actor
What a Pity About Daddy
Actor Johansen
Det var en lørdag aften
Actor
Farvel Thomas
Actor Oberst ved konkurrerende regiment
Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run
1967
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1963
Actor Ferdinand Piper, teaterdirektør
Frøken Nitouche
Actor Tom, "Kulsoen"s mand
Dronningens vagtmester
Actor Thorbjørn Hansen
Dust for all the Money
Actor Vik
Bussen
Actor
A Day Without Lies
Actor Lægeforsker Vagn Jochumsen
April
Actor Opfinderen
Vi har det jo dejligt
Actor Direktør William H. Schmidt
Peters landlov
Actor Madsen
The Girl and the Press Photographer
1962
Actor Barry O'Sullivan
Journey to the Seventh Planet
Actor Peter Jensen - Kanustis ven
Sømænd og svigermødre
Actor Thorbjørn Hansen
Still Dust on the Brain
Actor Havemand Texas
Lykkens musikanter
Actor Læge S. Gregersen
Det stod i avisen
Actor Simon
Crazy Paradise
Actor Direktør Bernhard Bang
Oskar
Actor Johan
Drømmen om det hvide slot
