ACTOR · BORN 1951
Stellan Skarsgård
- Born
- 13 June 1951, Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden
- Known for
- Good Will Hunting (1997), Chernobyl (2019), Breaking the Waves (1996), The Railway Man (2013)
15 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Stellan Skarsgård (born 13 June 1951) is an actor best known for Good Will Hunting, Chernobyl and Breaking the Waves.
Stellan Skarsgård over the years
15 Interesting Facts About Stellan Skarsgård
Interesting Facts (6)
- #001
A huge Tarzan fan as a boy, Skarsgård watched the Johnny Weissmuller films over and over. He was considered for Tarzan in the 1984 film 'Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes' but lost the part, and years later his son Alexander Skarsgård played the title role in 'The Legend of Tarzan' (2016), keeping the family's Tarzan connection alive.
- #002
Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany named their son Stellan in Skarsgård's honor; Bettany chose the name because the two are close friends.
- #003
Back in 1968, as a young actor, Skarsgård released a single, 'Bombi Bitt/Ler Mot Dej,' a musical venture he now finds embarrassing and prefers not to discuss.
- #004
Skarsgård has appeared in eight films directed by Lars von Trier, among the director's most frequent collaborators, including 'Breaking the Waves' (1996), 'Dancer in the Dark' (2000), 'Dogville' (2003), 'Melancholia' (2011) and the 'Nymphomaniac' films, a sign of his appetite for artistically daring projects.
- #005
Skarsgård orders 'two boilermakers' in two different films, 'Good Will Hunting' (1997) and 'Thor' (2011), both times in his distinctive Swedish accent, an amusing link in his filmography.
- #006
Skarsgård often spends his summer holidays in Kalmar, in southeastern Sweden, where his family lives, keeping him connected to his roots; Kalmar is also known as the gateway to the island of Öland.
Behind the Scenes (2)
- #007
Skarsgård was one of the names considered for the role of Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's masterpiece 'Schindler's List'. However, the role ultimately went to Liam Neeson. Although this development was seen as a major missed opportunity in Skarsgård's career, he continued to make a name for himself with his performances of that period.
- #008
Skarsgård says he is often confused with Liam Neeson. The two actors' similar physical features and deep voices cause this confusion. This situation has been both an interesting and at times amusing experience for Skarsgård.
Career & Awards (2)
- #009
Skarsgård speaks fluent Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, German and English, which has made it easy for him to work in productions from different countries, a big advantage in his international career, especially in Scandinavian and German films.
- #010
Skarsgård became a father for the third time at 31, when his first wife, My, gave birth to their son Samuel Kristoffer Ymer Skarsgård, known as Sam Skarsgård, on 5 June 1982, who also went on to act.
Life & Family (5)
- #011
Stellan Skarsgård, one of Sweden's best-known film actors, is also known as the father of five actor sons, Alexander, Gustaf, Bill, Valter and Sam Skarsgård, who have followed him into international careers, making the family one of the most influential dynasties in Scandinavian cinema and Hollywood.
- #012
Skarsgård has had eight children over five decades, from the 1970s to the 2010s, with his first wife, My Skarsgård, and his second wife, Megan Everett-Skarsgard.
- #013
In 2022, Skarsgård suffered a stroke that affected his speech and memory, forcing him to rethink how he works and find new ways of handling his lines, but he overcame the setback and kept working.
- #014
The Skarsgård family has a summer house on the island of Öland, off the Kalmar coast of Sweden, where they spend the summer months together; the island, known for its natural beauty, is a peaceful retreat for them.
- #015
Skarsgård is among the signatories of the statement by 'Swedish Film Workers for Peace and Freedom in an Independent Palestine,' reflecting the political engagement that sits alongside his work as an artist.
Related pages
- Ronin — Stellan Skarsgård comes up in the facts on that page
- It — Stellan Skarsgård comes up in the facts on that page
- The Avengers — Stellan Skarsgård comes up in the facts on that page
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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