# Stellan Skarsgård

Stellan John Skarsgård (/ˈstɛlən ˈskɑːrsɡɑːrd/, Swedish: ; 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 (2003), Melancholia (2011), and Nymphomaniac (2013). Skarsgård's 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).
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). He played Dr. Erik Selvig in five Marvel Cinematic Universe films, starting with Thor (2011), and portrayed Baron Harkonnen in Denis Villeneuve's two-part Dune adaptation, Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024).
He is also known for his work in television portraying 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, and Luthen Rael in the Star Wars dystopian thriller series Andor (2022–2025).

## Early life

Skarsgård was born in Gothenburg, the son of Gudrun (née Larsson; born 1930) and Jan Skarsgård (1920–1998). He moved often in his childhood and lived, amongst other places, in Helsingborg, Totebo, Kalmar, Marielund, and Uppsala.

## Acting career

Skarsgård started his acting career early; and, by the age of 21, his experience in film, TV and stage was considerable. Most of his early roles were in Swedish television (such as Bombi Bitt) and films. Of Skarsgård's work in Swedish film, he is known for Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg, where he portrays Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who worked to save Holocaust victims.
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." Another Scandinavian work that he is known for is the 1997 Norwegian film Insomnia, in which he plays the guilt-ridden policeman Jonas Engström.
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. In 1990, he starred in another American film, The Hunt for Red October, playing the character of Captain Tupolev, a Soviet submarine commander.
Primarily a character actor, he played one of Demi Moore's two love interests in Passion of Mind (2000), directed by Alain Berliner. Skarsgård 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. 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), 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. In 2021, he played Vladimir Harkonnen in Denis Villeneuve's Dune. Skarsgård also co-starred alongside his son Gustaf Skarsgård in the Swedish psychological thriller What Remains (2022).
Skarsgård has appeared in music videos alongside fellow Swedes. He was in Eva Dahlgren's "Vem tänder stjärnorna" (Who Lights the Stars) in 1991 and Lykke Li's 2011 music video, "Sadness Is a Blessing".

## Personal life

In April 1975, Skarsgård married Swedish doctor, My (born 1956). Before divorcing My in 2007, they had six children together: 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 was a model for a few years. Skarsgård married Irish screenwriter and producer Megan Everett in January 2009. They have two sons together. In 2016, Skarsgård revealed that he had a vasectomy because he felt that eight children was enough. Seven of his children are active in film and television; the eighth is a doctor.

## Religious beliefs

Skarsgård was brought up by humanist, atheist 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. After the September 11 attacks, Skarsgård set out to read the Bible and the Quran, both of which he condemns as violent. Skarsgård is also a critic of religious independent schools in the Swedish educational system. He has said he considers the question of God's existence to be "absurd and completely uninteresting" since if a benevolent God were to exist he would judge only a person's deeds and not care for worship, but if God were actually so vain as to constantly demand worship, then he would not be worthy of it.
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. The group also criticised the UN for its stance on blasphemy laws.

## Political views

Skarsgård has voiced support for Swedish tax policies, and for a high income tax rate for high earners.
Skarsgård is avowedly anti-nationalist.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1972 | Strandhugg i somras | Erik | |
| 1972 | Firmafesten | Peter | |
| 1973 | Åttonde budet | | Short |
| 1973 | Fem døgn i August | Christer | |
| 1973 | Bröllopet | Roffe Eriksson | |
| 1973 | Anita: Swedish Nymphet | Erik | |
| 1974 | Swedish Sex Games | | Aka The Intruders and Let Us Play Sex |
| 1977 | Taboo | Jan-Erik | |
| 1977 | Hemåt i natten | Kurt Sjöberg | |
| 1981 | Kyssen | | Short |
| 1982 | The Simple-Minded Murderer | Sven | |
| 1983 | P & B | Karl-Johan 'Charlie' Pettersson | |
| 1984 | Åke och hans värld | Ebenholtz | |
| 1985 | False as Water | Stig | |
| 1985 | Noon Wine | Olaf Helton | |
| 1985 | Peter-No-Tail in Americat | Pelle Swanson (voice) | |
| 1986 | Ormens väg på hälleberget | Karl Orsa Markström | |
| 1987 | Jim & Piraterna Blom | Gustav, Jim's Father | Also writer |
| 1987 | Hip hip hurra! | Peder Severin Krøyer | |
| 1988 | The Unbearable Lightness of Being | The Engineer | |
| 1988 | Vargens tid | Peder Ulfstand | |
| 1988 | Friends | Matt | |
| 1988 | The Perfect Murder | Axel Svensson | |
| 1989 | S/Y Glädjen | Klas Larsson | |
| 1989 | Täcknamn Coq Rouge | Carl Hamilton | |
| 1989 | Kvinnorna på taket | Willy | |
| 1990 | The Hunt for Red October | Captain Viktor Tupolev | |
| 1990 | Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg | Raoul Wallenberg | |
| 1991 | The Ox | Helge Roos | |
| 1992 | The Democratic Terrorist | Carl Hamilton | |
| 1992 | Wind | Joe Heiser | |
| 1993 | The Slingshot | Fritiof Schütt | |
| 1993 | Sista dansen | Host in Norrköping | |
| 1995 | Jönssonligans största kupp | Herman Melvin | |
| 1995 | Zero Kelvin | Randbæk | |
| 1995 | The Dogs of Riga | Magnus Björk | |
| 1996 | Harry och Sonja | Harry Olsson | |
| 1996 | Breaking the Waves | Jan Nyman | |
| 1997 | Insomnia | Jonas Engström | |
| 1997 | My Son the Fanatic | Schitz | |
| 1997 | Air Force One | Uncredited | |
| 1997 | Good Will Hunting | Prof. Gerald Lambeau |
| Amistad | Tappan | |
| 1998 | Glasblåsarns barn | Albert | |
| 1998 | Savior | Peter Dominic | |
| 1998 | Ronin | Gregor | |
| 1999 | Deep Blue Sea | Jim Whitlock | |
| 2000 | Harlan County War | Warren Jakopovich | |
| 2000 | Passion of Mind | William Granther | |
| 2000 | Signs and Wonders | Alec | |
| 2000 | Timecode | Alex Green | |
| 2000 | Dancer in the Dark | Doctor | |
| 2000 | Aberdeen | Tomas | Also associate producer |
| 2001 | Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) | Felix | |
| 2001 | Powder Keg | Harvey Jacobs | Segment from the BMW short film series The Hire |
| 2001 | Taking Sides | Dr. Wilhelm Furtwängler | |
| 2001 | The Glass House | Terrence 'Terry' Glass | |
| 2002 | No Good Deed | Tyrone | |
| 2002 | City of Ghosts | Joseph Kaspar | |
| 2003 | To Kill a Child | Narrator | Short |
| 2003 | Dogville | Chuck | |
| 2004 | Eiffeltornet | Jakob | Short |
| 2004 | King Arthur | Cerdic | |
| 2004 | Exorcist: The Beginning | Father Lankester Merrin | |
| 2005 | Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist | Father Lankester Merrin | |
| 2005 | Torte Bluma | Stangl | Short |
| 2005 | Beowulf & Grendel | Hrothgar | |
| 2005 | Guilty Hearts | Stangl | Segment: "Torte Bluma" |
| 2006 | Kill Your Darlings | Erik's Father | |
| 2006 | Goya's Ghosts | Francisco Goya | |
| 2006 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest | Bootstrap Bill Turner | |
| 2007 | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | Bootstrap Bill Turner | |
| 2007 | The Killing Gene | Eddie Argo | |
| 2007 | Arn – The Knight Templar | Birger Brosa | |
| 2008 | Arn – The Kingdom at Road's End | Birger Brosa | |
| 2008 | Mamma Mia! | Bill Anderson | |
| 2008 | God on Trial | Baumgarten | |
| 2009 | Angels & Demons | Commander Maximilian Richter | |
| 2009 | Boogie Woogie | Bob Maccelstone | |
| 2009 | Metropia | Ralph Parker | Voice |
| 2010 | A Somewhat Gentle Man | Ulrik | |
| 2010 | Frankie and Alice | Dr. Oz | |
| 2010 | Moomins and the Comet Chase | Moominpapa / Hemulens | Voices |
| 2010 | Submission | Narrator | English version; documentary |
| 2010 | As If I Am Not There | Doctor | |
| 2010 | King of Devil's Island | Bestyreren | Also executive producer |
| 2011 | Melancholia | Jack | |
| 2011 | The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | Martin Vanger | |
| 2011 | Thor | Erik Selvig | |
| 2012 | The Avengers | Erik Selvig | |
| 2013 | Thor: The Dark World | Erik Selvig | |
| 2013 | Romeo and Juliet | Prince of Verona | |
| 2013 | The Railway Man | Finlay | |
| 2013 | Nymphomaniac | Seligman | |
| 2013 | The Physician | Barber | |
| 2014 | In Order of Disappearance | Nils | Also executive producer and stunt driver |
| 2014 | Hector and the Search for Happiness | Edward | |
| 2015 | Cinderella | The Grand Duke | |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | Erik Selvig | |
| 2016 | Our Kind of Traitor | Dima | |
| 2017 | Return to Montauk | Max Frisch | |
| 2017 | Borg McEnroe | Lennart Bergelin | |
| 2017 | Moomins and the Winter Wonderland | Moominpappa | English dub |
| 2017 | Gordon & Paddy | Gordon | Voice |
| 2018 | The Man Who Killed Don Quixote | The Boss | |
| 2018 | Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again | Bill Anderson / Kurt | |
| 2019 | Out Stealing Horses | Trond | |
| 2019 | The Painted Bird | Hans | |
| 2019 | I'll Find You | Benno Moser | |
| 2019 | Hope | Tomas | |
| 2021 | Apstjärnan | Tord | |
| 2021 | Dune | Baron Vladimir Harkonnen | |
| 2022 | Thor: Love and Thunder | Erik Selvig | Cameo |
| 2024 | Dune: Part Two | Baron Vladimir Harkonnen | |
| TBA | Sentimental Value | Gustav | Filming |

### Television

| Year | Title | 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 Helmer's 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 |

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Category | Film | Result | Ref(s) |
| Astra TV Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama | Andor | Nominated | |
| Berlin International Film Festival | 1982 | Best Actor | The Simple-Minded Murderer | Won | |
| Bodil Awards | 2014 | Bodil Award for Best Actor | Nymphomaniac | Nominated | |
| British Academy Television Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor | Chernobyl | Nominated | |
| Denmark's National Association of Film Critics | 2004 | Best Supporting Actor | Dogville | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie | Chernobyl | Won | |
| European Film Academy | 1998 | European Film Award for Achievement in World Cinema | Amistad Good Will Hunting | Won | |
| European Film Academy | 2000 | Best Actor | Aberdeen | Nominated | |
| European Film Academy | 2001 | Best Actor | Taking Sides | Nominated | |
| Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | 2006 | Best Actor | Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor – Series, Limited Series or Television Film | Chernobyl | Won | |
| Guldbagge Awards | 1981/1982 | Best Actor | The Simple-Minded Murderer | Won | |
| Guldbagge Awards | 1989 | Best Actor | Täcknamn Coq Rouge The Women on the Roof | Won | |
| Guldbagge Awards | 2017 | Best Supporting Actor | Borg McEnroe | Won | [38] [39] [37] |
| International Press Academy | 2008 | Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | God on Trial | Nominated | |
| Jameson Dublin International Film Festival | 2012 | Career Achievement Award | – | Won | |
| Mar del Plata Film Festival | 2002 | Best Actor | Taking Sides | Won | |
| Norwegian International Film Festival | 2010 | Best Actor | A Somewhat Gentle Man | Won | |
| Peabody Awards | 2022 | Entertainment | Andor | Won | |
| People's Choice Awards | 2009 | Favorite Cast | Mamma Mia! | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 2019 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Chernobyl | Nominated | |
| Robert Award | 2004 | Best Supporting Actor | Dogville | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Film | Chernobyl | Nominated | |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | 1998 | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Good Will Hunting | Nominated | |