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Ove Sprogøe

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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Born:
Dec 21, 1919 In Odense, Denmark
Movie/TV Credits:
171
First Appeared:
In the movie Hans Store Aften 1946-03-18
Latest Project:
Movie The Olsen Gang: Forever! 2018-11-27
Known For
Poster of Anthonsen
Poster of The House at Christianshavn
Poster of Den gamle mølle paa Mols
Poster of Penge som græs
Filmography
Movie The Olsen Gang: Forever! Egon Olsen 2018-11-27
Movie Historien om Olsen Banden 2015-03-22
Movie The Olsen Gang's Last Trick Egon Olsen 1998-12-18
Movie Barbara 1997-10-02
Series Charlot og Charlotte Grev Birksted 1996-09-01
Movie Charlot og Charlotte Grev Birksted 1996-09-01
Movie Carmen & Babyface Engelsk lærere 1995-01-20
Movie Kærlighed ved første desperate blik 1994-07-01
Movie Crumb at a Gallop Anders 1992-12-04
Movie Jasper's Ghost The Ghost 1992-10-09
Movie War of the Birds The Male Magpie (voice) 1990-07-01
Series Dr. Dip Finn Klar Rask 1990-07-30
Series Station 13 Nielsen 1988-12-02
Movie Elvis Hansen, en samfundshjælper Knudsen 1988-11-25
Movie Sidste akt 1987-01-23
Movie Hip Hip Hurrah! Bonatzi 1987-09-04
Movie Murder in the Dark Bille 1986-09-19
Movie Når engle elsker Gabriel, Archangel 1985-12-26
Movie In the Middle of the Night 1984-03-09
Series Anthonsen Holger Anthonsen 1984-12-01
Movie Limpan Preben 1983-02-04
Movie Kurt & Valde 1983-07-29
Movie Den ubetænksomme elsker Overbetjent Olufsen 1982-10-15
Movie Your Money or Your Life Bankdirektør 1982-02-25
Movie Stepping Out Larsen 1981-08-28
Movie The Olsen Gang Long Gone Egon Olsen 1981-12-26
Movie The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence Egon Olsen 1981-10-16
Series Vores år Ludvig Blom 1980-03-23
Movie Danmark er lukket Speaker 1980-10-31
Movie The Thralls' Children 1980-10-14
Movie Kick Me in the Traditions! 1979-09-17
Movie Children of the Warriors 1979-08-26
Movie Johnny Larsen 1979-10-01
Series Jul i Gammelby Nissefar 1979-12-01
Movie The Revolt of the Thralls 1979-10-08
Movie The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders Egon Olsen 1979-12-26
Movie You Are Not Alone Kim's Father / Superintendent 1978-02-23
Movie Bandefører Balling 1978-01-01
Movie The Olsen Gang Goes to War Egon Olsen 1978-10-06
Series Matador Dr. Louis Hansen 1978-11-11
Movie Mirror, Mirror 1978-02-24
Movie Watch Your Back, Professor! Konkurrerende redaktør 1977-08-19
Movie The Olsen Gang Outta Sight Egon Olsen 1977-09-30
Movie That Brief Summer Baronen 1976-01-23
Movie The Twelve Tasks of Asterix Asterix (Danish) 1976-06-26
Movie Hjerter er trumf 1976-03-19
Movie The Moelleby affair Digter Mortensen 1976-12-26
Movie The Olsen Gang Sees Red Egon Olsen 1976-10-01
Movie The Goldcabbage Family Leopold Phieselsknast 1975-01-01
Series Aladdin eller den forunderlige lampe 1975-12-26
Movie The Olsen Gang on the Track Egon Olsen 1975-09-26
Movie Et dukkehjem Sagfører Krogstad 1974-04-14
Movie The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang Egon Olsen 1974-10-04
Movie The Hour of Parting Michael Jacobsen 1973-11-09
Movie The Olsen Gang Runs Amok Egon Olsen 1973-10-05
Movie I Adams verden 1973-10-21
Movie Lenin, You Rascal, You Mulligan 1972-02-15
Movie The Olsen Gang's Big Score Egon Olsen 1972-10-06
Series Noget om nisser 1972-12-01
Movie Nu går den på Dagmar 1972-10-23
Movie Hjemme hos William 1971-03-28
Movie Our Home Is Our Castle Hr. Larsen 1971-03-07
Movie The Olsen Gang in Jutland Egon Olsen 1971-10-08
Movie The Missing Clerk Teodor Amsted 1971-10-29
Series The House at Christianshavn Larsen 1970-05-16
Movie Giv gud en chance om søndagen Præst ved Roskilde Domkirke 1970-04-22
Movie Amour Gammel døv dame 1970-08-06
Movie Tough Guys of the Prairie Dommer 1970-08-31
Movie Revolution My A.. Arthur Antonsen 1970-10-09
Movie Famous Five Get in Trouble Onkel Quentin 1970-10-16
Movie Along Came a Soldier Baron Royal King von Konig 1969-04-07
Movie Kys til højre og venstre Ruths Husband 1969-03-13
Movie Fun in the Streets "Fløjten" 1969-08-01
Movie The Egborg Girl Advokat Kurt Mikkelsen 1969-09-12
Movie Five and the Spies Onkel Quentin 1969-10-13
Movie The Olsen Gang in a Fix Egon Olsen 1969-10-03
Movie What a Pity About Daddy 1968-07-19
Movie Farvel Thomas 1968-02-25
Movie Det var en lørdag aften Johansen 1968-06-27
Movie Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run Oberst ved konkurrerende regiment 1968-08-23
Movie The Olsen Gang Egon Olsen 1968-10-11
Movie The Veterinarian's Adopted Children Kristian 1968-11-29
Movie Magic in Town Politiassistent Møller 1968-10-11
Movie Jeg er sgu min egen Værgen 1967-06-30
Movie The Reluctant Sadist Baron 1967-03-27
Movie Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste 1967-06-28
Movie Love Thy Neighbour Pastor Weigaard 1967-09-01
Movie Wife on vacation Apoteker John Bjerre 1967-07-28
Movie Nyhavns glade gutter Direktør Schwartz 1967-11-24
Movie Martha Hovmester Watson 1967-10-10
Movie Tre små piger Biebitz Von Biebitz 1966-08-05
Movie Relax Freddy David Smith 1966-06-05
Movie Søskende Bedemanden 1966-09-02
Movie Flagermusen Blind 1966-08-01
Movie Der var engang Første frier 1966-10-01
Movie The Girl and the Viscount Nielsen 1966-11-25
Movie The Loose Tile Principle 1966-12-26
Movie Passer Babysitting Girls Thorbjørn Hansen 1965-07-23
Movie En ven i bolignøden Børge Blom 1965-04-08
Movie It's Nifty in the Navy Knud Hansen 1965-09-03
Movie Mor bag rattet 1965-11-05
Movie Strike First Freddy David Smith 1965-12-21
Movie Een pige og 39 sømænd Andersen 1965-11-12
Movie The Girl and the Playboy Andresen - advokat 1965-10-15
Movie Majorens oppasser Major Clausen 1964-02-14
Movie Når enden er go' Thør 1964-07-23
Movie Summer in Tyrol Sigismund Sülzheimer 1964-09-25
Movie Don Olsen kommer til byen Brandmand 1964-12-18
Movie Peters landlov Direktør William H. Schmidt 1963-06-27
Movie Dronningens vagtmester Tom, "Kulsoen"s mand 1963-03-29
Movie The Girl and the Press Photographer Madsen 1963-02-15
Movie April Lægeforsker Vagn Jochumsen 1963-08-02
Movie Vi har det jo dejligt Opfinderen 1963-03-01
Movie Frøken Nitouche Ferdinand Piper, teaterdirektør 1963-08-16
Movie Dust for all the Money Thorbjørn Hansen 1963-12-13
Movie Bussen Vik 1963-10-04
Movie A Day Without Lies 1963-09-02
Movie Crazy Paradise Simon 1962-07-26
Movie Journey to the Seventh Planet Barry O'Sullivan 1962-03-10
Movie Lykkens musikanter Havemand Texas 1962-02-19
Movie Sømænd og svigermødre Peter Jensen - Kanustis ven 1962-08-06
Movie Still Dust on the Brain Thorbjørn Hansen 1962-09-28
Movie Drømmen om det hvide slot Johan 1962-12-26
Movie Oskar Direktør Bernhard Bang 1962-10-12
Movie Det stod i avisen Læge S. Gregersen 1962-09-25
Movie Sorte Shara Tom 1961-09-29
Movie Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør Anton 1961-09-11
Movie Dust on the Brain Hr. Thorbjørn Hansen 1961-10-11
Movie The Musketeers Tam 1961-12-09
Movie The Greeneyed Elephant Tolderen 1960-08-14
Movie The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte Anton 1960-05-02
Movie Baronessen fra benzintanken Lars Tofte 1960-09-04
Movie Forelsket i København Carni 1960-11-04
Movie The Poet and the Little Mother Anton 1959-03-06
Movie Onkel Bill fra New York Johnny Jensen 1959-07-17
Movie Charley's Aunt Charles Smith 1959-10-12
Movie Styrmand Karlsen Ole Olsen 1958-10-30
Movie Be Dear to Me 1957-03-01
Movie Tag til marked i Fjordby Knud Tofte 1957-12-27
Movie Der var engang en gade Danselærer Johny Johnsen 1957-03-03
Movie Kispus Max Møller 1956-05-06
Movie Hvad vil De ha'? Gæst hos Hansens 1956-01-23
Movie Den kloge mand 1956-10-15
Movie Færgekroen Lars Tofte, kroejer og færgemand 1956-10-12
Movie På tro og love Henry 1955-08-19
Movie Det var paa Rundetaarn Hans Ramløse 1955-12-26
Movie I kongens klæ'r Jens Rasmussen - rekrut 65 1954-09-24
Movie Vi som går køkkenvejen 1953-02-02
Movie Kriminalsagen Tove Andersen Nolle 1953-01-07
Movie Ved Kongelunden... Vognstyrer Iversen 1953-10-16
Movie Den gamle mølle paa Mols Buschauffør 1953-02-25
Movie Father of Four Bager Høst 1953-11-02
Movie Rekrut 67 Petersen "68" 1952-08-07
Movie Det store løb Fuld mand i bus 1952-12-22
Movie Naalen Helmer, kriminalassistent 1951-01-29
Movie All this - and Iceland too 1951-09-03
Movie Vores fjerde far 1951-09-13
Movie Dorte Hr. Smith 1951-12-17
Movie The Red Horses Niels Peter Dalum, Oles medstuderende 1950-01-09
Movie Smedestræde 4 Ejnar - Pouls ven - cyklebud 1950-09-30
Movie Berlingske Tidende 1749-1949 1949-01-01
Movie Kampen mod uretten 1949-03-18
Movie 3 years after Hotelkarlen 1948-10-03
Movie I de lyse nætter 1948-03-25
Movie Penge som græs 1948-02-23
Movie The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman 1948-03-30
Movie Kristinus Bergman Bud med nøgle 1948-08-27
Movie Lise kommer til byen 1947-08-18
Movie Hatten er sat 1947-12-15
Movie Hans Store Aften 1946-03-18
Movie Discretion Wanted 1946-08-05