Ove Sprogøe

Acting

Born Dec 21, 1919

From Odense, Danmark

Died Sep 14, 2004

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.

Ove Sprogøe

Known For

You Are Not Alone

The Olsen Gang Sees Red

The Olsen Gang Outta Sight

The Only Way

The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders

Tintin and the Temple of the Sun

The Olsen Gang

In the Middle of the Night

The Olsen Gang in a Fix

War of the Birds

Filmography — Acting

You Are Not Alone

The Olsen Gang Sees Red

The Olsen Gang Outta Sight

The Only Way

The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders

Tintin and the Temple of the Sun

The Olsen Gang

In the Middle of the Night

The Olsen Gang in a Fix

War of the Birds

Hip Hip Hurrah!

The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence

Barbara

The Olsen Gang Long Gone

Famous Five Get in Trouble

It's Nifty in the Navy

Jasper's Ghost

The Olsen Gang in Jutland

Een pige og 39 sømænd

The Girl and the Press Photographer

The Olsen Gang's Last Trick

Journey to the Seventh Planet

The Olsen Gang Goes to War

Det stod i avisen

Crumb at a Gallop

Relax Freddy

The Olsen Gang Runs Amok

Wife on vacation

Martha

Den kloge mand

Nyhavns glade gutter

Charley's Aunt

The Musketeers

Limpan

Baronessen fra benzintanken

Watch Your Back, Professor!

Don Olsen kommer til byen

The Olsen Gang's Big Score

The Goldcabbage Family

Strike First Freddy

Ved Kongelunden...

Bussen

Mor bag rattet

Sorte Shara

Søskende

Hatten er sat

The Poet and the Little Mother

The Girl and the Viscount

Kick Me in the Traditions!

The Olsen Gang: Forever!

The Veterinarian's Adopted Children

Be Dear to Me

Vi har det jo dejligt

Passer Babysitting Girls

Hvad vil De ha'?

Dust on the Brain

Father of Four

Kristinus Bergman

The Thralls' Children

The Queen's Guardsman

Der var engang

Den ubetænksomme elsker

Johnny Larsen

Revolution My A..

Summer in Tyrol

Carmen & Babyface

The Olsen Gang on the Track