Stellan Skarsgård

Stellan John Skarsgård, born on 13 June 1951 in Gothenburg, Sweden, is a distinguished Swedish actor renowned for his frequent collaborations with director Lars von Trier. Skarsgård's extensive filmography includes acclaimed works such as Breaking the Waves (1996), Dance in the Dark (2000), Dogville (2003), Melancholia (2011), and Nymphomaniac (2013). His English-speaking film roles are equally impressive, with notable appearances in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Good Will Hunting (1997), Ronin (1998), and King Arthur (2004).

Skarsgård's career spans the small and big screens, from playing Boris Shcherbina in HBO's Chernobyl (2019), which earned him a Golden Globe, to featuring in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dr. Erik Selvig. Beyond Hollywood, he is noted for his work in Scandinavian cinema, where he worked frequently with Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland. Skarsgård's acting abilities do not only limit to serious roles, but he has also shown tremendous comedic timing in films like Mamma Mia! (2008) and its sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018). His portrayal of complex characters in movies like Insomnia and his collaborations with directors like Denis Villeneuve in Dune (2021 & 2024) show a well-rounded actor capable of wide-ranging performances. In his personal life, Skarsgård is the father of actors Alexander, Gustaf, Bill, and Valter Skarsgård.