Ove Sprogøe

Ove Sprogøe (84)

1919-12-21 - 2004-09-14 | Odense, Danmark

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.

On Movies

  • The Olsen Gang's Last Trick
  • Barbara
  • Charlot og Charlotte
  • Carmen & Babyface
  • The Return of Jafar
  • Jasper's Ghost
  • War of the Birds
  • Asterix and the Big Fight
  • Hip Hip Hurrah!
  • Final Act
  • Asterix in Britain
  • Murder in the Dark
  • Når engle elsker
  • Asterix vs. Caesar
  • In the Middle of the Night
  • Limpan
  • The Olsen Gang Long Gone
  • The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence
  • Stepping Out
  • Danmark er lukket
  • The Thralls' Children
  • The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders
  • The Revolt of the Thralls
  • Johnny Larsen
  • Kick Me in the Traditions!
  • Children of the Warriors
  • The Olsen Gang Goes to War
  • Mirror, Mirror
  • You Are Not Alone
  • The Olsen Gang Outta Sight
  • Watch Your Back, Professor!
  • The Olsen Gang Sees Red
  • The Twelve Tasks of Asterix
  • The Olsen Gang on the Track
  • The Goldcabbage Family
  • The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang
  • The Hour of Parting
  • The Olsen Gang Runs Amok
  • The Olsen Gang's Big Score
  • The Missing Clerk
  • The Olsen Gang in Jutland
  • Our Home Is Our Castle
  • Famous Five Get in Trouble
  • Revolution My A..
  • Tough Guys of the Prairie
  • Amour
  • Giv gud en chance om søndagen
  • Tintin and the Temple of the Sun
  • Five and the Spies
  • The Olsen Gang in a Fix
  • The Egborg Girl
  • Fun in the Streets
  • Along Came a Soldier
  • Asterix and Cleopatra
  • The Veterinarian's Adopted Children
  • The Olsen Gang
  • Magic in Town
  • Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run
  • What a Pity About Daddy
  • Asterix the Gaul
  • Nyhavns glade gutter
  • Martha
  • Love Thy Neighbour
  • Wife on vacation
  • The Reluctant Sadist
  • The Loose Tile
  • The Girl and the Viscount
  • Tre små piger
  • Relax Freddy
  • Strike First Freddy
  • The Girl and the Playboy
  • It's Nifty in the Navy
  • Passer Babysitting Girls
  • Don Olsen kommer til byen
  • Summer in Tyrol
  • Når enden er go'
  • Majorens oppasser
  • The Sword in the Stone
  • Bussen
  • A Day Without Lies
  • Frøken Nitouche
  • The Queen's Guardsman
  • The Girl and the Press Photographer
  • Drømmen om det hvide slot
  • Oskar
  • Still Dust on the Brain
  • Sømænd og svigermødre
  • Crazy Paradise
  • Journey to the Seventh Planet
  • Lykkens musikanter
  • The Musketeers
  • Dust on the Brain
  • Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør
  • Forelsket i København
  • Baronessen fra benzintanken
  • The Greeneyed Elephant
  • The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte
  • Charley's Aunt
  • The Poet and the Little Mother
  • Styrmand Karlsen
  • Tag til marked i Fjordby
  • Be Dear to Me
  • Den kloge mand
  • Færgekroen
  • Kispus
  • Hvad vil De ha'?
  • I kongens klæ'r
  • Father of Four
  • Ved Kongelunden...
  • Vi som går køkkenvejen
  • Det store løb
  • Vores fjerde far
  • All this - and Iceland too
  • The Red Horses
  • Kampen mod uretten
  • 3 years after
  • Kristinus Bergman
  • The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman
  • Discretion Wanted

NextFilm 2025