
Ove Sprogøe
Known for ActingBorn 1919-12-21Died 2004-09-14Odense, 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.Read more
Movies & web series
★ 10.0Find where to watch →
Anthonsen
1984 · Series
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Et dukkehjem
1974 · Movie
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Vi som går køkkenvejen
1953 · Movie
En dag i radioen
★ 10.0Find where to watch →
En dag i radioen
1950 · Movie
★ 9.1Find where to watch →
Matador
1978 · Series
★ 9.0Find where to watch →
Nu går den på Dagmar
1972 · Movie
★ 9.0Find where to watch →
Noget om nisser
1972 · Series
★ 8.7Find where to watch →
The Moelleby affair
1976 · Movie
The Thralls' Children
★ 8.5Find where to watch →
The Thralls' Children
1980 · Movie
★ 8.5Find where to watch →
Mirror, Mirror
1978 · Movie
★ 8.0Find where to watch →
The Olsen Gang: Forever!
2018 · Movie
★ 8.5Find where to watch →
Jeg er sgu min egen
1967 · Movie
★ 8.3Find where to watch →
Stepping Out
1981 · Movie
★ 8.5Find where to watch →
Det er så yndigt at følges ad
1954 · Movie
Næste Gang er det dig
★ 8.5Find where to watch →
Næste Gang er det dig
1948 · Movie
★ 8.0Find where to watch →
Kærlighed ved første desperate blik
1994 · Movie
★ 8.3Find where to watch →
Penge som græs
1948 · Movie
★ 8.3Find where to watch →
Discretion Wanted
1946 · Movie
★ 8.0Find where to watch →
Aladdin or the Wonderful Lamp
1975 · Series
★ 8.0Find where to watch →
The House at Christianshavn
1970 · Series
Toppen og bolden
★ 8.0Find where to watch →
Toppen og bolden
1969 · Movie
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Søskende
1966 · Movie
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Den gamle mølle paa Mols
1953 · Movie
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The Tove Andersen Criminal Case
1953 · Movie
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All this - and Iceland too
1951 · Movie
★ 7.7Find where to watch →
Give God a Chance on Sunday
1970 · Movie
★ 7.4Find where to watch →
Crumb at a Gallop
1992 · Movie
★ 7.5Find where to watch →
The Revolt of the Thralls
1979 · Movie
★ 7.5Find where to watch →
Jul i Gammelby
1979 · Series
★ 7.4Find where to watch →
You Are Not Alone
1978 · Movie
★ 7.7Find where to watch →
Smedestræde 4
1950 · Movie
★ 7.4Find where to watch →
The Olsen Gang Sees Red
1976 · Movie
★ 7.7Find where to watch →
Lise kommer til byen
1947 · Movie
★ 7.7Find where to watch →
Hans Store Aften
1946 · Movie
★ 7.6Find where to watch →
The Red Horses
1950 · Movie
★ 7.3Find where to watch →
The Hour of Parting
1973 · Movie
★ 7.2Find where to watch →
Nissebanden
1984 · Series
★ 7.3Find where to watch →
The Missing Clerk
1971 · Movie
★ 7.2Find where to watch →
The Olsen Gang on the Track
1975 · Movie
★ 7.4Find where to watch →
Den kloge mand
1956 · Movie
★ 7.2Find where to watch →
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang
1974 · Movie
★ 7.3Find where to watch →
Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste
1967 · Movie
★ 7.3Find where to watch →
Baronessen fra benzintanken
1960 · Movie
★ 7.3Find where to watch →
April
1963 · Movie
★ 7.0Find where to watch →
War of the Birds
1990 · Movie
★ 7.1Find where to watch →
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight
1977 · Movie
★ 7.0Find where to watch →
Limpan
1983 · Movie
★ 7.3Find where to watch →
Kristinus Bergman
1948 · Movie