Ove Sprogøe
Acting • Born 1919-12-21 – Died 2004-09-14
Biography
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.
Filmography
187 credits
Charley's Aunt
Movie • 1959
Charles Smith
The Olsen Gang
Movie • 1968
Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang in Jutland
Movie • 1971
Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang on the Track
Movie • 1975
Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang Sees Red
Movie • 1976
Egon Olsen
Days in My Father's House
Movie • 1968
Gunnar
Martha
Movie • 1967
Hovmester Watson
The Olsen Gang in a Fix
Movie • 1969
Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang's Last Trick
Movie • 1998
Egon Olsen
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang
Movie • 1974
Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang Goes to War
Movie • 1978
Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight
Movie • 1977
Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders
Movie • 1979
Egon Olsen
Relax Freddy
Movie • 1966
David Smith
Strike First Freddy
Movie • 1965
David Smith
Summer in Tyrol
Movie • 1964
Sigismund Sülzheimer
The Goldcabbage Family
Movie • 1975
Leopold Phieselsknast
Lise kommer til byen
Movie • 1947
Rekrut 67 Petersen
Movie • 1952
"68"
The Veterinarian's Adopted Children
Movie • 1968
Kristian
Frøken Nitouche
Movie • 1963
Ferdinand Piper, teaterdirektør
The Girl and the Playboy
Movie • 1965
Andresen - advokat
The Musketeers
Movie • 1961
Tam
The Queen's Guardsman
Movie • 1963
Tam, "Kulsoen"s mand
Passer Babysitting Girls
Movie • 1965
Thorbjørn Hansen
Dust on the Brain
Movie • 1961
Hr. Thorbjørn Hansen
Dust for all the Money
Movie • 1963
Thorbjørn Hansen
Journey to the Seventh Planet
Movie • 1962
Barry O'Sullivan
Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør
Movie • 1961
Anton
The Olsen Gang's Big Score
Movie • 1972
Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang Runs Amok
Movie • 1973
Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang Long Gone
Movie • 1981
Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence
Movie • 1981
Egon Olsen
War of the Birds
Movie • 1990
The Male Magpie (voice)
Baronessen fra benzintanken
Movie • 1960
Lars Tofte
You Are Not Alone
Movie • 1978
Kim's Father / Superintendent
Don Olsen kommer til byen
Movie • 1964
Brandmand
Nyhavns glade gutter
Movie • 1967
Direktør Schwartz
Sømænd og svigermødre
Movie • 1962
Peter Jensen - Kanustis ven
Tough Guys of the Prairie
Movie • 1970
Dommer
The Egborg Girl
Movie • 1969
Advokat Kurt Mikkelsen
Magic in Town
Movie • 1968
Politiassistent Møller
Een pige og 39 sømænd
Movie • 1965
Andersen
Styrmand Karlsen
Movie • 1958
Ole Olsen
Our Home Is Our Castle
Movie • 1971
Hr. Larsen
Bussen
Movie • 1963
Vik
Famous Five Get in Trouble
Movie • 1970
Onkel Quentin
Five and the Spies
Movie • 1969
Onkel Quentin
What a Pity About Daddy
Movie • 1968
Dorte
Movie • 1951
Hr. Smith
Love Thy Neighbour
Movie • 1967
Pastor Weigaard
Along Came a Soldier
Movie • 1969
Baron Royal King von Konig
The Greeneyed Elephant
Movie • 1960
Tolderen
På tro og love
Movie • 1955
Henry
Still Dust on the Brain
Movie • 1962
Thorbjørn Hansen
Det var paa Rundetaarn
Movie • 1955
Hans Ramløse
The Missing Clerk
Movie • 1971
Teodor Amsted
Tre små piger
Movie • 1966
Biebitz Von Biebitz
A Day Without Lies
Movie • 1963
I kongens klæ'r
Movie • 1954
Jens Rasmussen - rekrut 65
Forelsket i København
Movie • 1960
Carni
April
Movie • 1963
Lægeforsker Vagn Jochumsen
Wife on vacation
Movie • 1967
Apoteker John Bjerre
Når enden er go'
Movie • 1964
Thør
The Girl and the Viscount
Movie • 1966
Nielsen
Fun in the Streets
Movie • 1969
"Fløjten"
Ved Kongelunden...
Movie • 1953
Vognstyrer Iversen
Jasper's Ghost
Movie • 1992
The Ghost
Sorte Shara
Movie • 1961
Tom
Lykkens musikanter
Movie • 1962
Havemand Texas
Tag til marked i Fjordby
Movie • 1957
Knud Tofte
Jeg er sgu min egen
Movie • 1967
Værgen
Onkel Bill fra New York
Movie • 1959
Johnny Jensen
Revolution My A..
Movie • 1970
Arthur Antonsen
Kispus
Movie • 1956
Max Møller
Hip Hip Hurrah!
Movie • 1987
Bonatzi
Det stod i avisen
Movie • 1962
Læge S. Gregersen
Vi har det jo dejligt
Movie • 1963
Opfinderen
Carmen & Babyface
Movie • 1995
Engelsk lærere
Der var engang en gade
Movie • 1957
Danselærer Johny Johnsen
Det var en lørdag aften
Movie • 1968
Johansen
Your Money or Your Life
Movie • 1982
Bankdirektør
Elvis Hansen, en samfundshjælper
Movie • 1988
Knudsen
Crazy Paradise
Movie • 1962
Simon
The Revolt of the Thralls
Movie • 1979
The Thralls' Children
Movie • 1980
Charlot og Charlotte
Movie • 1996
Grev Birksted
Oskar
Movie • 1962
Direktør Bernhard Bang
Når engle elsker
Movie • 1985
Gabriel, Archangel
The Red Horses
Movie • 1950
Niels Peter Dalum, Oles medstuderende
Hatten er sat
Movie • 1947
Farvel Thomas
Movie • 1968
Hjemme hos William
Movie • 1971
Flagermusen
Movie • 1966
Blind
The Hour of Parting
Movie • 1973
Michael Jacobsen
Naalen
Movie • 1951
Helmer, kriminalassistent
The Moelleby affair
Movie • 1976
Digter Mortensen
Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste
Movie • 1967
Det store løb
Movie • 1952
Fuld mand i bus
Discretion Wanted
Movie • 1946
Drømmen om det hvide slot
Movie • 1962
Johan
Father of Four
Movie • 1953
Bager Høst
It's Nifty in the Navy
Movie • 1965
Knud Hansen
Færgekroen
Movie • 1956
Lars Tofte, kroejer og færgemand
En ven i bolignøden
Movie • 1965
Børge Blom
Hvad vil De ha'?
Movie • 1956
Gæst hos Hansens
Den ubetænksomme elsker
Movie • 1982
Overbetjent Olufsen
I de lyse nætter
Movie • 1948
Be Dear to Me
Movie • 1957
Den gamle mølle paa Mols
Movie • 1953
Buschauffør
Lenin, You Rascal, You
Movie • 1972
Mulligan
The Major's Guard
Movie • 1964
Major Clausen
In the Middle of the Night
Movie • 1984
Købmand - Susans far
Peters landlov
Movie • 1963
Direktør William H. Schmidt
The Poet and the Little Mother
Movie • 1959
Anton
Mor bag rattet
Movie • 1965
Murder in the Dark
Movie • 1986
Bille
Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run
Movie • 1968
Oberst ved konkurrerende regiment
Barbara
Movie • 1997
Vores fjerde far
Movie • 1951
Den kloge mand
Movie • 1956
Mirror, Mirror
Movie • 1978
Johnny Larsen
Movie • 1979
Der var engang
Movie • 1966
Første frier
Hjerter er trumf
Movie • 1976
Smedestræde 4
Movie • 1950
Ejnar - Pouls ven - cyklebud
The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte
Movie • 1960
Anton
The Loose Tile
Movie • 1966
Principle
The Girl and the Press Photographer
Movie • 1963
Madsen
Amour
Movie • 1970
Gammel døv dame
Et dukkehjem
Movie • 1974
Sagfører Krogstad
I Adams verden
Movie • 1973
The Reluctant Sadist
Movie • 1967
Baron
Kampen mod uretten
Movie • 1949
Watch Your Back, Professor!
Movie • 1977
Konkurrerende redaktør
Penge som græs
Movie • 1948
The Tove Andersen Criminal Case
Movie • 1953
Nolle
Kurt & Valde
Movie • 1983
Kys til højre og venstre
Movie • 1969
Ruths Husband
Nu går den på Dagmar
Movie • 1972
Vi som går køkkenvejen
Movie • 1953
Stepping Out
Movie • 1981
Larsen
Give God A Chance On Sunday
Movie • 1970
Præst ved Roskilde Domkirke
Historien om Olsen Banden
Movie • 2015
Bandefører Balling
Movie • 1978
3 years after
Movie • 1948
Hotelkarlen
Kristinus Bergman
Movie • 1948
Bud med nøgle
That Brief Summer
Movie • 1976
Baronen
Søskende
Movie • 1966
Bedemanden
Danmark er lukket
Movie • 1980
Speaker
The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman
Movie • 1948
Hans Store Aften
Movie • 1946
Kærlighed ved første desperate blik
Movie • 1994
Limpan
Movie • 1983
Preben
The Olsen Gang: Forever!
Movie • 2018
Egon Olsen
Berlingske Tidende 1749-1949
Movie • 1949
Dansk bladtegning: danske bladtegnere - En dokumentation
Movie • 1984
Sig selv
Final Act
Movie • 1987
All this - and Iceland too
Movie • 1951
Children of the Warriors
Movie • 1979
Det er så yndigt at følges ad
Movie • 1954
Kick Me in the Traditions!
Movie • 1979
Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde
Movie • 1976
Egon Olsen
Revolutionen i vandkanten
Movie • 1971
Mand fra en anden klode
Næste Gang er det dig
Movie • 1948
Mand i cottoncoat
En dag i radioen
Movie • 1950
En maler
Toppen og bolden
Movie • 1969
Fortæller (voice)
Tintin and the Temple of the Sun
Movie • 1969
Dupond/Dupont (stemme)
The Only Way
Movie • 1970
Hr. Petersen
Crumb at a Gallop
Movie • 1992
Anders
The House at Christianshavn
TV • 1970
Larsen
Charlot og Charlotte
TV • 1996
Grev Birksted
Anthonsen
TV • 1984
Holger Anthonsen
Noget om nisser
TV • 1972
Ikke lutter lagkage
TV • 1984
Niels-Arthur
Aladdin or the Wonderful Lamp
TV • 1975
Far på færde
TV • 1988
Hr. Hermansen
Vores år
TV • 1980
Ludvig Blom
Henover midten
TV • 1982
Erich von Herning
Dr. Dip
TV • 1990
Finn Klar Rask
Krigsdøtre
TV • 1981
Hr. Christensen
Matador
TV • 1978
Dr. Louis Hansen
Station 13
TV • 1988
Nielsen
Sådan er det bare
TV • 1987
Kurt (Anettes far)
The House at Christianshavn
TV • 1970
Hr. Larsen
Jul i Gammelby
TV • 1979
Nissefar
Nissebanden
TV • 1984
Karl-Heinz Bierbaum