Stellan Skarsgård became a star in his teens through the title role in the TV-seies Bombi Bitt och jag. Between the years 1972-88 he was employed at The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, where he participated in "Vita rum" (1988), August Strindberg's "Ett drömspel" (1986) and "Mäster Olof" (1988). Simultaneously Skarsgård did outstanding film roles, noatably in Enfaldige mördaren, Den by Hans Alfredson and with Fred Ward in Noon Wine. The fantastic performance gave him both a well-earned Guldbagge and Silver Berlin Bear. He portrayed the Skagen-painter Sören Kröyer in Hip hip hurra! and the Swedish ambassador Raoul Wallenberg in _God afton, Herr Wallenberg (1990)_ , both directed by Kjell Grede. Täcknamn Coq Rouge and Demokratiske terroristen, Den he played Jan Guillou's Swedish superagent Carl Hamilton. He also had the leading part in the Oscar nominated Oxen directed by the world-famous cinematographer Sven Nykvist. Skarsgård did his first (but small) role in an big American film with The Unbearable Lightness of Being. The role of Captain Tupolev in The Hunt for Red October was at supposed to be biggest part in a Hollywood-film, but unfortunately it was cut down. His breakthrough instead came with Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves opposite newcomer Emily Watson. After that Skarsgård got several supporting roles in American films, such as in My Son the Fanatic, Gus Van Sant's Good Will Hunting and Steven Spielberg's Amistad.


His ex-wife is a doctor. He has six children with his ex-wife My SkarsgÃ¥rd: Alexander SkarsgÃ¥rd (born 1976), Gustaf SkarsgÃ¥rd (born 1980), Sam SkarsgÃ¥rd (born 1982), Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd (born 1990), Eija Skarsgård (born 1992) and Valter SkarsgÃ¥rd (born 1995). Claims people frequently mistake him for Liam Neeson. Released the single "Bombi Bitt/Ler Mot Dej" in 1968, of which he is very ashamed today. Invited to join AMPAS in 2005. Frequently visits the city of Kalmar in the southeast of Sweden for summer vacation as he has family there.