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Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Skarsgard (29485267411) (cropped).jpg
Skarsgård in 2016
Born
Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård

(1976-08-25) 25 August 1976 (age 48)
Stockholm, Sweden
Occupation Actor
Years active 1984–present
Children 1
Parent(s)
Relatives

Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård (born 25 August 1976) is a famous actor from Sweden. He is the son of well-known actor Stellan Skarsgård. Alexander started acting when he was just seven years old. However, he stopped acting at 13.

After serving in the Swedish Navy, Skarsgård decided to act again. His first role in the United States was in the comedy film Zoolander (2001). He became very well-known for playing a vampire named Eric Northman in the TV series True Blood (2008–2014). He also played Brad Colbert in the miniseries Generation Kill (2008).

Later, Skarsgård appeared in movies like Melancholia (2011) and Battleship (2012). He also starred as the main character in The Legend of Tarzan (2016). He won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his role in the drama series Big Little Lies (2017–2019).

More recently, he has been in films such as Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and The Northman (2022). He also played a tech boss named Lukas Matsson in the TV series Succession (2021–2023). For this role, he received more awards nominations.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Alexander Skarsgård was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on August 25, 1976. He is the oldest child of actor Stellan Skarsgård and physician My Skarsgård. His parents are now divorced. He has five younger brothers and sisters: Gustaf, Sam, Bill, Eija, and Valter. Gustaf, Bill, and Valter are also actors. He also has two younger half-brothers from his father's second marriage.

When Alexander was seven, a director friend of his father gave him his first movie role. He played Kalle Nubb in Åke and His World (Åke och hans värld). At 13, he had a main role in a Swedish TV show called Hunden som log (The Dog That Smiled). This made him famous in Sweden. But he felt uncomfortable with the fame and decided to stop acting for a while.

When he was 19, Skarsgård joined the Swedish Armed Forces. He served for 18 months in a special unit that worked against sabotage and terrorism. After his service in 1996, he went to Leeds Metropolitan University in England for six months. He was supposed to study English but mostly had fun. He thought about becoming an architect, but then chose acting. In 1997, he moved to New York City to study theater. He returned to Stockholm after six months, but his time studying theater made him sure he wanted to be an actor.

Career Highlights and Big Roles

Starting Out and Becoming Famous

Alexander Skarsgård (2009)
Skarsgård at the 2009 PaleyFest

When Alexander returned to Sweden, he started getting roles in movies and TV. While on vacation in the United States, he tried out for a part in the 2001 movie Zoolander. This was his first role in an American film. In 2003, he was nominated for an award for his role in Hundtricket-the Movie (The Dog Trick).

He moved to Los Angeles in 2004 but still worked in Sweden. His big break came when he was chosen to play US Marine Brad Colbert in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill. This show was based on a book about the United States Marine Corps during the Iraq War. The director wanted him, but the producer wasn't sure he could do an American accent. After many auditions, Skarsgård got the role. He had to learn the American accent quickly with a coach.

Before filming Generation Kill, Skarsgård heard about True Blood, another HBO series. It was about humans and vampires living together. He wasn't sure about playing a vampire at first. But he was a fan of the show's creator, Alan Ball. He sent an audition tape for a different vampire role. That role went to another actor, but Skarsgård was cast as Eric Northman. Eric is a very old Nordic vampire. This role made Skarsgård very famous. True Blood was on HBO from 2008 to 2014.

In 2009, Skarsgård appeared in the music video for Lady Gaga's song "Paparazzi". He also voiced a character in the 2009 animated film Metropia. In 2010, he played a gay Norwegian man in the British mockumentary Beyond the Pole. He also appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine with his True Blood co-stars.

Recent Film and TV Success

Alexander Skarsgard by Gage Skidmore 2
Skarsgård at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con

In 2011, Skarsgård starred in Melancholia, a film directed by Lars von Trier. He played a newlywed husband in the movie, which also featured his father. That same year, he was in Straw Dogs, a remake of an older film.

In 2012, Skarsgård was in Battleship with Taylor Kitsch and Rihanna. He also appeared in What Maisie Knew and Disconnect. In 2013, he starred in The East. In 2015, he was in The Diary of a Teenage Girl. He played a character who makes some questionable choices. Skarsgård was excited to play a complex role.

In 2016, he starred as Tarzan in The Legend of Tarzan. He worked out for seven months to get ready for the part. His performance in the film was praised. He also played a police officer in the black comedy film War on Everyone.

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Skarsgård at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival

From 2017 to 2019, Skarsgård starred in the drama series Big Little Lies. He played a challenging character named Perry Wright. His performance was highly praised, and he won a Primetime Emmy Award for the role in 2017. He also won a Golden Globe Award in 2018 for the same role.

In 2018, he starred in the science fiction film Mute. Later that year, he was in The Little Drummer Girl, a miniseries about political events in 1979. In 2019, he played a German architect in The Aftermath. He also had a small but memorable role as the Prime Minister of Canada in the romantic-comedy Long Shot.

Skarsgård starred in The Stand (2020–2021), a miniseries based on a Stephen King novel. He played a charming but evil character named Randall Flagg. In 2021, he was in the monster film Godzilla vs. Kong, which was very successful. He also had a recurring role in the TV series Succession as a tech billionaire named Lukas Matsson. For this role, he was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards.

In 2022, he played Amleth in the epic film The Northman, which he also helped produce. In 2023, Skarsgård starred in the thriller Infinity Pool. He also returned as Lukas Matsson for the final season of Succession, earning another Emmy nomination.

Personal Life and Interests

Alexander Skarsgård is a big fan of football. He supports a club called Hammarby Fotboll, which is from his hometown of Stockholm. In 2010, he donated items to a fundraiser for the club.

In 2011, he received an honorary degree from Leeds Metropolitan University, where he had studied briefly. Skarsgård has also stated that he believes in feminism.

Skarsgård was an ambassador for the American team in a fundraising event called "Walking With The Wounded". This event helped wounded soldiers. He trekked to the South Pole in 2013. He was part of a team that included Prince Harry and actor Dominic West. They all successfully reached the South Pole together on December 13, 2013.

Skarsgård is in a relationship with Swedish actress Tuva Novotny. They had their first child together in 2022.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Åke and His World Kalle Nubb
1989 The Dog That Smiled Jojjo
1999 Happy End Bamse Viktorsson
2000 The Diver Ingmar
White Water Fury Anders
Wings of Glass Johan
2001 Kites Over Helsinki Robin Åström
Zoolander Meekus
2002 The Dog Trick Robinson-Micke
2003 To Kill a Child Man Short film; co-directed with Björne Larson
2004 Heartbeat The Pilot Short film
2005 Double Shift Nisse
Om Sara Kalle Öberg
2006 The Last Drop Lt. Jergen Voller
Never Be Mine Christopher
Kill Your Darlings Geert
Score Micke
Exit Fabian von Klerking
2007 Järnets änglar Stefan
2009 Metropia Stefan (voice)
Beyond the Pole Terje
2010 Trust Me Alex
Moomins and the Comet Chase Moomintroll (voice)
13 Jack
2011 Straw Dogs Charlie Venner
Melancholia Michael
2012 Battleship Commander Stone Hopper
What Maisie Knew Lincoln
Disconnect Derek Hull
2013 The East Benji
2014 The Giver Jonas' Father
2015 Hidden Ray
The Diary of a Teenage Girl Monroe Rutherford
2016 Zoolander 2 Adam Cameo
War on Everyone Terry Monroe
The Legend of Tarzan Tarzan / John Clayton
2018 Mute Leo Beiler
The Hummingbird Project Anton Zaleski
Hold the Dark Vernon Slone
2019 The Aftermath Stefan Lubert
Long Shot Prime Minister James Steward
The Kill Team Sergeant Deeks
2021 Passing John Bellew
Godzilla vs. Kong Nathan Lind
2022 The Northman Amleth Also producer
2023 Infinity Pool James Foster Also executive producer
Eric Larue Ron LaRue
Lee Roland Penrose

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Idag röd Fred Television film
1999 Vita lögner Marcus Englund 10 episodes
2000 D-dag Lise's Stepson Television film
Judith Ante Lindström Episode: "Del 2"
2005 Revelations Gunnar Eklind Miniseries
2006 Cuppen Micke Television film
2007 Golden Brown Eyes Boogey Knights Singer 2 episodes
2008 Generation Kill Brad "Iceman" Colbert Miniseries; 7 episodes
2008–2014 True Blood Eric Northman 76 episodes
2013 Eastbound & Down Adult Toby Powers Episode: "Chapter 29"
2017–2019 Big Little Lies Perry Wright Main role
2018 ... History James Dunn Episode: "Heroines"
The Little Drummer Girl Gadi Becker 6 episodes
2019 On Becoming a God in Central Florida Travis Stubbs Episode: "The Stinker Thinker"
2020–2021 The Stand Randall Flagg Main role
2021–2023 Succession Lukas Matsson Recurring role (season 3) Main Cast (season 4)
2022 Atlanta Himself Episode: "Tarrare"
The Kingdom Svensk advokat 2 episodes
Documentary Now! Rainer Wolz Episode: "Soldier of Illusion, Parts 1 & 2"
2024 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Other John Episode: "First Date"
What We Do in the Shadows Vampire Episode: "Come Out and Play"
TBA Murderbot Murderbot In production

Music videos

Year Title Role Artist
2009 "Paparazzi" Boyfriend Lady Gaga
2013 "Free Your Mind" Cult Leader Cut Copy

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2003 Odense International Film Festival Grand Prix To Kill a Child Won
Press Award Won
Guldbagge Awards Best Supporting Actor Hundtricket — The Movie Nominated
2009 Scream Awards Best Villain True Blood Won
Best Television Ensemble Won
2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor in Television Nominated
NewNowNext Awards Brink of Fame: Actor Nominated
Scream Awards Best Television Performance Nominated
Best Horror Actor Won
2011 Teen Choice Awards Choice Vampire Nominated
Scream Awards Best Horror Actor Won
Best Ensemble Won
2012 Robert Awards Best Supporting Actor (Årets mandlige birolle) Melancholia Nominated
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actor Straw Dogs Nominated
2017 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie Big Little Lies Won
2018 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Won
Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Film – Television Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries Won
2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
2022 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Succession Nominated
2023 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2024 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
Canadian Screen Awards Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film Infinity Pool Nominated

See Also

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