Ove Sprogøe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ove Sprogøe
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Ove Sprogøe 1988
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| Born | 21 December 1919 |
| Died | 14 September 2004 (aged 84) Tårnby, Denmark
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1946–1998 |
Ove Wendelboe Sprogøe Petersen (born December 21, 1919 – died September 14, 2004) was a famous Danish actor. He was known for playing many different types of characters. He appeared in a huge number of movies and TV shows.
Contents
About Ove Sprogøe
Early Life and Family
Ove Sprogøe was born in Odense, Denmark. His parents were Arthur and Inger Sprogøe Petersen. In 1945, he married Eva Rasmussen. They had three children together. One of their sons, Henning Sprogøe, also became an actor.
A Star on Screen and Stage
Ove Sprogøe started his film career in a movie called Hans Store Aften (His Big Night). He was a very flexible actor. He could play many different kinds of characters. He was good at playing tricky and bold people. But he could also play quiet, shy, or elegant roles easily.
He performed in many classic plays on stage. He was a very popular actor in Denmark. He also had several regular roles on television. Ove Sprogøe acted in 157 films. This makes him one of the busiest actors in Danish film history. When he was younger, he often worked with his friend and fellow actor Dirch Passer.
The Olsen Gang Leader
Ove Sprogøe is probably most famous for his role in the Olsen-banden movies. He played the main character, Egon Olsen. Egon was the leader of a gang. He was known for his short temper, striped suit, and cigar. Ove Sprogøe became very famous for this role, especially in Eastern Europe. In East Germany, he and his co-stars became almost like cult heroes.
TV and Voice Roles
He also had important roles in popular TV shows. He played the clever ex-burglar Larsen in Huset på Christianshavn. This was one of Denmark's first sitcoms. He also played Dr. Louis Hansen in the big historical TV show Matador. Both of these shows were also seen outside Denmark.
Ove Sprogøe was a talented singer too. He was especially good in live shows. His Danish version of the song Cigarettes, whiskey and wild wild women became very well-known. He also voiced the Sultan in the Danish version of Disney's Aladdin.
He was an actor who was loved by the public. But he also managed to keep his private life quiet. He lived a simple life. After he passed away, people learned that he loved art. He had collected many valuable modern paintings.
Lasting Legacy
After Ove Sprogøe's death in 2004, Nordisk Film created a scholarship for actors in his name. This company made the Olsen Gang movies. The road leading to The State Prison in Vridsløselille was renamed Egon Olsens Vej (Egon Olsen Road). This was the prison where his character Egon Olsen often ended up. On October 24, 2005, his hometown of Odense named a square Ove Sprogøes Plads (Ove Sprogøe Square) in his honor.
Selected Works
Movies
- We Who Go the Kitchen Route (1953)
- The Crime of Tove Andersen (1953)
- Journey to the Seventh Planet (1962)
- Strike First Freddy (1965)
- Relax Freddie (1966)
- The Olsen Gang (1968)
- The Olsen Gang in a Fix (1969)
- The Olsen Gang in Jutland (1971)
- The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang (1974)
- The Olsen Gang Sees Red (1976)
- The Olsen Gang's Last Trick (1998)
Television Shows
- Matador (1978–1982)
- Huset på Christianshavn
