Rikard Wolff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rikard Wolff
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Wolff in 2013
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Jan Rikard Wolff
8 April 1958 Farsta, Sweden
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| Died | 17 November 2017 (aged 59) Stockholm, Sweden
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| Years active | 1980–2017 |
| Children | 1 |
Jan Rikard Wolff (born April 8, 1958 – died November 17, 2017) was a talented Swedish actor and singer. He had a long career that included many roles in films and on stage. He was known for his work in movies like House of Angels. He also performed in famous plays such as Waiting for Godot at the Royal Dramatic Theatre.
Rikard Wolff was also a well-known voice actor in Sweden. Many people remember him as the Swedish voice of Scar in the popular Disney movie The Lion King. He received several awards for his work. These included a Grammis award for his music and a special prize for theatre from the Swedish Academy. He was also honored with a royal medal for his acting.
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Rikard Wolff: Actor and Singer
Early Life and Career
Rikard Wolff grew up in Gubbängen in Farsta, Sweden. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Karlstad. He began studying acting in 1978 at Skara skolscen. His first professional acting job was with a theatre group called Vågspel.
From 1980 to 1982, he worked at Teater Aurora. There, he played the main character in the play Don Carlos. Rikard Wolff also loved French music. He toured with many successful song shows, performing French chanson songs. He was inspired by famous singers like Édith Piaf, Jacques Brel, and Barbara.
Becoming a Star
Between 1984 and 1987, Rikard Wolff studied at the Swedish National Academy of Mime and Acting. While there, he started working with director Rickard Günther. This led to a role in the play Mefisto. He also worked with director Suzanne Osten and acted in her first film, Lethal Film, in 1988.
His big breakthrough came in 1990. He played the poet Paul Andersson in the TV series Apelsinmannen. This role made him very famous in Sweden.
Famous Roles and Music
Rikard Wolff voiced Scar in the Swedish version of The Lion King. This role made his voice recognizable to many children and families. He also starred in the movie House of Angels in 1992. He returned for its two sequels, Änglagård – andra sommaren and Änglagård – tredje gången gillt.
He was also very active in theatre. He acted in Waiting for Godot in Stockholm in 1990. He played a role in Hamlet in 1995. In 2002, he was in A Chorus Line at The Göteborg Opera. He also performed in Richard III in 2006.
Rikard Wolff wrote and performed his own songs. He released several music albums. In 2001, he won a Grammis award for his album "Allra störst är kärleken". He also performed one of his most famous songs, "Pojken på månen", at the opening of the Friends Arena in Stockholm.
In 2013, he took part in Melodifestivalen 2013. This is a competition to choose Sweden's song for the Eurovision Song Contest. He sang "En förlorad sommar" but did not qualify for the final.
His last acting role was as Dr. Ruben in the TV series Jakten på tidskristallen. This show was a Christmas calendar series shown in December 2017.
Awards and Recognition
Rikard Wolff received many honors during his career. In 2001, he won a Grammis award for his album Min allra största kärlek. In 2011, he was given the royal medal Litteris et Artibus. This medal is given for important contributions to arts and literature.
In 2013, the French president made him a Knight of the Legion of Honour. This was to recognize his dedication to French music. He also received several other prizes and scholarships. This included the 2017 theatre prize from the Swedish Academy.
Later Years
Rikard Wolff had a daughter with Stina Gardell. Stina is a Swedish producer and journalist.
He had a lung condition called emphysema since 1988. Rikard Wolff passed away on November 17, 2017, at the age of 59.
