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.
Movie | Historien om Olsen Banden | 2015-03-22 | |
Movie | The Olsen Gang's Last Trick | Egon Olsen | 1998-12-18 |
Movie | Barbara | 1997-10-02 | |
Movie | Charlot og Charlotte | Grev Birksted | 1996-09-01 |
Movie | Carmen & Babyface | Engelsk lærere | 1995-01-20 |
Movie | Kærlighed ved første desperate blik | 1994-07-01 | |
Movie | Jasper's Ghost | The Ghost | 1992-10-09 |
Movie | Crumb at a Gallop | Anders | 1992-12-04 |
Movie | War of the Birds | The Male Magpie (voice) | 1990-07-01 |
Movie | Elvis Hansen, en samfundshjælper | Knudsen | 1988-11-25 |
Movie | Sidste akt | 1987-01-23 | |
Series | Sådan er det bare | Kurt | 1987-04-02 |
Movie | Hip Hip Hurrah! | Bonatzi | 1987-09-04 |
Movie | Murder in the Dark | Bille | 1986-09-19 |
Movie | Når engle elsker | Gabriel, Archangel | 1985-12-26 |
Series | Anthonsen | Holger Anthonsen | 1984-12-01 |
Movie | In the Middle of the Night | 1984-03-09 | |
Movie | Limpan | Preben | 1983-02-04 |
Movie | Kurt & Valde | 1983-07-29 | |
Movie | Your Money or Your Life | Bankdirektør | 1982-02-25 |
Movie | Den ubetænksomme elsker | Overbetjent Olufsen | 1982-10-15 |
Movie | The Olsen Gang Long Gone | Egon Olsen | 1981-12-26 |
Movie | Stepping Out | Larsen | 1981-08-28 |
Movie | The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence | Egon Olsen | 1981-10-16 |
Movie | The Thralls' Children | 1980-10-14 | |
Movie | Danmark er lukket | Speaker | 1980-10-31 |
Movie | Kick Me in the Traditions! | 1979-09-17 | |
Movie | Johnny Larsen | 1979-10-01 | |
Movie | Children of the Warriors | 1979-08-26 | |
Movie | The Revolt of the Thralls | 1979-10-08 | |
Movie | The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders | Egon Olsen | 1979-12-26 |
Movie | Mirror, Mirror | 1978-02-24 | |
Movie | Bandefører Balling | 1978-01-01 | |
Movie | You Are Not Alone | Kim's Father / Superintendent | 1978-02-23 |
Movie | The Olsen Gang Goes to War | Egon Olsen | 1978-10-06 |
Series | Matador | Dr. Louis Hansen | 1978-11-11 |
Movie | Watch Your Back, Professor! | Konkurrerende redaktør | 1977-08-19 |
Movie | The Olsen Gang Outta Sight | Egon Olsen | 1977-09-30 |
Movie | That Brief Summer | Baronen | 1976-01-23 |
Movie | Hjerter er trumf | 1976-03-19 | |
Movie | The Moelleby affair | Digter Mortensen | 1976-12-26 |
Movie | The Olsen Gang Sees Red | Egon Olsen | 1976-10-01 |
Movie | The Goldcabbage Family | Leopold Phieselsknast | 1975-01-01 |
Movie | The Olsen Gang on the Track | Egon Olsen | 1975-09-26 |
Movie | Et dukkehjem | Sagfører Krogstad | 1974-04-14 |
Movie | The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang | Egon Olsen | 1974-10-04 |
Movie | The Olsen Gang Runs Amok | Egon Olsen | 1973-10-05 |
Movie | I Adams verden | 1973-10-21 | |
Movie | The Hour of Parting | Michael Jacobsen | 1973-11-09 |
Movie | Lenin, You Rascal, You | Mulligan | 1972-02-15 |
Movie | Nu går den på Dagmar | 1972-10-23 | |
Movie | The Olsen Gang's Big Score | Egon Olsen | 1972-10-06 |
Movie | Our Home Is Our Castle | Hr. Larsen | 1971-03-07 |
Movie | Hjemme hos William | 1971-03-28 | |
Movie | The Olsen Gang in Jutland | Egon Olsen | 1971-10-08 |
Movie | The Missing Clerk | Teodor Amsted | 1971-10-29 |
Series | The House at Christianshavn | Larsen | 1970-05-16 |
Movie | Giv gud en chance om søndagen | Præst ved Roskilde Domkirke | 1970-04-22 |
Movie | Amour | Gammel døv dame | 1970-08-06 |
Movie | Tough Guys of the Prairie | Dommer | 1970-08-31 |
Movie | Famous Five Get in Trouble | Onkel Quentin | 1970-10-16 |
Movie | Revolution My A.. | Arthur Antonsen | 1970-10-09 |
Movie | Along Came a Soldier | Baron Royal King von Konig | 1969-04-07 |
Movie | Kys til højre og venstre | Ruths Husband | 1969-03-13 |
Movie | Fun in the Streets | "Fløjten" | 1969-08-01 |
Movie | The Egborg Girl | Advokat Kurt Mikkelsen | 1969-09-12 |
Movie | The Olsen Gang in a Fix | Egon Olsen | 1969-10-03 |
Movie | Five and the Spies | Onkel Quentin | 1969-10-13 |
Movie | Det var en lørdag aften | Johansen | 1968-06-27 |
Movie | Farvel Thomas | 1968-02-25 | |
Movie | What a Pity About Daddy | 1968-07-19 | |
Movie | The Veterinarian's Adopted Children | Kristian | 1968-11-29 |
Movie | Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run | Oberst ved konkurrerende regiment | 1968-08-23 |
Movie | Magic in Town | Politiassistent Møller | 1968-10-11 |
Movie | The Olsen Gang | Egon Olsen | 1968-10-11 |
Movie | Wife on vacation | Apoteker John Bjerre | 1967-07-28 |
Movie | The Reluctant Sadist | Baron | 1967-03-27 |
Movie | Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste | 1967-06-28 | |
Movie | Jeg er sgu min egen | Værgen | 1967-06-30 |
Movie | Love Thy Neighbour | Pastor Weigaard | 1967-09-01 |
Movie | Nyhavns glade gutter | Direktør Schwartz | 1967-11-24 |
Movie | Martha | Hovmester Watson | 1967-10-10 |
Movie | Tre små piger | Biebitz Von Biebitz | 1966-08-05 |
Movie | Relax Freddy | David Smith | 1966-06-05 |
Movie | Søskende | Bedemanden | 1966-09-02 |
Movie | Flagermusen | Blind | 1966-08-01 |
Movie | Der var engang | Første frier | 1966-10-01 |
Movie | The Loose Tile | Principle | 1966-12-26 |
Movie | The Girl and the Viscount | Nielsen | 1966-11-25 |
Movie | Passer Babysitting Girls | Thorbjørn Hansen | 1965-07-23 |
Movie | En ven i bolignøden | Børge Blom | 1965-04-08 |
Movie | It's Nifty in the Navy | Knud Hansen | 1965-09-03 |
Movie | Mor bag rattet | 1965-11-05 | |
Movie | Strike First Freddy | David Smith | 1965-12-21 |
Movie | Een pige og 39 sømænd | Andersen | 1965-11-12 |
Movie | The Girl and the Playboy | Andresen - advokat | 1965-10-15 |
Movie | Majorens oppasser | Major Clausen | 1964-02-14 |
Movie | Når enden er go' | Thør | 1964-07-23 |
Movie | Summer in Tyrol | Sigismund Sülzheimer | 1964-09-25 |
Movie | Don Olsen kommer til byen | Brandmand | 1964-12-18 |
Movie | Dronningens vagtmester | Tom, "Kulsoen"s mand | 1963-03-29 |
Movie | Peters landlov | Direktør William H. Schmidt | 1963-06-27 |
Movie | The Girl and the Press Photographer | Madsen | 1963-02-15 |
Movie | April | Lægeforsker Vagn Jochumsen | 1963-08-02 |
Movie | Vi har det jo dejligt | Opfinderen | 1963-03-01 |
Movie | Frøken Nitouche | Ferdinand Piper, teaterdirektør | 1963-08-16 |
Movie | Bussen | Vik | 1963-10-04 |
Movie | Dust for all the Money | Thorbjørn Hansen | 1963-12-13 |
Movie | A Day Without Lies | 1963-09-02 | |
Movie | Crazy Paradise | Simon | 1962-07-26 |
Movie | Journey to the Seventh Planet | Barry O'Sullivan | 1962-03-10 |
Movie | Lykkens musikanter | Havemand Texas | 1962-02-19 |
Movie | Sømænd og svigermødre | Peter Jensen - Kanustis ven | 1962-08-06 |
Movie | Still Dust on the Brain | Thorbjørn Hansen | 1962-09-28 |
Movie | Drømmen om det hvide slot | Johan | 1962-12-26 |
Movie | Oskar | Direktør Bernhard Bang | 1962-10-12 |
Movie | Det stod i avisen | Læge S. Gregersen | 1962-09-25 |
Movie | Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør | Anton | 1961-09-11 |
Movie | Sorte Shara | Tom | 1961-09-29 |
Movie | Dust on the Brain | Hr. Thorbjørn Hansen | 1961-10-11 |
Movie | The Musketeers | Tam | 1961-12-09 |
Movie | The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte | Anton | 1960-05-02 |
Movie | The Greeneyed Elephant | Tolderen | 1960-08-14 |
Movie | Forelsket i København | Carni | 1960-11-04 |
Movie | Baronessen fra benzintanken | Lars Tofte | 1960-09-04 |
Movie | Onkel Bill fra New York | Johnny Jensen | 1959-07-17 |
Movie | Charles' Aunt | Charles Smith | 1959-10-12 |
Movie | Styrmand Karlsen | Ole Olsen | 1958-10-30 |
Movie | Be Dear to Me | 1957-03-01 | |
Movie | Der var engang en gade | Danselærer Johny Johnsen | 1957-03-03 |
Movie | Tag til marked i Fjordby | Knud Tofte | 1957-12-27 |
Movie | Kispus | Max Møller | 1956-05-06 |
Movie | Hvad vil De ha'? | Gæst hos Hansens | 1956-01-23 |
Movie | Den kloge mand | 1956-10-15 | |
Movie | Færgekroen | Lars Tofte, kroejer og færgemand | 1956-10-12 |
Movie | På tro og love | Henry | 1955-08-19 |
Movie | Det var paa Rundetaarn | Hans Ramløse | 1955-12-26 |
Movie | I kongens klæ'r | Jens Rasmussen - rekrut 65 | 1954-09-24 |
Movie | Den gamle mølle paa Mols | Buschauffør | 1953-02-25 |
Movie | Kriminalsagen Tove Andersen | Nolle | 1953-01-07 |
Movie | Ved Kongelunden... | Vognstyrer Iversen | 1953-10-16 |
Movie | Father of Four | Bager Høst | 1953-11-02 |
Movie | Rekrut 67 Petersen | "68" | 1952-08-07 |
Movie | Det store løb | Fuld mand i bus | 1952-12-22 |
Movie | Naalen | Helmer, kriminalassistent | 1951-01-29 |
Movie | Dorte | Hr. Smith | 1951-12-17 |
Movie | Vores fjerde far | 1951-09-13 | |
Movie | The Red Horses | Niels Peter Dalum, Oles medstuderende | 1950-01-09 |
Movie | Smedestræde 4 | Ejnar - Pouls ven - cyklebud | 1950-09-30 |
Movie | Berlingske Tidende 1749-1949 | 1949-01-01 | |
Movie | Kampen mod uretten | 1949-03-18 | |
Movie | Penge som græs | 1948-02-23 | |
Movie | The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman | 1948-03-30 | |
Movie | I de lyse nætter | 1948-03-25 | |
Movie | Kristinus Bergman | Bud med nøgle | 1948-08-27 |
Movie | 3 years after | Hotelkarlen | 1948-10-03 |
Movie | Lise kommer til byen | 1947-08-18 | |
Movie | Hatten er sat | 1947-12-15 | |
Movie | Hans Store Aften | 1946-03-18 | |
Movie | Discretion Wanted | 1946-08-05 |