Ove Sprogøe
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The House at Christianshavn
Larsen
1970
Series
The House at Christianshavn
Hr. Larsen
1970
Series
Matador
Dr. Louis Hansen
1978
Film
The Revolt of the Thralls
1979
Film
Children of the Warriors
1979
Film
Magic in Town
Politiassistent Møller
1968
Film
The Olsen Gang Sees Red
Egon Olsen
1976
Film
Murder in the Dark
Bille
1986
Series
Anthonsen
Holger Anthonsen
1984
Film
Charley's Aunt
Charles Smith
1959
Series
Krigsdøtre
Hr. Christensen
1981
Series
Vores år
Ludvig Blom
1980
Film
The Girl and the Playboy
Andresen - advokat
1965
Film
Jasper's Ghost
The Ghost
1992
Series
Station 13
Nielsen
1988
Film
Et dukkehjem
Sagfører Krogstad
1974
Series
Charlot og Charlotte
Grev Birksted
1996
Film
Kristinus Bergman
Bud med nøgle
1948
Film
Tre små piger
Biebitz Von Biebitz
1966
Film
3 years after
Hotelkarlen
1948
Series
Nissebanden
Karl-Heinz Bierbaum
1984
Film
Tintin and the Temple of the Sun
Dupond/Dupont (stemme)
1969
Film
You Are Not Alone
Kim's Father / Superintendent
1978
Film
Be Dear to Me
1957
Film
The Girl and the Press Photographer
Madsen
1963
Film
Søskende
Bedemanden
1966
Film
War of the Birds
The Male Magpie (voice)
1990
Film
Amour
Gammel døv dame
1970
Film
The Olsen Gang on the Track
Egon Olsen
1975
Series
Jul i Gammelby
Nissefar
1979
Film
I kongens klæ'r
Jens Rasmussen - rekrut 65
1954
Series
Aladdin or the Wonderful Lamp
1975
Film
Peters landlov
Direktør William H. Schmidt
1963
Film
Journey to the Seventh Planet
Barry O'Sullivan
1962
Film
Lise kommer til byen
1947
Film
The Olsen Gang in Jutland
Egon Olsen
1971
Film
The Olsen Gang Long Gone
Egon Olsen
1981
Film
Don Olsen kommer til byen
Brandmand
1964
Film
The Tove Andersen Criminal Case
Nolle
1953
Film
The Olsen Gang
Egon Olsen
1968
Film
The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders
Egon Olsen
1979
Film
Lykkens musikanter
Havemand Texas
1962
Film
Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste
1967
Film
Sorte Shara
Tom
1961
Film
The Olsen Gang's Last Trick
Egon Olsen
1998
Film
The Olsen Gang Runs Amok
Egon Olsen
1973
Film
The Hour of Parting
Michael Jacobsen
1973
Film
Det store løb
Fuld mand i bus
1952
Film
Limpan
Preben
1983
Bandefører Balling
1978
Film
The Queen's Guardsman
Tam, "Kulsoen"s mand
1963
Series
Ikke lutter lagkage
Niels-Arthur
1984
Film
The Olsen Gang in a Fix
Egon Olsen
1969
Film
Rekrut 67 Petersen
"68"
1952
Film
Carmen & Babyface
Engelsk lærere
1995
Film
Final Act
1987
Film
The Olsen Gang's Big Score
Egon Olsen
1972
Film
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight
Egon Olsen
1977
Film
Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run
Oberst ved konkurrerende regiment
1968
Film
In the Middle of the Night
Købmand - Susans far
1984
Film
Martha
Hovmester Watson
1967
Film
The Olsen Gang Goes to War
Egon Olsen
1978
Series
Dr. Dip
Finn Klar Rask
1990
Film
The Only Way
Hr. Petersen
1970
Film
The Moelleby affair
Digter Mortensen
1976
Film
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang
Egon Olsen
1974
Series
Far på færde
Hr. Hermansen
1988
Series
Henover midten
Erich von Herning
1982
Film
The Poet and the Little Mother
Anton
1959
Film
Dust on the Brain
Hr. Thorbjørn Hansen
1961
Film
Baronessen fra benzintanken
Lars Tofte
1960
Film
Hip Hip Hurrah!
Bonatzi
1987
Film
Five and the Spies
Onkel Quentin
1969
Film
Vi som går køkkenvejen
1953
Series
Sådan er det bare
Kurt (Anettes far)
1987
Film
Nyhavns glade gutter
Direktør Schwartz
1967
Film
Summer in Tyrol
Sigismund Sülzheimer
1964
Næste Gang er det dig
Mand i cottoncoat
1948
Film
The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence
Egon Olsen
1981
Film
Your Money or Your Life
Bankdirektør
1982
Film
Crazy Paradise
Simon
1962
Film
Famous Five Get in Trouble
Onkel Quentin
1970
Film
Kærlighed ved første desperate blik
1994
Film
Frøken Nitouche
Ferdinand Piper, teaterdirektør
1963
Film
Der var engang
Første frier
1966
Film
It's Nifty in the Navy
Knud Hansen
1965
Film
Strike First Freddy
David Smith
1965
Film
Den kloge mand
1956
Charlot og Charlotte
Grev Birksted
1996
Film
Crumb at a Gallop
Anders
1992
Film
Johnny Larsen
1979
Film
Nu går den på Dagmar
1972
Film
Drømmen om det hvide slot
Johan
1962
Film
Den ubetænksomme elsker
Overbetjent Olufsen
1982
I Adams verden
1973
Film
The Veterinarian's Adopted Children
Kristian
1968
Series
Noget om nisser
1972
Film
Kurt & Valde
1983
Film
Kick Me in the Traditions!
1979
Film
Father of Four
Bager Høst
1953
Film
Barbara
1997
Film
Det var en lørdag aften
Johansen
1968
Film
Vores fjerde far
1951
Film
Our Home Is Our Castle
Hr. Larsen
1971
Film
The Major's Guard
Major Clausen
1964
Film
Forelsket i København
Carni
1960
Film
Færgekroen
Lars Tofte, kroejer og færgemand
1956
Film
What a Pity About Daddy
1968
Film
April
Lægeforsker Vagn Jochumsen
1963
Film
Relax Freddy
David Smith
1966
Film
Kispus
Max Møller
1956
Film
Watch Your Back, Professor!
Konkurrerende redaktør
1977
Film
Jeg er sgu min egen
Værgen
1967
Film
The Musketeers
Tam
1961
Film
Dust for all the Money
Thorbjørn Hansen
1963
Film
Det var paa Rundetaarn
Hans Ramløse
1955
Film
Discretion Wanted
1946
Film
That Brief Summer
Baronen
1976
Film
The Goldcabbage Family
Leopold Phieselsknast
1975
Film
Styrmand Karlsen
Ole Olsen
1958
Film
Kys til højre og venstre
Ruths Husband
1969
Film
Along Came a Soldier
Baron Royal King von Konig
1969
Film
Hans Store Aften
1946
Film
Revolution My A..
Arthur Antonsen
1970
Film
Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde
Egon Olsen
1976
Film
Bussen
Vik
1963
Film
Oskar
Direktør Bernhard Bang
1962
Film
Onkel Bill fra New York
Johnny Jensen
1959
Film
Sømænd og svigermødre
Peter Jensen - Kanustis ven
1962
Film
Kampen mod uretten
1949
Film
Passer Babysitting Girls
Thorbjørn Hansen
1965
Film
Hvad vil De ha'?
Gæst hos Hansens
1956
Film
Det stod i avisen
Læge S. Gregersen
1962
Film
Lenin, You Rascal, You
Mulligan
1972
Film
Når enden er go'
Thør
1964
Film
Mirror, Mirror
1978
Film
The Girl and the Viscount
Nielsen
1966
Film
A Day Without Lies
1963
Film
The Red Horses
Niels Peter Dalum, Oles medstuderende
1950
Film
Mor bag rattet
1965
Film
Wife on vacation
Apoteker John Bjerre
1967
Film
Penge som græs
1948
Historien om Olsen Banden
2015
Film
Love Thy Neighbour
Pastor Weigaard
1967
Film
The Olsen Gang: Forever!
Egon Olsen
2018
Film
Revolutionen i vandkanten
Mand fra en anden klode
1971
Film
Flagermusen
Blind
1966
Film
Give God a Chance on Sunday
Præst ved Roskilde Domkirke
1970
Film
Fun in the Streets
"Fløjten"
1969
Film
Når engle elsker
Gabriel, Archangel
1985
Film
Vi har det jo dejligt
Opfinderen
1963
Film
Dorte
Hr. Smith
1951
Film
The Reluctant Sadist
Baron
1967
Film
Ved Kongelunden...
Vognstyrer Iversen
1953
Film
Tough Guys of the Prairie
Dommer
1970
Film
Still Dust on the Brain
Thorbjørn Hansen
1962
Film
En ven i bolignøden
Børge Blom
1965
Film
På tro og love
Henry
1955
Film
Tag til marked i Fjordby
Knud Tofte
1957
Film
Danmark er lukket
Speaker
1980
Film
Elvis Hansen, en samfundshjælper
Knudsen
1988
Film
Smedestræde 4
Ejnar - Pouls ven - cyklebud
1950
Film
Naalen
Helmer, kriminalassistent
1951
Film
All this - and Iceland too
1951
Film
The Loose Tile
Principle
1966
Film
Een pige og 39 sømænd
Andersen
1965
Berlingske Tidende 1749-1949
1949
Film
The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman
1948
Film
The Missing Clerk
Teodor Amsted
1971
Film
Stepping Out
Larsen
1981
Film
The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte
Anton
1960
Film
Farvel Thomas
1968
Film
Hatten er sat
1947
Film
Det er så yndigt at følges ad
1954
Film
Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør
Anton
1961
Film
Den gamle mølle paa Mols
Buschauffør
1953
The Thralls' Children
1980
En dag i radioen
En maler
1950
Film
Der var engang en gade
Danselærer Johny Johnsen
1957
Days in My Father's House
Gunnar
1968
Film
The Egborg Girl
Advokat Kurt Mikkelsen
1969
Film
Hjemme hos William
1971
Dansk bladtegning: danske bladtegnere - En dokumentation
Sig selv
1984
Film
Hjerter er trumf
1976
Toppen og bolden
Fortæller (voice)
1969
Film
The Greeneyed Elephant
Tolderen
1960
Film
I de lyse nætter
1948