Ove Sprogøe

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

187

Gender

Male

Birthday

1919-12-21

Day of death

2004-09-14 (84 years old)

Place of Birth

Odense, Danmark

Ove Sprogøe

Biography

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.

Known For

  • Barbara

    Barbara

  • Discretion Wanted

    Discretion Wanted

  • Stepping Out

    Stepping Out

  • Oskar

    Oskar

  • Matador

    Matador

  • The Revolt of the Thralls

    The Revolt of the Thralls

  • The House at Christianshavn

    The House at Christianshavn

  • The House at Christianshavn

    The House at Christianshavn

  • The Musketeers

    The Musketeers

  • Styrmand Karlsen

    Styrmand Karlsen

  • Frøken Nitouche

    Frøken Nitouche

  • The Veterinarian's Adopted Children

    The Veterinarian's Adopted Children

  • The Major's Guard

    The Major's Guard

  • Martha

    Martha

  • Naalen

    Naalen

  • Smedestræde 4

    Smedestræde 4

  • The Thralls' Children

    The Thralls' Children

  • The Queen's Guardsman

    The Queen's Guardsman

  • Kurt & Valde

    Kurt & Valde

  • Farvel Thomas

    Farvel Thomas

  • Limpan

    Limpan

  • Bussen

    Bussen

  • Flagermusen

    Flagermusen

  • The Loose Tile

    The Loose Tile

  • The Goldcabbage Family

    The Goldcabbage Family

  • Amour

    Amour

  • Charley's Aunt

    Charley's Aunt

  • Kristinus Bergman

    Kristinus Bergman

  • Mirror, Mirror

    Mirror, Mirror

  • April

    April

  • Lykkens musikanter

    Lykkens musikanter

  • The Olsen Gang in a Fix

    The Olsen Gang in a Fix

  • Relax Freddy

    Relax Freddy

  • The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang

    The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang

  • The Only Way

    The Only Way

  • The Olsen Gang Sees Red

    The Olsen Gang Sees Red

  • The Red Horses

    The Red Horses

  • Bandefører Balling

    Bandefører Balling

  • War of the Birds

    War of the Birds

  • Et dukkehjem

    Et dukkehjem

  • The Olsen Gang Runs Amok

    The Olsen Gang Runs Amok

  • Journey to the Seventh Planet

    Journey to the Seventh Planet

  • Father of Four

    Father of Four

  • Be Dear to Me

    Be Dear to Me

  • You Are Not Alone

    You Are Not Alone

  • Hans Store Aften

    Hans Store Aften

  • The Olsen Gang Goes to War

    The Olsen Gang Goes to War

  • Den gamle mølle paa Mols

    Den gamle mølle paa Mols

  • Our Home Is Our Castle

    Our Home Is Our Castle

  • Det er så yndigt at følges ad

    Det er så yndigt at følges ad

  • The Olsen Gang on the Track

    The Olsen Gang on the Track

  • Sømænd og svigermødre

    Sømænd og svigermødre

  • The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders

    The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders

  • Jasper's Ghost

    Jasper's Ghost

  • Peters landlov

    Peters landlov

  • På tro og love

    På tro og love

  • Det store løb

    Det store løb

  • I Adams verden

    I Adams verden

  • Love Thy Neighbour

    Love Thy Neighbour

  • Kampen mod uretten

    Kampen mod uretten

  • Forelsket i København

    Forelsket i København

  • Still Dust on the Brain

    Still Dust on the Brain

  • The Missing Clerk

    The Missing Clerk

  • Der var engang

    Der var engang

  • Det stod i avisen

    Det stod i avisen

  • Berlingske Tidende 1749-1949

    Berlingske Tidende 1749-1949

  • I de lyse nætter

    I de lyse nætter

  • Mor bag rattet

    Mor bag rattet

  • Tough Guys of the Prairie

    Tough Guys of the Prairie

  • Sorte Shara

    Sorte Shara

  • The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence

    The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence

  • Days in My Father's House

    Days in My Father's House

  • Kick Me in the Traditions!

    Kick Me in the Traditions!

  • Den kloge mand

    Den kloge mand

  • Magic in Town

    Magic in Town

  • The Moelleby affair

    The Moelleby affair

  • Revolutionen i vandkanten

    Revolutionen i vandkanten

  • Crumb at a Gallop

    Crumb at a Gallop

  • Nissebanden

    Nissebanden

  • The Olsen Gang Long Gone

    The Olsen Gang Long Gone

  • Den ubetænksomme elsker

    Den ubetænksomme elsker

  • Final Act

    Final Act

  • Tre små piger

    Tre små piger

  • Penge som græs

    Penge som græs

  • The Girl and the Press Photographer

    The Girl and the Press Photographer

  • Kærlighed ved første desperate blik

    Kærlighed ved første desperate blik

  • Onkel Bill fra New York

    Onkel Bill fra New York

  • I kongens klæ'r

    I kongens klæ'r

  • Hjerter er trumf

    Hjerter er trumf

  • Passer Babysitting Girls

    Passer Babysitting Girls

  • Wife on vacation

    Wife on vacation

  • Along Came a Soldier

    Along Came a Soldier

  • The Olsen Gang: Forever!

    The Olsen Gang: Forever!

  • Hip Hip Hurrah!

    Hip Hip Hurrah!

  • 3 years after

    3 years after

  • Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde

    Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde

  • Famous Five Get in Trouble

    Famous Five Get in Trouble

  • Krigsdøtre

    Krigsdøtre

  • Danmark er lukket

    Danmark er lukket

  • Station 13

    Station 13

  • Historien om Olsen Banden

    Historien om Olsen Banden

  • The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman

    The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman

  • The Greeneyed Elephant

    The Greeneyed Elephant

  • The Hour of Parting

    The Hour of Parting

  • Fun in the Streets

    Fun in the Streets

  • Vores fjerde far

    Vores fjerde far

  • Summer in Tyrol

    Summer in Tyrol

  • Hvad vil De ha'?

    Hvad vil De ha'?

  • Drømmen om det hvide slot

    Drømmen om det hvide slot

  • Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run

    Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run

  • Jul i Gammelby

    Jul i Gammelby

  • The Girl and the Viscount

    The Girl and the Viscount

  • That Brief Summer

    That Brief Summer

  • Five and the Spies

    Five and the Spies

  • The Egborg Girl

    The Egborg Girl

  • Toppen og bolden

    Toppen og bolden

  • Watch Your Back, Professor!

    Watch Your Back, Professor!

  • A Day Without Lies

    A Day Without Lies

  • Dust on the Brain

    Dust on the Brain

  • Lenin, You Rascal, You

    Lenin, You Rascal, You

  • Don Olsen kommer til byen

    Don Olsen kommer til byen

  • Når enden er go'

    Når enden er go'

  • The Tove Andersen Criminal Case

    The Tove Andersen Criminal Case

  • The Olsen Gang

    The Olsen Gang

  • Charlot og Charlotte

    Charlot og Charlotte

  • The Olsen Gang Outta Sight

    The Olsen Gang Outta Sight

  • Tintin and the Temple of the Sun

    Tintin and the Temple of the Sun

  • Kys til højre og venstre

    Kys til højre og venstre

  • Charlot og Charlotte

    Charlot og Charlotte

  • Give God A Chance On Sunday

    Give God A Chance On Sunday

  • In the Middle of the Night

    In the Middle of the Night

  • Children of the Warriors

    Children of the Warriors

  • Søskende

    Søskende

  • Dr. Dip

    Dr. Dip

  • The Girl and the Playboy

    The Girl and the Playboy

  • Strike First Freddy

    Strike First Freddy

  • Carmen & Babyface

    Carmen & Babyface

  • Nu går den på Dagmar

    Nu går den på Dagmar

  • Vores år

    Vores år

  • It's Nifty in the Navy

    It's Nifty in the Navy

  • Anthonsen

    Anthonsen

  • The Olsen Gang's Last Trick

    The Olsen Gang's Last Trick

  • Sådan er det bare

    Sådan er det bare

  • Dansk bladtegning: danske bladtegnere - En dokumentation

    Dansk bladtegning: danske bladtegnere - En dokumentation

  • The Olsen Gang's Big Score

    The Olsen Gang's Big Score

  • Vi som går køkkenvejen

    Vi som går køkkenvejen

  • Vi har det jo dejligt

    Vi har det jo dejligt

  • Henover midten

    Henover midten

  • En ven i bolignøden

    En ven i bolignøden

  • The Olsen Gang in Jutland

    The Olsen Gang in Jutland

  • Murder in the Dark

    Murder in the Dark

  • Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør

    Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør

  • Rekrut 67 Petersen

    Rekrut 67 Petersen

  • Aladdin eller den forunderlige lampe

    Aladdin eller den forunderlige lampe

  • All this - and Iceland too

    All this - and Iceland too

  • Your Money or Your Life

    Your Money or Your Life

  • Een pige og 39 sømænd

    Een pige og 39 sømænd

  • Dust for all the Money

    Dust for all the Money

  • Baronessen fra benzintanken

    Baronessen fra benzintanken

  • Ikke lutter lagkage

    Ikke lutter lagkage

  • Næste Gang er det dig

    Næste Gang er det dig

  • Far på færde

    Far på færde

  • Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste

    Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste

  • Hjemme hos William

    Hjemme hos William

  • Lise kommer til byen

    Lise kommer til byen

  • The Poet and the Little Mother

    The Poet and the Little Mother

  • Tag til marked i Fjordby

    Tag til marked i Fjordby

  • Jeg er sgu min egen

    Jeg er sgu min egen

  • Nyhavns glade gutter

    Nyhavns glade gutter

  • Kispus

    Kispus

  • What a Pity About Daddy

    What a Pity About Daddy

  • Færgekroen

    Færgekroen

  • The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte

    The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte

  • Crazy Paradise

    Crazy Paradise

  • Noget om nisser

    Noget om nisser

  • Det var paa Rundetaarn

    Det var paa Rundetaarn

  • Johnny Larsen

    Johnny Larsen

  • Det var en lørdag aften

    Det var en lørdag aften

  • Dorte

    Dorte

  • Når engle elsker

    Når engle elsker

  • Ved Kongelunden...

    Ved Kongelunden...

  • Der var engang en gade

    Der var engang en gade

  • The Reluctant Sadist

    The Reluctant Sadist

  • Hatten er sat

    Hatten er sat

  • En dag i radioen

    En dag i radioen

  • Revolution My A..

    Revolution My A..

  • Elvis Hansen, en samfundshjælper

    Elvis Hansen, en samfundshjælper