Ove Sprogøe
Born
December 21, 1919
Died
September 14, 2004 (84 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Odense, Danmark
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.
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Known For
The Olsen Gang: Forever!
Egon Olsen
2018
Historien om Olsen Banden
2015
The Olsen Gang's Last Trick
Egon Olsen
1998
Barbara
1997
Charlot og Charlotte
Grev Birksted
1996
Charlot og Charlotte
Grev Birksted · (4 episodes)
1996
Carmen & Babyface
Engelsk lærere
1995
Kærlighed ved første desperate blik
1994
The Return of Jafar
Sultanen Af Agrabah (stemme)
1994
Crumb at a Gallop
Anders
1992
Jasper's Ghost
The Ghost
1992
Dr. Dip
Finn Klar Rask · (5 episodes)
1990
War of the Birds
The Male Magpie (voice)
1990
Asterix and the Big Fight
Astérix (stemme)
1989
Station 13
Nielsen · (8 episodes)
1988
Elvis Hansen, en samfundshjælper
Knudsen
1988
Far på færde
Hr. Hermansen · (1 episode)
1988
Hip Hip Hurrah!
Bonatzi
1987
Sådan er det bare
Kurt (Anettes far) · (1 episode)
1987
Final Act
1987
Asterix in Britain
Astérix (stemme)
1986
Murder in the Dark
Bille
1986
Når engle elsker
Gabriel, Archangel
1985
Asterix vs. Caesar
Astérix (stemme)
1985
Anthonsen
Holger Anthonsen · (5 episodes)
1984
Nissebanden
Karl-Heinz Bierbaum · (1 episode)
1984
Ikke lutter lagkage
Niels-Arthur · (4 episodes)
1984
In the Middle of the Night
1984
Dansk bladtegning: danske bladtegnere - En dokumentation
Sig selv
1984
Kurt & Valde
1983
Limpan
Preben
1983
Den ubetænksomme elsker
Overbetjent Olufsen
1982
Henover midten
Erich von Herning · (1 episode)
1982
Your Money or Your Life
Bankdirektør
1982
The Olsen Gang Long Gone
Egon Olsen
1981
The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence
Egon Olsen
1981
Krigsdøtre
Hr. Christensen · (2 episodes)
1981
Stepping Out
Larsen
1981
Danmark er lukket
Speaker
1980
The Thralls' Children
1980
Vores år
Ludvig Blom · (4 episodes)
1980
The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders
Egon Olsen
1979
Jul i Gammelby
Nissefar · (24 episodes)
1979
The Revolt of the Thralls
1979
Johnny Larsen
1979
Kick Me in the Traditions!
1979
Children of the Warriors
1979
Matador
Dr. Louis Hansen · (24 episodes)
1978
The Olsen Gang Goes to War
Egon Olsen
1978
Mirror, Mirror
1978
You Are Not Alone
Kim's Father / Superintendent
1978
Bandefører Balling
1978
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight
Egon Olsen
1977
Watch Your Back, Professor!
Konkurrerende redaktør
1977
The Moelleby affair
Digter Mortensen
1976
The Olsen Gang Sees Red
Egon Olsen
1976
The Twelve Tasks of Asterix
Astérix (stemme)
1976
Hjerter er trumf
1976
That Brief Summer
Baronen
1976
Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde
Egon Olsen
1976
Aladdin eller den forunderlige lampe
(3 episodes)
1975
The Olsen Gang on the Track
Egon Olsen
1975
The Goldcabbage Family
Leopold Phieselsknast
1975
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang
Egon Olsen
1974
Et dukkehjem
Sagfører Krogstad
1974
The Hour of Parting
Michael Jacobsen
1973
I Adams verden
1973
The Olsen Gang Runs Amok
Egon Olsen
1973
Noget om nisser
(1 episode)
1972
Nu går den på Dagmar
1972
The Olsen Gang's Big Score
Egon Olsen
1972
Lenin, You Rascal, You
Mulligan
1972
The Missing Clerk
Teodor Amsted
1971
The Olsen Gang in Jutland
Egon Olsen
1971
Hjemme hos William
1971
Revolutionen i vandkanten
Mand fra en anden klode
1971
Our Home Is Our Castle
Hr. Larsen
1971
Famous Five Get in Trouble
Onkel Quentin
1970
Revolution My A..
Arthur Antonsen
1970
Tough Guys of the Prairie
Dommer
1970
Amour
Gammel døv dame
1970
The House at Christianshavn
Larsen · (49 episodes)
1970
The House at Christianshavn
Hr. Larsen · (1 episode)
1970
Give God A Chance On Sunday
Præst ved Roskilde Domkirke
1970
Tintin and the Temple of the Sun
Dupond/Dupont (stemme)
1969
Five and the Spies
Onkel Quentin
1969
Toppen og bolden
Fortæller (voice)
1969
The Olsen Gang in a Fix
Egon Olsen
1969
The Egborg Girl
Advokat Kurt Mikkelsen
1969
Fun in the Streets
"Fløjten"
1969
Along Came a Soldier
Baron Royal King von Konig
1969
Kys til højre og venstre
Ruths Husband
1969
Asterix and Cleopatra
Astérix (stemme)
1968
The Veterinarian's Adopted Children
Kristian
1968
Days in My Father's House
Gunnar
1968
The Olsen Gang
Egon Olsen
1968
Magic in Town
Politiassistent Møller
1968
Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run
Oberst ved konkurrerende regiment
1968
What a Pity About Daddy
1968
Det var en lørdag aften
Johansen
1968
Farvel Thomas
1968
Asterix the Gaul
Astérix (stemme)
1967
Nyhavns glade gutter
Direktør Schwartz
1967
Martha
Hovmester Watson
1967
Love Thy Neighbour
Pastor Weigaard
1967
Wife on vacation
Apoteker John Bjerre
1967
Jeg er sgu min egen
Værgen
1967
Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste
1967
The Reluctant Sadist
Baron
1967
The Loose Tile
Principle
1966
The Girl and the Viscount
Nielsen
1966
Der var engang
Første frier
1966
Søskende
Bedemanden
1966
Tre små piger
Biebitz Von Biebitz
1966
Flagermusen
Blind
1966
Relax Freddy
David Smith
1966
Strike First Freddy
David Smith
1965
Een pige og 39 sømænd
Andersen
1965
Mor bag rattet
1965
The Girl and the Playboy
Andresen - advokat
1965
It's Nifty in the Navy
Knud Hansen
1965
Passer Babysitting Girls
Thorbjørn Hansen
1965
En ven i bolignøden
Børge Blom
1965
Don Olsen kommer til byen
Brandmand
1964
Summer in Tyrol
Sigismund Sülzheimer
1964
Når enden er go'
Thør
1964
Majorens oppasser
Major Clausen
1964
The Sword in the Stone
Uglen Arkimedes (stemme)
1963
Dust for all the Money
Thorbjørn Hansen
1963
Bussen
Vik
1963
A Day Without Lies
1963
Frøken Nitouche
Ferdinand Piper, teaterdirektør
1963
April
Lægeforsker Vagn Jochumsen
1963
Peters landlov
Direktør William H. Schmidt
1963
The Queen's Guardsman
Tom, "Kulsoen"s mand
1963
Vi har det jo dejligt
Opfinderen
1963
The Girl and the Press Photographer
Madsen
1963
Drømmen om det hvide slot
Johan
1962
Oskar
Direktør Bernhard Bang
1962
Still Dust on the Brain
Thorbjørn Hansen
1962
Det stod i avisen
Læge S. Gregersen
1962
Sømænd og svigermødre
Peter Jensen - Kanustis ven
1962
Crazy Paradise
Simon
1962
Journey to the Seventh Planet
Barry O'Sullivan
1962
Lykkens musikanter
Havemand Texas
1962
The Musketeers
Tam
1961
Dust on the Brain
Hr. Thorbjørn Hansen
1961
Sorte Shara
Tom
1961
Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør
Anton
1961
Forelsket i København
Carni
1960
Baronessen fra benzintanken
Lars Tofte
1960
The Greeneyed Elephant
Tolderen
1960
The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte
Anton
1960
Charley's Aunt
Charles Smith
1959
Onkel Bill fra New York
Johnny Jensen
1959
The Poet and the Little Mother
Anton
1959
Styrmand Karlsen
Ole Olsen
1958
Tag til marked i Fjordby
Knud Tofte
1957
Der var engang en gade
Danselærer Johny Johnsen
1957
Be Dear to Me
1957
Den kloge mand
1956
Færgekroen
Lars Tofte, kroejer og færgemand
1956
Kispus
Max Møller
1956
Hvad vil De ha'?
Gæst hos Hansens
1956
Det var paa Rundetaarn
Hans Ramløse
1955
På tro og love
Henry
1955
Det er så yndigt at følges ad
1954
I kongens klæ'r
Jens Rasmussen - rekrut 65
1954
Father of Four
Bager Høst
1953
Ved Kongelunden...
Vognstyrer Iversen
1953
Den gamle mølle paa Mols
Buschauffør
1953
Vi som går køkkenvejen
1953
The Tove Andersen Criminal Case
Nolle
1953
Det store løb
Fuld mand i bus
1952
Rekrut 67 Petersen
"68"
1952
Dorte
Hr. Smith
1951
Vores fjerde far
1951
All this - and Iceland too
1951
Naalen
Helmer, kriminalassistent
1951
Smedestræde 4
Ejnar - Pouls ven - cyklebud
1950
En dag i radioen
En maler
1950
The Red Horses
Niels Peter Dalum, Oles medstuderende
1950
Kampen mod uretten
1949
Berlingske Tidende 1749-1949
1949
Næste Gang er det dig
Mand i cottoncoat
1948
3 years after
Hotelkarlen
1948
Kristinus Bergman
Bud med nøgle
1948
The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman
1948
I de lyse nætter
1948
Penge som græs
1948
Hatten er sat
1947
Lise kommer til byen
1947
Discretion Wanted
1946
Hans Store Aften
1946