Ove Sprogøe
Known for Acting · 186 credits
- Born
- 1919-12-21
- Died
- 2004-09-14
- Place of birth
- Odense, Danmark
- Also known as
- Ove Wendelboe Sprogøe Petersen
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
TV Shows (16)
The House at Christianshavn
1970
as Larsen / Hr. Larsen
Matador
1978
as Dr. Louis Hansen
Vores år
1980
as Ludvig Blom
Krigsdøtre
1981
as Hr. Christensen
Anthonsen
1984
as Holger Anthonsen
Jul i Gammelby
1979
as Nissefar
Station 13
1988
as Nielsen
Charlot og Charlotte
1996
as Grev Birksted
Nissebanden
1984
as Karl-Heinz Bierbaum
Henover midten
1982
as Erich von Herning
Aladdin or the Wonderful Lamp
1975
Ikke lutter lagkage
1984
as Niels-Arthur
Dr. Dip
1990
as Finn Klar Rask
Sådan er det bare
1987
as Kurt (Anettes far)
Far på færde
1988
as Hr. Hermansen
Noget om nisser
1972
Movies (170)
The Olsen Gang Sees Red
1976
as Egon Olsen
Lykkens musikanter
1962
as Havemand Texas
The Revolt of the Thralls
1979
The Girl and the Press Photographer
1963
as Madsen
3 years after
1948
as Hotelkarlen
Tre små piger
1966
as Biebitz Von Biebitz
Magic in Town
1968
as Politiassistent Møller
The Girl and the Playboy
1965
as Andresen - advokat
Kristinus Bergman
1948
as Bud med nøgle
Et dukkehjem
1974
as Sagfører Krogstad
Children of the Warriors
1979
Amour
1970
as Gammel døv dame
The Queen's Guardsman
1963
as Tam, "Kulsoen"s mand
Jasper's Ghost
1992
as The Ghost
Peters landlov
1963
as Direktør William H. Schmidt
Charley's Aunt
1959
as Charles Smith
Murder in the Dark
1986
as Bille
Five and the Spies
1969
as Onkel Quentin
Limpan
1983
as Preben
Søskende
1966
as Bedemanden
Famous Five Get in Trouble
1970
as Onkel Quentin
You Are Not Alone
1978
as Kim's Father / Superintendent
Dust on the Brain
1961
as Hr. Thorbjørn Hansen
The Olsen Gang on the Track
1975
as Egon Olsen
Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste
1967
Be Dear to Me
1957
The Moelleby affair
1976
as Digter Mortensen
Sorte Shara
1961
as Tom
War of the Birds
1990
as The Male Magpie (voice)
Tintin and the Temple of the Sun
1969
as Dupond/Dupont (stemme)
Den ubetænksomme elsker
1982
as Overbetjent Olufsen
In the Middle of the Night
1984
as Købmand - Susans far
I kongens klæ'r
1954
as Jens Rasmussen - rekrut 65
Det store løb
1952
as Fuld mand i bus
Lise kommer til byen
1947
Bandefører Balling
1978
Don Olsen kommer til byen
1964
as Brandmand
The Hour of Parting
1973
as Michael Jacobsen
Charlot og Charlotte
1996
as Grev Birksted
The Poet and the Little Mother
1959
as Anton
Journey to the Seventh Planet
1962
as Barry O'Sullivan
Our Home Is Our Castle
1971
as Hr. Larsen
Den kloge mand
1956
What a Pity About Daddy
1968
Nu går den på Dagmar
1972
The Olsen Gang
1968
as Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang Goes to War
1978
as Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang in Jutland
1971
as Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang in a Fix
1969
as Egon Olsen
Vi som går køkkenvejen
1953
Kærlighed ved første desperate blik
1994
Hip Hip Hurrah!
1987
as Bonatzi
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight
1977
as Egon Olsen
The Veterinarian's Adopted Children
1968
as Kristian
Strike First Freddy
1965
as David Smith
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang
1974
as Egon Olsen
Bussen
1963
as Vik
Carmen & Babyface
1995
as Engelsk lærere
Rekrut 67 Petersen
1952
as "68"
Final Act
1987
Martha
1967
as Hovmester Watson
The Olsen Gang's Last Trick
1998
as Egon Olsen
Færgekroen
1956
as Lars Tofte, kroejer og færgemand
The Only Way
1970
as Hr. Petersen
It's Nifty in the Navy
1965
as Knud Hansen
Næste Gang er det dig
1948
as Mand i cottoncoat
Een pige og 39 sømænd
1965
as Andersen
Your Money or Your Life
1982
as Bankdirektør
Along Came a Soldier
1969
as Baron Royal King von Konig
The Goldcabbage Family
1975
as Leopold Phieselsknast
Styrmand Karlsen
1958
as Ole Olsen
The Olsen Gang Runs Amok
1973
as Egon Olsen
The Olsen Gang's Big Score
1972
as Egon Olsen
Det var paa Rundetaarn
1955
as Hans Ramløse
Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run
1968
as Oberst ved konkurrerende regiment
Barbara
1997
The Major's Guard
1964
as Major Clausen
The Olsen Gang Long Gone
1981
as Egon Olsen
Discretion Wanted
1946
The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders
1979
as Egon Olsen
Love Thy Neighbour
1967
as Pastor Weigaard
Det var en lørdag aften
1968
as Johansen
Crumb at a Gallop
1992
as Anders
På tro og love
1955
as Henry
Summer in Tyrol
1964
as Sigismund Sülzheimer
Revolution My A..
1970
as Arthur Antonsen
Ved Kongelunden...
1953
as Vognstyrer Iversen
The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence
1981
as Egon Olsen
Tag til marked i Fjordby
1957
as Knud Tofte
Watch Your Back, Professor!
1977
as Konkurrerende redaktør
Still Dust on the Brain
1962
as Thorbjørn Hansen
Baronessen fra benzintanken
1960
as Lars Tofte
The Red Horses
1950
as Niels Peter Dalum, Oles medstuderende
Relax Freddy
1966
as David Smith
Tough Guys of the Prairie
1970
as Dommer
Dorte
1951
as Hr. Smith
The Missing Clerk
1971
as Teodor Amsted
Den gamle mølle paa Mols
1953
as Buschauffør
Crazy Paradise
1962
as Simon
The Tove Andersen Criminal Case
1953
as Nolle
Når enden er go'
1964
as Thør
Onkel Bill fra New York
1959
as Johnny Jensen
Forelsket i København
1960
as Carni
The Girl and the Viscount
1966
as Nielsen
Jeg er sgu min egen
1967
as Værgen
Det stod i avisen
1962
as Læge S. Gregersen
Kurt & Valde
1983
The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman
1948
The Musketeers
1961
as Tam
Frøken Nitouche
1963
as Ferdinand Piper, teaterdirektør
The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte
1960
as Anton
A Day Without Lies
1963
Nyhavns glade gutter
1967
as Direktør Schwartz
Kispus
1956
as Max Møller
Der var engang
1966
as Første frier
Lenin, You Rascal, You
1972
as Mulligan
April
1963
as Lægeforsker Vagn Jochumsen
Smedestræde 4
1950
as Ejnar - Pouls ven - cyklebud
Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør
1961
as Anton
I Adams verden
1973
About Ove Sprogøe
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 h… With 186 credits spanning from 1946 to 2018, Ove Sprogøe has appeared in 170 films and 16 TV shows.
Fans searching for Ove Sprogøe movies, Ove Sprogøe filmography, or the latest projects starring Ove Sprogøe can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Ove Sprogøe Movies
- The Olsen Gang Sees Red (1976) — as Egon Olsen
- Lykkens musikanter (1962) — as Havemand Texas
- The Revolt of the Thralls (1979)
- The Girl and the Press Photographer (1963) — as Madsen
- 3 years after (1948) — as Hotelkarlen
Where to Watch Ove Sprogøe Films
Most Ove Sprogøe movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Ove Sprogøe, check our movies catalogue and browse page.