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