Gunnar Bjornstrand

Date of Birth: November 13, 1909
Place of Birth: Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Gunnar Bjornstrand Biography

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Gunnar Bjornstrand mini-bio: Being the son of an acting father, Oscar Johanson, it isn't surprising that he wanted to be an actor already as a child. However, he first worked as a baker's apprentice, in a barber shop or in the docks. After the conscription he got his first role, a bit part on the theatre Lilla Teatern in Stockholm, while he took acting lessons. One of his early roles was against Gösta Ekman. In the autumn 1933 he became a student at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school, along with Ingrid Bergman, Signe Hasso and the girl who was to become his lifelong wife, Lillie Björnstrand. After graduation they found in employment on the Swedish Theatre in Vasa, Finland. After two years of stage acting they returned to Sweden and outmost poverty. Besides small time stage acting he was only offered bit parts in the movies. In 1943 he made his breakthrough debut with Natt i hamn (1943). During WW2 he also made his first work with Ingmar Bergman on the theatre: August Strindberg's play Spöksonaten. He mainly appeared in light comedies until the movies that made him internationally famous: Ingmar Bergman's Gycklarnas afton (1953), Lektion i kärlek, En (1954) and Sommarnattens leende (1955). He became a close friend of Mr. Bergman. The 1960s was less successful and when his contract with Svensk Filmindustri (SF) ended, it wasn't renewed. Instead he made TV-theatre, theatre in Sweden and movies in Italy almost until his death. Other interesting movies with him are Kristin kommenderar (1946), Soldat Bom (1948) and Kvinnors väntan (1952).