Gunnar Björnstrand
Knut Gunnar Johanson was a Swedish actor known for his frequent work with writer and director Ingmar Bergman.
Biography
Björnstrand was born Knut Gunnar Johanson in Stockholm as son of actor Oscar Johanson and Ella Mauléon. After his education at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school, he made several appearances in theatre, film and radio. Björnstrand's first collaboration with Ingmar Bergman was the 1941 theatre production of August Strindberg's The Ghost Sonata. His first major film role was in Hampe Faustman's Natt i hamn in 1943. After signing a contract with Svensk Filmindustri, he was offered mainly parts in comedies, including Bergman's Smiles of a Summer Night. In 1957, however, he appeared in two dramatic roles for Bergman, in The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries and, notably, Winter Light. He regularly starred in other films by Bergman until 1968, when his work for the director became infrequent. He also played major roles at the Stockholm City Theatre and in private theaters. In later years, due to the consequences of a stroke, Björnstrand avoided long-term contracts, and focused on theatre and television work. His last film was Bergman's Fanny and Alexander : since he was suffering from memory loss at the time, the production was a difficult one for him. Björnstrand died in Stockholm in 1986.
In 1983 he won the Ingmar Bergman Award at the 19th Guldbagge Awards ceremony.
Björnstrand was married to actress and writer Lillie Björnstrand. They had three daughters, Kristina, Gabrielle and Veronica Björnstrand. Veronica has also acted on stage and TV. Björnstrand was also politically active and participated in protests against the Vietnam War. He was a Roman Catholic and is buried in the Northern Cemetery of Solna.
Filmography
The False Millionaire as Member of the choir Mon coeur et ses millions as Un choriste Ship Ahoy! as Young man His Life's Match as Student carrying 'Nicken' International Match as Young student watching competition Fired as Kirre Skoglund The People of Bergslagen as Birthday guest Vi som går scenvägen as A Man Panik as Bank Manager RyderThe Two of Us as Doctor Mot nya tider as August Palm's Associate Heroes in Yellow and Blue as Sgt. Kristian June Night as Journalist A Real Man as Clerk Her Melody as Miss Lindenstjärnas fiance Alle man på post as Military DoctorThe Ghost Reporter as Sausage Factory Engineer Snapphanar as Soldier Adventurer as Count ContiGeneral von Döbeln as Löjtnant BäckströmNight in Port as Sven ErikssonI Killed as LindénAppassionata as Svensson, Editor of Vecko-Bilden Live Dangerously as HahnMy People Are Not Yours as Major Rolf von RitterTorment as Teacher Nyordning på Sjögårda as Felix PalmerVad vet ni om Sussie as Harry HellbergI som här inträden... as HagmanPeggy on a Spree as Harald HaraldssonKristin Commands as Dr. Westman Senior / Vilhelm WestmanIncorrigible as Dr. Bertil LangenfeldtIt Rains on Our Love as Mr. PurmanWhile the Door Was Locked as Erik SahlenThe Bride Came Through the Ceiling as Sune ErikssonPappa sökes as Shoe-shiner Tom, 'Plutten'Soldier's Reminder as Sgt. LöfgrenOne Swallow Does Not Make a Summer as 40-talistenHär kommer vi... as Actor Bob Hill, aka Robert BergTwo Women as Bengt LarssonMusic in Darkness as KlassonEach to His Own Way as Sture WidmanA Swedish Tiger as Hans WolffLilla Märta kommer tillbaka as KaptenenPrivate Bom as Korpral BerglundPlaying Truant as Bertil KronbergThe Girl from the Third Row as Dr. Edvin BureliusFather Bom as Sportsman Fritjof KrafftMy Sister and I as Architect Gunnar StenwallFiancée for Hire as Actor Julius BrumseThe Kiss on the Cruise as Film Director Lasse BrennerThe Quartet That Split Up as Engineer PlanertzThe White Cat as Jarl EksellCustoms Officer Bom as Frans Melin, aka Hamn-CasanovaThe Nuthouse as ArmékaptenLivat på luckan as ConscriptSay It with Flowers as Oskar BlomkvistMöte med livet as Narrator One Fiancée at a Time as Valentin Fredriksson-FriskSecrets of Women as Fredrik LobeliusBom the Flyer as Sgt. Niklas SlevbrinkThe Green Lift as Malte LövmanDance, My Doll as Zdenko ZapatilWe Three Debutantes as Director BrummerSawdust and Tinsel as Mr. SjubergThe Glass Mountain as Dr. DalanderFlottans glada gossar as Shipowner Ludvig EkmanSeger i mörker as Henrik KugelströmA Lesson in Love as David ErnemanGabrielle as Robert HolménUncle's as Acke KullerstedtDreams as Otto Sönderby, ConsulSmiles of a Summer Night as Fredrik EgermanDet är aldrig för sent as Professor RockeSeventh Heaven as Ernst C:son Kruuse, majorThe Biscuit as Freddie BraxenhjelmThe Seventh Seal as Jöns, squireNight Light as Mr. PurmanSummer Place Wanted as Lawyer Gustaf DahlströmWild Strawberries as Dr. Evald BorgYou Are My Adventure as Tore HallMiss April as Marcus ArwidsonThe Magician as Dr. Vergerus, Minister of HealthSwinging at the Castle as Agne C:son StressbergCrime in Paradise as Adam 'A.P.' PalmquistHeaven and Pancake as Ernst C:son KruusePirates on the Malonen as 'Greven'The Devil's Eye as ActorThrough a Glass Darkly as DavidThe Pleasure Garden as David Samuel FranzénWinter Light as Tomas EricssonLyckodrömmen as SebastianMin kära är en ros as Georg EhnströmThe Dress as Helmer BergÄktenskapsbrottaren as Herr Fotograf FägerLoving Couples as Dr. Jacob LewinMy Sister, My Love as Count SchwartzTräfracken as Dr. Rune WesterPersona as Mr. VoglerHere Is Your Life as LundgrenHagbard and Signe as King SigvorStimulantia as Paul HartmanTofflan as Engineer Morgan AlmThe Girls as HugoShame as överste Jacobi, borgmästarePappa varför är du arg? Du gjorde likadant själv när du var ung as Adm. CarlThe Rite as Hans WinkelmannBlow Hot, Blow Cold as Prof. Gunnar LindmarkLockfågeln as Maj. SwedenhielmPistol as Alisia's FriendFace to Face as The GrandfatherTabu as RådmanskanAutumn Sonata as PaulCharlotte Löwensköld as Rural Dean ForsiusAvskedet as MorfadernFanny and Alexander as Filip Landahl