Lars Hanson
Biography
Lars Hanson was a Swedish film and stage actor who began on Swedish stages after studying drama in Helsinki and Stockholm, playing Shakespearean roles such as Othello and Hamlet. He made his film debut in Dolken in 1915, directed by Mauritz Stiller, and became a leading man at home. International recognition came with the title role in The Saga of Gösta Berling (1924), which featured a young Greta Garbo. At Lillian Gish's request he went to Hollywood in 1926 and starred opposite her in The Scarlet Letter (1927), directed by Victor Sjöström. He appeared with Garbo again in Flesh and the Devil (1926) and The Divine Woman (1928), and Sjöström directed him opposite Gish in The Wind (1928). He returned to Europe in 1928, acting in Heimkehr (1928) and a British version of The Informer, then made Swedish films until the early 1950s. He was also among the first recipients of the Eugene O'Neill Award in 1956.
78years old at death
- Born Göteborgs Carl Johans parish
- Died Adolf Fredriks parish
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- Also credited as Lars Mauritz Hanson
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 4 years1924 to 1928
Every film, newest first
- 1928The WindIMDb rating 8.0
- 1927The Scarlet LetterIMDb rating 7.6
- 1926Flesh and the DevilIMDb rating 7.6
- 1924The Saga of Gösta BerlingIMDb rating 7.0
Genres
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Behind the award
Lars Hanson was the first actor, together with Inga Tidblad, to receive the Eugene O'Neill Award in 1956, now Sweden's most prestigious theater prize.
A role that slipped away
The next year, Hanson took the lead in a British adaptation of The Informer shot at Elstree Studios, playing the part Victor McLaglen later won a Best Actor Academy Award for in John Ford's version.
Big break
Lars Hanson came to Hollywood in 1926 at the request of Lillian Gish to star opposite her in The Scarlet Letter, directed by Victor Sjöström.
First role
In 1915, Lars Hanson appeared in his first film, Dolken, which Mauritz Stiller directed. As a leading man in his homeland, his popularity then grew with the roles that followed.
A change of course
Lars Hanson returned to Europe in 1928 because he feared his heavy Swedish accent would hurt his career in American sound films.
Beyond film
In Sweden, Lars Hanson acted on stage as well as in films. His notable stage roles included James Tyrone in the 1956 world premiere of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night.
Lars Hanson movies on Netflix
Most often with
Victor Sjöström directed two of these films. Five actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Greta Garbo's page
Lillian Gish's page
Marcelle Corday's page
Polly Moran's page
William Orlamond's page
All films by Victor Sjöström
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1935 | Litteris et Artibus | Won | |
| Eugene O'Neill Award | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.