Stellan Skarsgård
Biography
Stellan Skarsgård is a Swedish actor who built a career across Scandinavian and American film, television, and theater. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, he began acting early and had substantial film, TV, and stage experience by age 21, first in Swedish productions. He became closely associated with Lars von Trier, appearing in six of the director's features, among them Breaking the Waves (1996), Dancer in the Dark, Dogville, Melancholia (2011), and Nymphomaniac. His English-language work includes The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Good Will Hunting (1997), and Ronin (1998). Later he appeared in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, Mamma Mia! (2008), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), and as Dr. Erik Selvig in five Marvel films beginning with Thor (2011). He played Baron Harkonnen in Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024), and won Golden Globes for Chernobyl (2019) and Sentimental Value (2025), earning an Academy Award nomination for the latter.
75years old
Turns 76 on June 13in 215 days
- Born Göteborgs Kristine församling
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Stellan John Skarsgård (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 58
- Career span
- 41 years1983 to 2024
Genres
First and latest
Photos
Share
Did you know?!
First role
In 1985 Skarsgård made his American film debut in Noon Wine, directed by Michael Fields. He played a mentally disturbed immigrant farmhand, chased by a bounty hunter, acting opposite Fred Ward as the farmer.
Beyond film
Skarsgård has been in music videos with other Swedes. He appeared in Lykke Li's 2011 video "Sadness Is a Blessing" and in Eva Dahlgren's "Vem tänder stjärnorna" in 1991.
Stellan Skarsgård movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Lars von Trier directed four of these films, Hans Petter Moland three and Joss Whedon two. Charlotte Rampling appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Charlotte Rampling's page
Samuel L. Jackson's page
Udo Kier's page
Chris Hemsworth's page
Anthony Hopkins's page
Jonathan Pryce's page
All films by Lars von Trier
Hans Petter MolandDirector, 3 films, 2000 to 2014
All films by Hans Petter Moland
All films by Joss Whedon
Also three films together15 more actors
- Colin FirthMamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), The Railway Man (2013) and Mamma Mia! (2008)
- Joss AcklandNo Good Deed (2002), Passion of Mind (2000) and The Hunt for Red October (1990)
- Idris ElbaAvengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Thor (2011)
- Natalie PortmanThor: The Dark World (2013), Thor (2011) and Goya's Ghosts (2006)
- Keira KnightleyPirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) and King Arthur (2004)
- Amanda SeyfriedMamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), Boogie Woogie (2009) and Mamma Mia! (2008)
- Paul BettanyAvengers: Age of Ultron (2015), The Avengers (2012) and Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) (2001)
- Charlotte GainsbourgNymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013), Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013) and Melancholia (2011)
- Javier BardemDune: Part Two (2024), Dune (2021) and Goya's Ghosts (2006)
- Naomie HarrisOur Kind of Traitor (2016), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- Ray StevensonThor: The Dark World (2013), Thor (2011) and King Arthur (2004)
- Tom HiddlestonThor: The Dark World (2013), The Avengers (2012) and Thor (2011)
- Natascha McElhoneRomeo & Juliet (2013), City of Ghosts (2002) and Ronin (1998)
- Anders Baasmo ChristiansenIn Order of Disappearance (2014), A Somewhat Gentle Man (2010) and Arn: The Kingdom at the End of the Road (2008)
- Sofia HelinMetropia (2009), Arn: The Kingdom at the End of the Road (2008) and Arn: The Knight Templar (2007)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Stellan Skarsgård's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$10.6 billion
40 of the 58 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 58 films: 40 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 3 never in cinemas; 11 figure not found.
- 40Worldwide figure
- 4US gross only
- 3Never in cinemas
- 11Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 71% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$1.5B14.4% of the total
- 2$1.4B13.3% of the total
- 3$1.1B10.1% of the total
- 4$962M9.1% of the total
- 5$715M6.8% of the total
- 6$645M6.1% of the total
- 7$610M5.8% of the total
- 8$544M5.1% of the total
$3.1 billionfrom the other 32 films with a worldwide figure, 29% of the total
Awards
Seven awards and honors from 1982 to 2026, three of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | |||
| 2026 | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Sentimental Value | Won |
| 2020 | Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Chernobyl | Won |
| Berlin Film Festival | |||
| 1982 | Silver Bear for Best Actor | The Simple-Minded Murderer | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 2025 | CineMerit Award | Won | |
| 2010 | Amanda Award for Best Actor | A Somewhat Gentle Man | Won |
| 2010 | Kanon Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role | A Somewhat Gentle Man | Won |
| 1998 | European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award | Amistad | Won |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.