Sven-Ole Thorsen

Biography

Sven-Ole Thorsen is a Danish bodybuilder and strongman competitor who also worked as a stuntman and actor. Born in Copenhagen, he won Denmark's Strongest Man in 1983. On screen he often played imposing giants and villains because of his size, though he also took heroic parts, such as Gunnar in The Viking Sagas (1995). He became a frequent collaborator of Arnold Schwarzenegger, appearing in Conan the Barbarian (1982) as Thorgrim, The Running Man (1987) as the bodyguard Sven, and Predator (1987) as a Soviet advisor. Other roles included La Fours in Mallrats (1995), Tigris of Gaul in Gladiator (2000), and Secundus in Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe (1990). His portrayal of Tigris earned him two TAURUS World Stunt Awards, and he founded the Danish Bodybuilding Federation in 1979. His autobiography was published in 2007.

82years old

Turns 83 on September 24in 345 days

Born September 24, 1944Copenhagen
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22

Movie Career

Films: 23
Career span: 29 years1982 to 2011

Genres

Action91%, 21 films
Adventure43%, 10 films
Thriller35%, 8 films
Sci-Fi26%, 6 films
Crime17%, 4 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A first
By 2006, Thorsen had appeared in fifteen movies with Arnold Schwarzenegger, twelve as an actor and three as a stuntman or trainer, which made him Schwarzenegger's most frequent collaborator.
Big break
Thorsen got his start in Conan the Barbarian when Schwarzenegger brought him and other bodybuilder friends, like Franco Columbu, to the shoot.
Behind the award
Thorsen chased the part of Tigris of Gaul in Gladiator for more than a year and beat Lou Ferrigno for it. That role brought him two TAURUS World Stunt Awards when the ceremony was first held.
Behind the camera
Thorsen has started several federations, among them The Danish Bodybuilding Federation in 1979 and Cigar Night at Schatzi in Santa Monica, California, which he founded with Schwarzenegger.
Languages
Thorsen has a thick Danish accent, but his voice is almost never dubbed. Hard Target is one exception to this.

Sven-Ole Thorsen movies on Netflix

Ronal the Barbarian2011IMDb rating 6.5as Generalen
Hostage2005IMDb rating 6.5
Timecop: The Berlin Decision2003IMDb rating 4.7as SS Bodyguard
Route 6662001IMDb rating 4.4as Russian Hitman
Gladiator2000IMDb rating 8.5as Tigris
Best of the Best 4: Without Warning1998IMDb rating 4.8as Boris
Kull the Conqueror1997IMDb rating 4.9as King Borna
Mallrats1995IMDb rating 7.0as La Fours
The Quick and the Dead1995IMDb rating 6.5as Gutzon
The Viking Sagas1995IMDb rating 5.2as Gunnar
On Deadly Ground1994IMDb rating 4.6as Otto
Cyborg 21993IMDb rating 4.0as Doorman
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story1993IMDb rating 7.0as The Demon
Hard Target1993IMDb rating 6.2as Stephan
Nemesis1992IMDb rating 5.5as Interrogation Cyborg
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man1991IMDb rating 6.1as David
Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe1990IMDb rating 2.9as Secundus
Pink Cadillac1989IMDb rating 5.4as Birthright Thug
Predator1987IMDb rating 7.8as Russian Officer
The Running Man1987IMDb rating 6.6as Sven
Red Sonja1985IMDb rating 5.1as Bodyguard of Lord Brytag
Conan the Destroyer1984IMDb rating 5.9as Togra
Conan the Barbarian1982IMDb rating 6.9as Thorgrim

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Gladiator2000 Action, Adventure, Dramaas Tigris
IMDb rating 8.51.9M votes
Hard Target1993 Action, Thrilleras Stephan
IMDb rating 6.261K votes
Conan the Barbarian1982as Thorgrim
IMDb rating 6.9176K votes
Conan the Destroyer1984as Togra
IMDb rating 5.991K votes
The Running Man1987as Sven
IMDb rating 6.6193K votes
Mallrats1995as La Fours
IMDb rating 7.0135K votes
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story1993as The Demon
IMDb rating 7.034K votes
Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe1990as Secundus
IMDb rating 2.92.7K votes

Most often with

Richard Fleischer directed two of these films. Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in five 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.

Top

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Pat Roach

Jesse Ventura

Lance Henriksen

Russell Crowe

Tracey Walter

Richard FleischerDirector, 2 films

Films together

Arnold Schwarzenegger5 films together, 1982 to 1987
Arnold Schwarzenegger's page
- Predator1987IMDb rating 7.8Thorsen as Russian OfficerSchwarzenegger as Dutch
- The Running Man1987IMDb rating 6.6Thorsen as SvenSchwarzenegger as Ben Richards
- Red Sonja1985IMDb rating 5.1Thorsen as Bodyguard of Lord BrytagSchwarzenegger as Kalidor
- Conan the Destroyer1984IMDb rating 5.9Thorsen as TograSchwarzenegger as Conan
- Conan the Barbarian1982IMDb rating 6.9Thorsen as ThorgrimSchwarzenegger as Conan
Pat Roach3 films together, 1984 to 1997
Pat Roach's page
- Kull the Conqueror1997IMDb rating 4.9Thorsen as King BornaRoach as Zulcki
- Red Sonja1985IMDb rating 5.1Thorsen as Bodyguard of Lord BrytagRoach as Brytag
- Conan the Destroyer1984IMDb rating 5.9Thorsen as TograRoach as Man Ape / Toth-Amon
Jesse Ventura3 films together, 1987 to 1990
Jesse Ventura's page
- Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe1990IMDb rating 2.9Thorsen as SecundusVentura as Abraxas
- Predator1987IMDb rating 7.8Thorsen as Russian OfficerVentura as Blain
- The Running Man1987IMDb rating 6.6Thorsen as SvenVentura as Captain Freedom
Lance Henriksen2 films together, 1993 to 1995
Lance Henriksen's page
- The Quick and the Dead1995IMDb rating 6.5Thorsen as GutzonHenriksen as Ace Hanlon
- Hard Target1993IMDb rating 6.2Thorsen as StephanHenriksen as Emil Fouchon
Russell Crowe2 films together, 1995 to 2000
Russell Crowe's page
- Gladiator2000IMDb rating 8.5Thorsen as TigrisCrowe as Maximus
- The Quick and the Dead1995IMDb rating 6.5Thorsen as GutzonCrowe as Cort
Tracey Walter2 films together, 1984 to 1993
Tracey Walter's page
- Cyborg 21993IMDb rating 4.0Thorsen as DoormanWalter as Wild Card
- Conan the Destroyer1984IMDb rating 5.9Thorsen as TograWalter as Malak
Richard FleischerDirector, 2 films, 1984 to 1985
All films by Richard Fleischer
- Red Sonja1985IMDb rating 5.1Thorsen as Bodyguard of Lord Brytag
- Conan the Destroyer1984IMDb rating 5.9Thorsen as Togra
Also two films together16 more actors
- Tobin BellBest of the Best 4: Without Warning (1998) and The Quick and the Dead (1995)
- Branscombe RichmondNemesis (1992) and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991)
- Art LaFleurHostage (2005) and Best of the Best 4: Without Warning (1998)
- MakoConan the Destroyer (1984) and Conan the Barbarian (1982)
- Tia CarrereKull the Conqueror (1997) and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991)
- Jason Scott LeeTimecop: The Berlin Decision (2003) and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)
- Ric YoungCyborg 2 (1993) and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)
- Ralf MoellerGladiator (2000) and The Viking Sagas (1995)
- Brigitte NielsenRonal the Barbarian (2011) and Red Sonja (1985)
- Marjean HoldenHostage (2005) and Nemesis (1992)
- Thomas Ian GriffithTimecop: The Berlin Decision (2003) and Kull the Conqueror (1997)
- J.J. PerryTimecop: The Berlin Decision (2003) and Best of the Best 4: Without Warning (1998)
- Franco ColumbuPredator (1987) and Conan the Barbarian (1982)
- Sandahl BergmanRed Sonja (1985) and Conan the Barbarian (1982)
- Terry O'NeillKull the Conqueror (1997) and Conan the Destroyer (1984)
- Erik HolmeyRed Sonja (1985) and Conan the Destroyer (1984)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.