Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård (Swedish: [alɛkˈsǎnːdɛr ˈskɑ̌ːʂɡoːɖ] ⓘ;[1] born 25 August 1976) is a Swedish actor. Born in Stockholm, son of actor Stellan Skarsgård, he began acting at age seven but quit at 13. After serving in the Swedish Navy, Skarsgård returned to acting and gained his first role in the US comedy film Zoolander (2001). He played Brad Colbert in the miniseries Generation Kill (2008), and had his breakthrough for portraying vampire Eric Northman in the television series True Blood (2008–2014).
Alexander Skarsgård
Actor
1984–present
1
- Stellan Skarsgård (father)
- Gustaf Skarsgård (brother)
- Bill Skarsgård (brother)
- Valter Skarsgård (brother)
After appearing in films such as Melancholia (2011), Battleship (2012) and The Legend of Tarzan (2016), Skarsgård starred in the drama series Big Little Lies (2017–2019) as an abusive husband, which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Critics' Choice Television Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He went on to appear in the films Long Shot (2019), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), Passing (2021), The Northman (2022), and Infinity Pool (2023), and played Randall Flagg in the miniseries The Stand (2020–2021) and tech mogul Lukas Matsson in the drama series Succession (2021–2023) for which he was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award.
Early life[edit]
Skarsgård was born on 25 August 1976[2][3] in Stockholm, Sweden.[4] He is the eldest son of actor Stellan Skarsgård and physician My Skarsgård.[5] His parents are divorced.[6] He has five younger siblings: Gustaf, Sam, Bill, Eija and Valter, and two half-brothers from his father's second wife, Megan Everett.[7][8] Gustaf, Bill and Valter are also actors.[7]
A friend of his father, a director, gave Skarsgård his first film role when he was seven years old, playing Kalle Nubb in Åke and His World (Åke och hans värld).[9] In 1989, his lead role in the Swedish television production Hunden som log (The Dog That Smiled) earned him praise and brought him to prominence in Sweden at age 13.[10] Uncomfortable with the fame, he quit acting at that same age.[11]
At age 19, Skarsgård applied to perform his national service. He served in the Swedish Navy's SäkJakt ("protect and hunt") unit that dealt with anti-sabotage and anti-terrorism in the Stockholm archipelago, for 18 months.[12] After completing his service in 1996, he left Sweden and attended Leeds Metropolitan University in England for six months. He enrolled to study English but admits he did not study much and "had a blast" instead.[7][13] While there, he considered pursuing an architecture career, but chose acting instead.[6] In 1997, he enrolled in a theatre course at Marymount Manhattan College and moved to New York City. He returned to Stockholm after six months, but his time studying theatre confirmed to him that he wanted to act.[7][14]
Personal life[edit]
A football fan, Skarsgård supports Hammarby Fotboll, a club based in Stockholm, his birth city.[64] In October 2010, he donated several autographed items to "Bajen Aid", the club's fundraising auction.[65] In July 2011, he received an honorary degree from Leeds Metropolitan University, which he had attended.[66] He identifies as a feminist.[67]
Skarsgård was the Ambassador for the American team for a Walking With The Wounded fundraising event for wounded soldiers.[68][69] He trekked to the South Pole against Team UK (Prince Harry, Ambassador) and Team Canada/Australia (actor Dominic West, Ambassador). A few days into the trek, it was decided that the competition part would be cancelled due to hazardous terrain and weather conditions, so the teams combined forces and continued together, and all three successfully reached the South Pole on 13 December 2013.[70][71]
Skarsgård is in a relationship with Swedish actress Tuva Novotny, and in 2022, the couple welcomed their first child.[72]