Nils Poppe
Nils Poppe (31 May 1908 – 28 June 2000) was a Swedish actor, comedian, director, screenwriter and theatre manager. He is internationally most famous for his part in Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal, but in Sweden he was much loved and participated in over 50 films on cinema and TV.
Nils Poppe | |
|---|---|
 Nils Poppe in 1942. | |
| Born | Nils Einar Jönsson 31 May 1908 |
| Died | 28 June 2000 (aged 92) |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, theatre manager |
| Spouse(s) | Inga Landgré (1949–1959; divorced); 2 children Gunilla Sundberg (1965–2000; his death); 2 children |
He started as a serious stage actor in 1930, but quickly realised that he was better suited for comedy, revue, operetta and musical, especially as he also was a good dancer and singer. In 1937 he moved into film and became Sweden's leading film comedian during the 1940s. Consequently, Ingmar Bergman's decision to cast him in The Seventh Seal surprised many, but with that role Poppe showed that he could also convey much warmth and compassion. He would later participate in yet another Bergman film, The Devil's Eye (1960).
After some time of inactivity in the early 1960s, he took over the running of an open-air theatre in Helsingborg in 1966 and returned to the stage. Through a deal with Swedish Television, he managed to make the theatre known throughout the country and also revitalised his own career. He retired from the stage at the age of 85, still able to dance, but a few years later he suffered from several strokes, which left him both blind, speechless and immobile. He died at the age of 92.
Private life
Nils Poppe was married twice; first to actress Inga Landgré (1949–1959), and then to actress Gunilla Poppe (née Sundberg) (1965–2000) who was 29 years younger than him. He had two children with each wife and three of them have become actors, like their parents.
Partial filmography
- Adolf Armstarke (1937) - Skogens Konung (uncredited)
- Skicka hem nr. 7 (1937) - Undergraduate Blom
- Adolf i eld och lågor (1939) - Fireman Knutte
- Spöke till salu (1939) - Kirre
- Melodin från Gamla Stan (1939) - Nisse Karlsson, musician
- Kronans käcka gossar (1940) - 52 Nisse Ek
- ...som en tjuv om natten (1940) - Manager Svalling
- Karusellen går... (1940) - Nisse Lind
- Beredskapspojkar (1940) - Nisse Nyberg
- Tre glada tokar (1942) - Ruter
- Tre skojiga skojare (1942) - Fabian Lundegren, inventor
- Som fallen från skyarna (1943) - Dr. Baltazar
- Det spökar - det spökar... (1943) - Vikke Vire
- Det går som en dans... (1943) - Viktor Mattson
- Aktören (1943) - Philip Vinberg
- Sten Stensson kommer till stan (1945) - Sten Stensson Steen
- Blåjackor (1945) - Sgt. Kalle Svensson
- Pengar – en tragikomisk saga (1946) - Harry Orvar Larsson
- Ballongen (1946) - Sten Stensson Steen / Orvar Knatte / Yusuf / The King / Beppo
- Stackars lilla Sven (1947) - Sven Carlsson
- Don't Give Up (1947) - Pelle Olsson
- Soldat Bom (1948) - Fabian Bom
- Hur tokigt som helst (1949) - Mångsysslare
- Greven från gränden (1949) - Tiburtius Pettersson
- Pappa Bom (1949) - Fabian Bom
- Customs Officer Bom (1951) - Fabian Bom
- Livat på luckan (1951) - 52:an Nisse Ek
- Snurren direkt (1952) - Vicke Vire
- Flyg-Bom (1952) - Fabian Bom / Bom senior
- Dansa, min docka... (1953) - Sebastian Pettersson
- Dum-Bom (1953) - Fabian Bom / Dumbom
- Stampen (1955) - Patrik Palmquist
- Ljuset från Lund (1955) - Sten Stensson Steen
- Skorpan (1956) - Valfrid, pickpocket
- The Seventh Seal (1957) - Jof / Joseph
- Flottans överman (1958) - Fabian Bom
- Bara en kypare (1959) - Fabian Bom
- Lejon på stan (1959) - Charlie
- The Devil's Eye (1960) - The Vicar
- Sten Stensson kommer tillbaka (1963) - Sten Stensson Steen
