Gunnar Björnstrand

Knut Gunnar Johanson (13 November 1909 – 26 May 1986) was a Swedish actor known for his frequent work with writer and director Ingmar Bergman.

Gunnar Björnstrand
Born
Knut Gunnar Johanson

(1909-11-13)13 November 1909
Stockholm, Sweden
Died26 May 1986(1986-05-26) (aged 76)
Djursholm, Sweden
NationalitySwedish
OccupationActor
Years active1931–1983
Spouse(s)Lillie Björnstrand
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(m. 1935⁠–⁠1986)​

Biography

Björnstrand was born Knut Gunnar Johanson in Stockholm as son of actor Oscar Johanson and Ella Mauléon. After his education at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school, he made several appearances in theatre, film and radio. Björnstrand's first collaboration with Ingmar Bergman was the 1941 theatre production of August Strindberg's The Ghost Sonata. His first major film role was in Hampe Faustman's Natt i hamn in 1943. After signing a contract with Svensk Filmindustri, he was offered mainly parts in comedies, including Bergman's Smiles of a Summer Night (1955). In 1957, however, he appeared in two dramatic roles for Bergman, in The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries. He regularly starred in other films by Bergman until 1968, when his work for the director became infrequent. He also played major roles at the Stockholm Stadsteater and in private theaters. In later years, due to the consequences of a stroke, Björnstrand avoided long-term contracts, and focused on theatre and television work. His last film was Bergman's Fanny and Alexander (1982): since he was suffering from memory loss at the time, the production was a difficult one for him. Björnstrand died in Stockholm in 1986.

Björnstrand in 1940

In 1983 he won the Ingmar Bergman Award at the 19th Guldbagge Awards ceremony.[1]

Björnstrand was married to actress and writer Lillie Björnstrand. They had three daughters, Kristina, Gabrielle and Veronica Björnstrand. Veronica has also acted on stage and TV. Björnstrand was also politically active and participated in protests against the Vietnam War.[2]

Selected filmography
  • Falska miljonären (1931) as Member of the choir (uncredited)
  • Mon coeur et ses millions (1931) as Un choriste (uncredited)
  • Skepp ohoj! (1931) as Young man (uncredited)
  • His Life's Match (1932) as Student carrying 'Nicken' (uncredited)
  • Landskamp (1932) as Young student watching competition (uncredited)
  • Uppsagd (1934) as Kirre Skoglund (uncredited)
  • Bergslagsfolk (1937) as Birthday guest (uncredited)
  • Vi som går scenvägen (1938) as A Man (uncredited)
  • Panik (1939) as Bank Manager Ryder
  • Vi två (1939) as Doctor (uncredited)
  • Mot nya tider (1939) as August Palm's Associate (uncredited)
  • Hjältar i gult och blått (1940) as Sgt. Kristian (uncredited)
  • June Night (1940) as Journalist (uncredited)
  • Karl för sin hatt (1940) as Clerk (uncredited)
  • Hennes melodi (1940) as Miss Lindenstjärnas fiance (uncredited)
  • Alle man på post (1940) as Military Doctor
  • Spökreportern (1940) as Sausage Factory Engineer (uncredited)
  • Snapphanar (1941) as Soldier (uncredited)
  • En äventyrare (1942) as Count Conti
  • General von Döbeln (1942) as Löjtnant Bäckström
  • Natt i hamn (1943) as Sven Eriksson
  • Jag dräpte (1943) as Lindén
  • Appassionata (1944) as Svensson, Editor of Vecko-Bilden (uncredited)
  • Lev farligt (1944) as Hahn
  • Mitt folk är icke ditt (1944) as Major Rolf von Ritter
  • Torment (1944, dir. Alf Sjöberg) as Teacher (uncredited)
  • Nyordning på Sjögårda (1944) as Felix Palmer
  • Vad vet ni om Sussie (1945) as Harry Hellberg
  • I som här inträden... (1945) as Hagman
  • Peggy på vift (1946) as Harald Haraldsson
  • Kristin Commands (1946) as Dr. Westman Senior / Vilhelm Westman
  • Rötägg (1946) as Dr. Bertil Langenfeldt
  • It Rains on Our Love (1946) as Mr. Purman
  • While the Door Was Locked (1946) as Erik Sahlen
  • Bruden kom genom taket (1947) as Sune Eriksson
  • Pappa sökes (1947) as Shoe-shiner Tom, 'Plutten'
  • Krigsmans erinran (1947) as Sgt. Löfgren
  • One Swallow Does Not Make a Summer (1947) as 40-talisten
  • Här kommer vi... (1947) as Actor Bob Hill, aka Robert Berg
  • Two Women (1947) as Bengt Larsson
  • Music in Darkness (1948) as Klasson
  • Each to His Own Way (1948) as Sture Widman
  • En svensk tiger (1948) as Hans Wolff
  • Lilla Märta kommer tillbaka (1948) as Kaptenen
  • Soldat Bom (1948) as Korpral Berglund
  • Skolka skolan (1949) as Bertil Kronberg
  • The Girl from the Third Row (1949) as Dr. Edvin Burelius
  • Pappa Bom (1949) as Sportsman Fritjof Krafft
  • My Sister and I (1950) as Architect Gunnar Stenwall
  • Fästmö uthyres (1950) as Actor Julius Brumse
  • Kyssen på kryssen (1950) as Film Director Lasse Brenner
  • Kvartetten som sprängdes (1950) as Engineer Planertz
  • The White Cat (1950) as Jarl Eksell
  • Customs Officer Bom (1951) as Frans Melin, aka Hamn-Casanova
  • The Nuthouse (1951) as Armékapten
  • Livat på luckan (1951) as Conscript
  • Säg det med blommor (1952) as Oskar Blomkvist
  • Möte med livet (1952) as Narrator (voice)
  • En fästman i taget (1952) as Valentin Fredriksson-Frisk
  • Secrets of Women (1952) as Fredrik Lobelius
  • Flyg-Bom (1952) as Sgt. Niklas Slevbrink
  • Oppåt med gröna hissen (1952) as Malte Lövman
  • Dansa, min docka... (1953) as Zdenko Zapatil
  • Vi tre debutera (1953) as Director Brummer
  • Sawdust and Tinsel (1953) as Mr. Sjuberg
  • Glasberget (1953) as Dr. Dalander
  • Flottans glada gossar (1954) as Shipowner Ludvig Ekman
  • Seger i mörker (1954) as Henrik Kugelström
  • A Lesson in Love (1954) as David Erneman
  • Gabrielle (1954) as Robert Holmén
  • Stampen (1955) as Acke Kullerstedt
  • Dreams (1955) as Otto Sönderby, Consul
  • Smiles of a Summer Night (1955) as Fredrik Egerman
  • Det är aldrig för sent (1956) as Professor Rocke
  • Seventh Heaven (1956) as Ernst C:son Kruuse, major
  • Skorpan (1956) as Freddie Braxenhjelm
  • The Seventh Seal (1957) as Jöns, squire
  • Night Light (1957, dir. Lars-Eric Kjellgren) as Mr. Purman
  • Summer Place Wanted (1957) as Lawyer Gustaf Dahlström
  • Wild Strawberries (1957) as Dr. Evald Borg
  • You Are My Adventure (1958) as Tore Hall
  • Miss April (1958) as Marcus Arwidson
  • The Magician (1958) as Dr. Vergerus, Minister of Health
  • Swinging at the Castle (1959) as Agne C:son Stressberg
  • Brott i paradiset (1959) as Adam 'A.P.' Palmquist
  • Himmel och pannkaka (1959) as Ernst C:son Kruuse
  • Pirates on the Malonen (1959) as 'Greven'
  • The Devil's Eye (1960) as Actor
  • Through a Glass Darkly (1961) as David
  • The Pleasure Garden (1961, dir. Alf Kjellin) as David Samuel Franzén
  • Winter Light (1962) as Tomas Ericsson
  • Lyckodrömmen (1963) as Sebastian
  • Min kära är en ros (1963) as Georg Ehnström
  • Klänningen (1964) as Helmer Berg
  • Äktenskapsbrottaren (1964) as Herr Fotograf Fäger
  • Loving Couples (1964) as Dr. Jacob Lewin
  • My Sister, My Love (1966) as Count Schwartz
  • Träfracken (1966) as Dr. Rune Wester
  • Persona (1966) as Mr. Vogler
  • Here Is Your Life (1966) as Lundgren
  • Hagbard and Signe (1967) as King Sigvor
  • Stimulantia (1967) as Paul Hartman
  • Tofflan (1967) as Engineer Morgan Alm
  • The Girls (1968) as Hugo
  • Shame (1968) as överste Jacobi, borgmästare
  • Pappa varför är du arg? Du gjorde likadant själv när du var ung (1968) as Adm. Carl
  • The Rite (1969, TV Movie) as Hans Winkelmann
  • Blow Hot, Blow Cold (1969) as Prof. Gunnar Lindmark
  • Lockfågeln (1971) as Maj. Swedenhielm
  • Pistol (1973) as Alisia's Friend
  • Face to Face (1976) as The Grandfather
  • Tabu (1977) as Rådmanskan
  • Autumn Sonata (1978) as Paul
  • Charlotte Löwensköld (1979) as Rural Dean Forsius
  • Avskedet (1982) as Morfadern
  • Fanny and Alexander (1982) as Filip Landahl - Teatern

References
  1. "Gunnar Björnstrand". Swedish Film Institute. 9 March 2014.
  2. Gunnar Björnstrand at the website of the Ingmar Bergman Foundation.
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