Gösta Ekman | |
|---|---|
 Gösta Ekman in August 2014. | |
| Born | Hans Gösta Gustaf Ekman (1939-07-28)28 July 1939 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Died | 1 April 2017(2017-04-01) (aged 77) Stockholm, Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian, director, writer[1] |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Hasse Ekman (father) Gösta Ekman (grandfather) |
Hans Gösta Gustaf Ekman[2] (Swedish pronunciation:[ˈjœ̂sːtaˈěːkman]ⓘ; 28 July 1939 – 1 April 2017)[3] was aSwedish actor, comedian, and director.
Ekman was born inStockholm, Sweden, to the Swedish actor and directorHasse Ekman and Agneta (née Wrangel).[4] Ekman represented the third generation in a family of prominent Swedish actors. First in the line was his paternal grandfather, also namedGösta Ekman, followed by his father Hasse Ekman, a successful film director and actor. Ekman's theatrical family also included his brothers Stefan Ekman and Mikael Ekman, a stage director, and his niece, Sanna Ekman, an actress. He was married from 1989 to artist and film directorMarie-Louise Ekman, previously Marie-Louise De Geer Bergenstråhle, née Fuchs. Ekman sometimes appeared in credits asGösta Ekman Jr. to avoid being confused with his famous grandfather.
He was anassistant director toPer-Axel Branner, Hasse Ekman,Stig Olin,Bengt Ekerot andIngmar Bergman from 1956 to 1961. Ekman started his acting career in the theaters, such as the Alléteatern from 1956 to 1957, Munkbroteatern in 1959 and theStockholm City Theatre in 1960.[4] He also appeared in several Swedish films, including theJönssonligan series. He was most famous for his comedic works, especially his collaboration with the comic duoHasse & Tage on stage and in films—where he often played the leading parts. His body of work, though, included a number of genres, including a series of dramatic police films, in which he played the famous fictional Swedish policemanMartin Beck.
While Ekman officially retired from stage and film work in 2003, he returned in 2005 to play leading parts in his wife's two films,Asta Nilssons sällskap andPingvinresan. In 2007, he directed the playGäckanden for the SwedishRoyal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm.
He was married from 1963 to 1974 toKarl Gerhard's adopted daughterFatima Svendsen (born 1944), with whom he had a son,Måns Ekman (born 1964).[5] Subsequently, he was married from 1979 to 1987 to Pia Harahap (born 1955), with whom he had two adopted children. In 1989 he marriedMarie-Louise Ekman (born 1944).[6][4] They were married until Gösta Ekman's death.
He died on 1 April 2017, at the age of 77 from bile duct cancer.[3]
Ekman won the Swedish film awardGuldbagge Award in 1993 for his role as policemanMartin Beck in the Guldbagge-winning filmThe Man on the Balcony, based on the1967 novel byMaj Sjöwall andPer Wahlöö. Ekman also won the special Hedersguldbaggen (Honorable Guldbagge) award in 2008 for his service to the Swedish film and theater industry.
