Sten Ljunggren

Sten Ljunggren (born Sten Ivar Ljunggren on 16 October 1938 in Stockholm) is a veteran Swedish character actor whose career spans over five decades. He first broke into the industry in the mid‑1970s, debuting on screen in the 1978 film Lyftet and quickly establishing a reputation for delivering nuanced, often understated performances. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Ljunggren became a familiar face on Swedish television, most notably portraying Henrik in the long‑running drama Svenska hjärtan (1987‑1998), a role that earned him widespread recognition and endeared him to a generation of viewers. His versatility is evident in his ability to shift between genres, from the comedic tone of Jönssonligan får guldfeber (1984) to the gritty realism of the TV mini‑series Lasermannen (2005), where he played criminal inspector Lennart Thorin. In addition to on‑screen work, Ljunggren has made a significant impact as a voice actor, providing the Swedish dub voice for Carl Fredricksen in Pixar’s Up (2009) and for Sykes in Disney’s Oliver & Company (1988). He also lent his voice to the epic animation The Prince of Egypt (1999), showcasing his ability to convey emotion through vocal performance alone. Ljunggren’s collaborations with auteur directors have further cemented his status, most famously appearing as Birger in Lukas Moodysson’s short Talk (1997) and reprising a modified version of the character in the acclaimed feature Together (2000). His role as the eccentric principal in the cult series Kenny Starfighter (1997) demonstrated his knack for embracing eccentric, larger‑than‑life characters. Beyond film and television, he maintained a steady presence in popular Swedish series such as Rederiet (1993‑2001) and Skärgårdsdoktorn (1997‑2000), where he portrayed the retired doctor Axel Holtman. Over the course of his career, Ljunggren has amassed a diverse filmography that includes voice work, drama, comedy, and thriller, reflecting a commitment to artistic range and a deep connection to Swedish cultural storytelling. His personal life, marked by three marriages—including to Marianne Dyfverman (1962‑1967) and Barbro Oborg (1968‑1979)—and three children, mirrors the complexity of the characters he inhabits. Today, more than four decades after his debut, Sten Ljunggren continues to act, contributing his seasoned expertise to new productions and remaining a respected pillar of Sweden’s performing arts community.