Ove Sprogøe
Date of birth: 1919-12-21
Place of birth: Odense, Danmark
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Ove Wendelboe Sprogøe Petersen
Biography
Ove Wendelboe Sprogøe Petersen (21 December 1919 – 14 September 2004) was a Danish actor. Born in Odense, his parents were Arthur and Inger Sprogøe. He married Eva Rasmussen in 1945, with whom he had three children. One of these is actor Henning Sprogøe. He made his debut in the film Hans Store Aften (His Big Night). His characteristic prominent chin that had been feared an obstacle of his career did not prevent him from being one of the most versatile and used Danish actors. His strength laid in the almost diabolic, michievous and brash but he effortlessly played meek and shy types as well as elegantiers. Among his many roles on stage in classic plays might be mentioned Mephisto in Faust, the title figure of Strindberg’s The Father and some Molière and Bertolt Brecht characters. An extremely popular actor in Denmark, he played many diverse roles, including several recurring television parts. He appeared in 157 films, making him one of the hardest-working actors in the history of Danish film. In his early years he often was the part of a duo working together with his friend and colleague Dirch Passer. He is probably best known for playing one of the lead roles in the Olsen Gang movies, along with Morten Grunwald and Poul Bundgaard, playing the gang leader Egon Olsen, known for his short temper, striped suit, and cigar. By this role he earned an international fame though mostly in Eastern Europe, in the GDR he together with his colleagues became almost a cult figure. Among his TV roles must be mentioned his elegant and humorous ex-burglar Larsen in the series Huset på Christianshavn (“The House at Christianshavn” - the first Danish sitcom) and his role as the wise and courageous doctor Louis Hansen in the epic, historical drama-series Matador, both also shown outside Denmark. He was an able singer especially in shows or revues and his interpretation of Tim Spencer’s Cigarettes, whiskey and wild wild women (in Danish re-creation: Fandens Oldemor – “The Devil’s Great-Grandmother”) almost became his signature tune. He was an actor who combined great public sympathy with the ability to remain a private person with a modest lifestyle. After his death it was revealed that he had been a passionate art enthusiast and had amassed a valuable collection of modern paintings. Shortly after his death in 2004, Nordisk Film (the company that made the Olsen Gang movies) established a scholarship for actors in his name. The state-owned road to Vridsløselille Statsfængsel (the prison where his Egon Olsen character was a frequent "guest"), was renamed by the city of Albertslund to Egon Olsens Vej (Egon Olsen Road). On 24 October 2005, his native city of Odense named a square Ove Sprogøes Plads (Ove Sprogøe Square) in his honour. And the bar 'Cafe Halvvejen', named a shot in his honor. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ove Sprogøe, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Movie Credits
Charley's Aunt
1959-10-12
Charles and Peter have passed their law degree and are looking forward to wooing a few girls in the
The Olsen Gang on the Track
1975-09-26
Egon and his two cronies managed to sneak a fortune with them to Spain. Here they live a life in a w
The Olsen Gang
1968-10-11
The first of 14 Olsen Gang films presents us with Egon Olsen, head of the gang, and his friends Benn
The Olsen Gang in Jutland
1971-10-08
The Olsen gang in Jutland. Ones again Egon Olsen has a plan when he gets out of Vridslose State Pris
The Olsen Gang Sees Red
1976-10-01
Egon and the gang are hired to stage a robbery of an antique Chinese vase for an economically challe
Days in My Father's House
1968-11-11
After twelve years in the US, Kirsten returns home to her father with her American husband and their
Martha
1967-10-10
The oldest ship in the fleet, Martha, and her jolly crew, must race Harald and win, or it's the scra
The Olsen Gang in a Fix
1969-10-03
A good looking female social welfare worker makes Egon Olsen forget about crimes for some time, but
The Olsen Gang's Last Trick
1998-12-18
Egon escapes from the psychiatric ward, where he has been incarcerated since the gang's last coup. K
The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang
1974-10-04
The Olsen Gang has finally made it. They are in Mallorca, having fulfilled their dream. Almost, that
The Olsen Gang Goes to War
1978-10-06
Some criminal EU ministers plan to turn Denmark into a gigantic fair ground and holiday paradise. Eg
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight
1977-09-30
Egon is starting to be a little forgetful; he forgot the zone number, so he fails to open the strong
Relax Freddy
1966-06-05
A Chinese diplomat is kidnapped from a conference in Genève and the world peace is at risk. The trai
Strike First Freddy
1965-12-21
Frede Hansen, a game salesman, is mistaken for a secret service agent on a ferry and kidnapped by en
The Olsen Gang Never Surrenders
1979-12-26
Egon plans to exploit knowledge gained during his latest term of incarceration. By stealing the unma
Summer in Tyrol
1964-09-25
At the Gästhaus "Den Hvide Hest" in the Austrian Alps, romantic entanglements are in full swing. Wai
The Goldcabbage Family
1975-01-01
The family Gyldenkål is actually called Iversen, but have changed their name, after numerous problem
Lise kommer til byen
1947-08-18
During the filming of a movie in Køge, Lise accidentally knocks down the director, Dan Burling. When
Rekrut 67 Petersen
1952-08-07
It all happens over two days and—naturally—and in particular—two nights. A perfectly ordinary girl g
The Veterinarian's Adopted Children
1968-11-29
Winnie's mother is going to Bangkok to settle an inheritance matter and is looking for a good boardi
Frøken Nitouche
1963-08-16
At a convent school for young girls, no one must know that the organist Celestin is the same person
The Girl and the Playboy
1965-10-15
A millionaire gets amnesia after a hit to the head and now he has to rediscover his past and decide
The Musketeers
1961-12-09
It is the war year of 1658, and the winter in February is so harsh that the belts are frozen. The Sw
The Queen's Guardsman
1963-03-29
When the Swedes occupy a Danish manor house, Svend Poulsen decides to help the family to safety. Alo
Passer Babysitting Girls
1965-07-23
Caretaker Alf Thomsen's very effective "alarm clock" comes once again in operation, and has again su
Dust on the Brain
1961-10-11
The story centers around the busybody housewives of a modern Danish working class neighborhood of th
Dust for all the Money
1963-12-13
A group of residents in the Copenhagen suburb of Solvænget decide to buy a farm in order to become s
Journey to the Seventh Planet
1962-03-10
A space expedition to Uranus is menaced by a giant brain that can make illusions come true.
Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumør
1961-09-11
The poet is tired of spring and can't write anything. Meanwhile, Lillemor thinks that spring should
The Olsen Gang Runs Amok
1973-10-05
When Egon Olsen gets out of Vridlose State Prision once again, his friends Benny and Kjeld do not wa
The Olsen Gang's Big Score
1972-10-06
After his usual stay behind bars, Egon has another cunning plan involving millions. They rob over 4
The Olsen Gang Long Gone
1981-12-26
Criminal genius Egon Olsen presents his accomplices Benny and Keld with yet another infallible plan
The Olsen Gang Jumps the Fence
1981-10-16
As usual, Egon has an ingenious plan. And, as usual, it works just fine until one of the gang member
War of the Birds
1990-07-01
Fagin is the bad bird of an otherwise idyllic forest. He assaults the nest of two wrens and destroys
Baronessen fra benzintanken
1960-09-04
The film begins with Baron von Rosensteen's funeral. As Rosensteen has no heirs, the old Rosensteen
You Are Not Alone
1978-02-23
Young teenager Bo is too sensitive for the hothouse atmosphere of a boarding school run by a cold, u
Don Olsen kommer til byen
1964-12-18
Bank director L.W. Jacobsen resides in a small provincial town. He is not particularly interested in
Sømænd og svigermødre
1962-08-06
Peter arrives in Helsingør to marry Bitten. He is accompanied by Kanusti, who is to be his best man.
Nyhavns glade gutter
1967-11-24
The con artist Prince Fingernem is a regular customer of the waitresses Mona Lisa and young Vicky at
Tough Guys of the Prairie
1970-08-31
Wild West Danish comedy. The story of four strapping lads who defeat a gang of criminals intent on s
The Egborg Girl
1969-09-12
If your name is Kaj Jensen and you live on Frederiksborggade, there is a certain likelihood that you
Magic in Town
1968-10-11
Police constable Møller'og psychiatrist Dr. Mogensen will have something to watch as the Pusle to ev
Een pige og 39 sømænd
1965-11-12
This festive comedy has a theme song that was incredibly popular in its day – but which is missing a
Styrmand Karlsen
1958-10-30
First mate Knud Karlsen has just received sad news from his girlfriend. On board the ship is also ch
Our Home Is Our Castle
1971-03-07
Residents of the old house are quite happy with their existence. But once they find out that the aut
Bussen
1963-10-04
The protagonist is a jovial bus driver, well beloved by his passengers, essentially the whole commun
Famous Five Get in Trouble
1970-10-16
The four kids, Julian, Dick, Georgina and Anne plus the dog Tim go on a bike-trip without any grownu
Five and the Spies
1969-10-13
The children Julian, Dick and Anne spends a summer holiday at the Kirrin Farm, where there cousin Ge
Dorte
1951-12-17
A train pulls into Copenhagen Central Station, and 16-year-old Dorte gets off. She needs to find som
What a Pity About Daddy
1968-07-19
About the young Aarhus businessman Jacob Hansen who is going to a congress in Copenhagen. His compet
Love Thy Neighbour
1967-09-01
Sven Gjeholm is a writer of sex books. His wife finds this a bit odd, considering he's not really in
Along Came a Soldier
1969-04-07
A soldier seeks justice against a group of men who murdered a prostitute.
The Greeneyed Elephant
1960-08-14
Two aspiring actresses stumble upon an ancient Aztec sculpture of an elephant that has the power to
På tro og love
1955-08-19
The young advertising executive Hans and his young wife Grete, who is a dentist, have a considerable
Still Dust on the Brain
1962-09-28
Det Støver Stadig (It's Still Dusting) is the second film in the popular "Dust series" (Støv På Hjer
Det var paa Rundetaarn
1955-12-26
It all begins innocently enough on a summer Sunday morning, with the sun shining from a cloudless sk
The Missing Clerk
1971-10-29
Two men disappear at the same time, with one of them committing suicide using dynamite. The police t
Tre små piger
1966-08-05
Grev Rambow har mistet sin formue og må nu bo til leje sammen med sine tre døtre, Beate, Marie og An
A Day Without Lies
1963-09-02
In a sophisticated world, everyone lies and deceives each other, and only the peaceful Norwegian Ste
I kongens klæ'r
1954-09-24
Kjeld Petersen plays a merchant who has stolen his clothes when he is out take a dip in the Sound. H
Forelsket i København
1960-11-04
Jan Scharf's band is playing at Grönköbing Folk Park. Pianist Jan flirts with a young female audienc
April
1963-08-02
Miss April Bergen is a skilled nurse with a secret crush on Dr. Vagn Jochumsen. Unfortunately, he is
Wife on vacation
1967-07-28
Allan Thorsen is tired of his wife, but he finds it difficult to tell her that he wants a divorce. S
Når enden er go'
1964-07-23
Claudius is a journalist who loses his job and is in love with Dorte. Her father refuses to give his
The Girl and the Viscount
1966-11-25
Susanne is going to the countryside to visit Ditmar. Ditmar has been abroad for over a year, and in
Ved Kongelunden...
1953-10-16
The good people of a small community in the countryside near Copenhagen enjoy life and find their wa
Fun in the Streets
1969-08-01
A gang transport drugs with a little girl inside her teddy bear.
Jasper's Ghost
1992-10-09
11-year-old Jasper may just be starting puberty, but so far he has experienced a lifetime of emotion
Sorte Shara
1961-09-29
Based on a true story from the fateful day of August 29, 1943, when the Germans disarmed the Danish
Lykkens musikanter
1962-02-19
Villa Orfeus is a peculiar old house that has become a treasure for the neighborhood's residents. It
Tag til marked i Fjordby
1957-12-27
In the early 1940s, there were a couple of guys who traveled around the country from market to marke
Jeg er sgu min egen
1967-06-30
Being yourself – and above all your own master – that is what the film is about. After a short stay
Onkel Bill fra New York
1959-07-17
Hans Høj is the director of Music-Boxen. He also has an uncle, Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill is the super-d
Revolution My A..
1970-10-09
A comedy about a Danish private detective, normally just occupied with cases about unfaithful spouse
Kispus
1956-05-06
When a young woman falls in love with a gown in a shop window it leads to adventure and romance exce
Hip Hip Hurrah!
1987-09-04
The life and times of the Scandinavian artists' colony who lived in Skagen on the Danish coast durin
Det stod i avisen
1962-09-25
An episodic film with six different stories that are more or less interwoven. A married couple is ce
Vi har det jo dejligt
1963-03-01
This comedy is based on Finn Søeborg's text. It is a film full of warmth and joie de vivre, set in "
Carmen & Babyface
1995-01-20
Set in 1962 during the Berlin crisis, the contented lifestyle of Carmen and her kid brother, whom sh
Der var engang en gade
1957-03-03
In the charming old Copenhagen neighborhood of Nyboder lives a group of quirky and distinctive chara
Det var en lørdag aften
1968-06-27
One Saturday evening, Trine prepares dinner for her boyfriend Hans. Unfortunately, Hans is delayed,
Your Money or Your Life
1982-02-25
An architect experiences health problems following a professional and personal setback. The conflict
Crazy Paradise
1962-07-26
Romantic comedy, based on the discovery that eggs from a particular island provide men with great vi
Elvis Hansen, en samfundshjælper
1988-11-25
In Nørrebro, in a property ripe for redevelopment, only one family remains: the Hansens. With Elvis
The Revolt of the Thralls
1979-10-08
A three part story about the plague, religion and revolt in Northern Europe in the period 1349 to 15
The Thralls' Children
1980-10-14
The last of three animated films about the history of the exploited underclass in the Nordic countri
Charlot og Charlotte
1996-09-01
Cool city girl Charlot ends up with lonely naive country girl Charlotte on a road trip together acro
Oskar
1962-10-12
Oskar? That's my driver. And Tina, my maid, must have taken my suitcase with her to the baron - the
Når engle elsker
1985-12-26
Metaphysical comedy and love film about two young angels, who are tasked by the archangel Gabriel to
The Red Horses
1950-01-09
The old renowned Landboskole is spreading a new team of Agricultural Candidates after completing the
Hatten er sat
1947-12-15
Detective Peter Smeth and his young and charming wife, Louise, visit Magasin Heiberg, where, at his
Farvel Thomas
1968-02-25
Thomas is newly divorced and is borrowing Bibi & Asger's apartment. He goes to the doctor because he
Hjemme hos William
1971-03-28
Architect William Sommer wants to organize his life in a practical and sensible way. Yet it is falli
Flagermusen
1966-08-01
Doctor Falke takes revenge on Gabriel von Eisenstein because, after a carnival, he left him lying in
The Hour of Parting
1973-11-09
A man is fired from his office job and at the same time he has a suspicion that his wife is cheating
Naalen
1951-01-29
"Naalen" is the title character in the film, a ruthless black market kingpin whose wake inevitably f
The Moelleby affair
1976-12-26
Mølleby is a small, cozy market town. The year is 1924, and the sight of a Rolls Royce from Copenhag
Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste
1967-06-28
In inner Copenhagen, in the real old town, in greengrocer Mortensen's property right under Tagskægge
Discretion Wanted
1946-08-05
In order to supplement the family income, Marius Bastrup rents his unused rooms to young women looki
Det store løb
1952-12-22
Due to his weakness for women and gambling, the old landowner Vilhelm Stone has ruined his marriage
Drømmen om det hvide slot
1962-12-26
Throughout his childhood "The White Castle " stood as something special for Susanne . The towering s
Father of Four
1953-11-02
An everyday story about a single father with four children, whose eldest daughter, Søs, runs the hou
It's Nifty in the Navy
1965-09-03
The three young fishermen, Svend, Knud, and Valdemar, have bought a new cutter, but haven't paid it
Færgekroen
1956-10-12
The Royal privileged ferry inn in Hørby is owned and operated by the two good friends Erik Hansen an
En ven i bolignøden
1965-04-08
Among the residents of the boarding house on Fredhvilevej are Børge Blom, a civil servant, the feist
Hvad vil De ha'?
1956-01-23
A film director sends his director and two screenwriters out into the city to find out what a film s
Den ubetænksomme elsker
1982-10-15
Psychological drama about a doctor who, after taking over a practice in a small community, becomes e
I de lyse nætter
1948-03-25
What could be more beautiful and delightful than the Danish summer when it shows itself from its bes
Be Dear to Me
1957-03-01
The Danish Ingen tid til Kaertegn (Be Dear to Me) is heavily reliant on the appeal of its star, 8-ye
Den gamle mølle paa Mols
1953-02-25
A young, beautiful girl arrives at Krogerød Kro on Mols and shocks the innkeeper by telling him that
Lenin, You Rascal, You
1972-02-15
A comedy based on partially authentic events. The year is 1917, World War I is raging and dividing G
The Major's Guard
1964-02-14
The Danish minister of defense decides to join the army incognito to observe. This causes CHAOS. It
In the Middle of the Night
1984-03-09
Benny and Arnold are homeless and along with others living on Nørrebro in Copenhagen. The police is
Peters landlov
1963-06-27
The ship arrives in Copenhagen and after a long time at sea, most of the crew are eager to go ashore
The Poet and the Little Mother
1959-03-06
Poeten and Lillemor are making their living on his writing, but the general interest in modern poetr
Mor bag rattet
1965-11-05
Lykke Jeppsen is beautiful and young, but she is best served by not being much else. She certainly s
Murder in the Dark
1986-09-19
A womanizing journalist is on the outs with the cops who want him in jail and a mysterious "thin man
Friends at Arms: On a Bear Run
1968-08-23
The German bear Fido from Münich is sweet, easygoing and nice, and just loves Danish soldiers. Thus,
Barbara
1997-10-02
Young vicar Mr. Paul arrives at the Faroe Islands to take up a benefice, and meets the young Barbara
Vores fjerde far
1951-09-13
The film is a sequel to Hold fingrene fra mor (Hands Off Mom). Berthe Quistgaard and Helge Kjærulff-
Johnny Larsen
1979-10-01
From a working class coming-of-age novel, Morten Arnfred fashioned his feature film to recapture the
Hjerter er trumf
1976-03-19
Drama about a man in his thirties who experiences an identity crisis after receiving a heart transpl
Den kloge mand
1956-10-15
In the small idyllic town Randrup, lives on nature-loving and friendly thatcher Rasmus Thomsen (Oswa
Mirror, Mirror
1978-02-24
Heavily influenced by the French stage sensation La Cage Aux Folles (which was filmed the very same
Der var engang
1966-10-01
The princess of Illyria, who has rejected all the fine suitors who have proposed to her, begins to t
Smedestræde 4
1950-09-30
At Smedestræde 4 in Copenhagen, a young orphan girl named Elsebeth Jacobsen lives next door to Carl
The Poet and Lillemor and Lotte
1960-05-02
The poet and Lillemor have become parents, but poetry and washing the diapers are two subjects which
The Loose Tile
1966-12-26
Sigfred dioecious is an acidic man. Teacher and can not really hate children. When he one day a tile
The Girl and the Press Photographer
1963-02-15
Bastian and Lene are a good couple, as a journalist and press photographer. They take turns to get i
Amour
1970-08-06
This three-part movie begins with a young woman married to an older, cold-hearted man in the year 12
Et dukkehjem
1974-04-14
In her husband's opinion, Nora spends too much money. When Nora receives a visit from Mrs. Linde, sh
I Adams verden
1973-10-21
Some young squatters have occupied a building that the insurance company wants to demolish, but Adam
The Reluctant Sadist
1967-03-27
A poor dandy embezzled large sums of money and buys the title Marquis De Sade to impress the upper c
Kampen mod uretten
1949-03-18
Depiction of the social democratic activist and politician Peter Sabroe, who in the time around the
Watch Your Back, Professor!
1977-08-19
When a boring collage professor is mistaken for his cousin, he gets into all kinds of trouble, with
Penge som græs
1948-02-23
The heavy prison door in Vridsløse opens, and freedom beckons once again to counterfeiter P. Krone-S
The Tove Andersen Criminal Case
1953-01-07
Tove Andersen's problem ends in Christianshavn's moat, and this is where the film begins. The body h
Kurt & Valde
1983-07-29
It cannot be said that the two actors Kurt Karlsen and Valdemar Hansen are particularly successful.
Kys til højre og venstre
1969-03-13
A portrayal of two modern young men and their experiences of love. Jack, a sociology student, is in
Nu går den på Dagmar
1972-10-23
A group of young actors, ambitious and naive, dream of their big breakthrough, criticize the theater
Vi som går køkkenvejen
1953-02-02
The beautiful and spoiled manufacturer's daughter Helga defiantly bets with her friends whether she
Stepping Out
1981-08-28
Individually divorced and disillusioned, Jens and Karen meet and are drawn towards each other, but h
Give God A Chance On Sunday
1970-04-22
A young priest thinks he's found out what he needs to do to better his church.
Historien om Olsen Banden
2015-03-22
Bandefører Balling
1978-01-01
3 years after
1948-10-03
Soya's satirist take on variations of Danes, who willingly or unwillingly came to deal with German t
Kristinus Bergman
1948-08-27
Danish noir crime drama with a poetic nerve. Two boys, Kristinus and Jakob (Rode and Neergaard) expe
That Brief Summer
1976-01-23
Kirsten gets divorced in her early 40s and moves with her son to her parents' home in Hjørring. Here
Søskende
1966-09-02
Three siblings see each other again after many years at their father's deathbed. The eldest, Arthur,
Danmark er lukket
1980-10-31
In the future, Denmark has been made a nuclear waste dump and the Danish language is banned.
The Viking Watch of the Danish Seaman
1948-03-30
On the 9th of April 1940, the crew of a Danish merchant ship receives the news of Germany's invasion
Hans Store Aften
1946-03-18
Young Jonas Tofte is a waiter in the theater café, but he is more than that; he is also a poet and h
Kærlighed ved første desperate blik
1994-07-01
Limpan
1983-02-04
Limpan is an alcoholic who has been put into a caretaking home for alcoholics. He's promised a job o
The Olsen Gang: Forever!
2018-11-27
In 50 years anniversary of the first film about The Olsen Gang appeared in Danish cinemas. The film
Berlingske Tidende 1749-1949
1949-01-01
Dansk bladtegning: danske bladtegnere - En dokumentation
1984-01-01
Final Act
1987-01-23
FINAL ACT is based on Noel Coward's play "Waiting in the Wings". Even the smallest events turn into
All this - and Iceland too
1951-09-03
1914. The monarchs of Sweden, Denmark and Norway meet to demonstrate unity. In the crowd is a beauti
Children of the Warriors
1979-08-26
A group of children fleeing from a cruel stone age society with violence, exploitation and sexual ab
Det er så yndigt at følges ad
1954-12-02
Who decides where the cupboard should go in a marriage? The film begins with three cheerful movers,
Kick Me in the Traditions!
1979-09-17
Based on Leif Panduro's 1958 satire classic. David, a senior high-school student, aims a swift kick
Superfos Glasuld – et isoleret tilfælde
1976-01-01
Revolutionen i vandkanten
1971-03-22
Næste Gang er det dig
1948-11-23
The cause of the traffic accident should not be sought at the time of the accident itself, but long
En dag i radioen
1950-02-16
Toppen og bolden
1969-10-13
Tintin and the Temple of the Sun
1969-12-13
When seven archaeologists find an ancient Inca temple, they become victims of an ancient curse. Back
The Only Way
1970-01-01
In April 1940, the armies of Nazi Germany invaded Denmark. The Danish government promised peaceful c
Crumb at a Gallop
1992-12-04
Everything is normal with the Krumborg family – but when you know them, nothing can surprise you any