{{Short description|Swedish actor (1925–2020)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Olof Thunberg | image = Olof Thunberg 1968.jpg | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = Thunberg in 1968 | birth_name = Fritz-Olof Thunberg | birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|05|21|df=yes}} | birth_place = Västerås, Sweden | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|02|24|1925|05|21|df=y}} | death_place = Stockholm, Sweden | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|director}} | years_active = | spouse = {{marriage|Ingrid Johansson|1950|1954|reason=divorced}}<ref name="SVDB">{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1950-10-24/8 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Svenska Dagbladet: Bröllop |trans-title=Swedish Daily News: Wedding |location=Stockholm |date=24 October 1950|page=11 |language=sv |access-date=6 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006224953/https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1950-10-24/8 |archive-date=6 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><br />{{marriage|Mona Andersson|1978|1990|reason=divorced}}<ref name="EXPRN">{{cite news|title=Expressen|trans-title=The Express|newspaper=Expressen|location=Stockholm|date=23 October 1978|page=32|language=sv}}</ref> | partner = Lena Granhagen <br />(engaged 1959–?)<ref name="förlovningen 1959">{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1959-05-17/2 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Förlovade |date=17 May 1959 |page=2 |access-date=5 April 2018 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831214333/https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1959-05-17/2 |archive-date=31 August 2018 |url-status=live}}; {{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1959-05-20/15 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Skådespelerskan, fil. kand. <nowiki>[...]</nowiki> |date=20 May 1959 |page=15 |access-date=5 April 2018 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831212828/https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1959-05-20/15 |archive-date=31 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> | children = 2, including Svante Thunberg | relatives = Greta Thunberg (granddaughter)<br />Malena Ernman (daughter-in-law) | signature = Olof Thunberg signature 1998.png }}
'''Fritz-Olof Thunberg''' (21 May 1925 – 24 February 2020) was a Swedish actor and director. He was perhaps best known for being the voice of the cartoon character Bamse.
== Early life and career == Thunberg was born Fritz-Olof Thunberg in Västerås, where he formed a theatre club called Scenklubben which also included Lars Ekborg and the poet Bo Setterlind. He studied at Calle Flygare's drama school in Stockholm and then from 1950 to 1952 at the Royal Dramatic Training Academy; between the two, in the late 1940s, he performed in public parks.<ref name=film>[http://www.sfi.se/sv/svensk-filmdatabas/Item/?type=PERSON&itemid=64238 "Olof Thunberg"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925051918/http://www.sfi.se/sv/svensk-filmdatabas/Item/?type=PERSON&itemid=64238 |date=25 September 2017 }}, Swedish Film Database, 2004, updated 16 December 2013 {{in lang|sv}}.</ref>
After finishing drama school, Thunberg joined the provincial Östgöta Theatre (''Östgötateatern''), where he directed in addition to acting, then became a freelance actor.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/BRE1Vw|title=Olof Thunberg död – gjorde rösten till Bamse|website=Aftonbladet|date=25 February 2020 |access-date=25 February 2020}}</ref> In the 1950s he became known for his work on the radio programme ''Mannen i svart'' ("The Man in Black"), where he presented all kinds of stories of horror and the supernatural in his deep voice, accompanied by a variety of sound effects.<ref name=film /> In 1963, he had a supporting role in Ingmar Bergman's drama ''Winter Light'' as the church organist Fredrik.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/skadespelaren-olof-thunberg-ar-dod/|title=Skådespelaren Olof Thunberg är död|date=25 February 2020|website=Dagens Nyheter|access-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227172412/https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/skadespelaren-olof-thunberg-ar-dod/|archive-date=27 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
Thunberg appeared in a variety of films, often in a supporting role as a confident charmer, and is the voice of both Bamse and Agaton Sax in children's films and recordings.<ref name=film /> He also voiced Shere Khan in the Swedish-dubbed versions of both the 1967 Disney ''The Jungle Book'' and its 2003 sequel, ''The Jungle Book 2''.<ref name="auto" />
In 2006, Thunberg was a host of ''Sommar'' on Sveriges Radio P1.<ref>[http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/364603?programid=2071 Olof Thunberg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327064316/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/364603?programid=2071 |date=27 March 2015 }}, Sommer & Vinter i P1, 6 August 2006 {{in lang|sv}}.</ref>
Thunberg also directed for television.<ref name=film />
== Personal life == [[File:Familjen Thunberg i Allas 1967.jpg|thumb|right|Olof Thunberg with Mona Andersson and their first-born daughter Amanda at their home in Värmdö, 1967.]] Thunberg was previously married to Ingrid Johansson.<ref name="SVDB" /> He had a later cohabitation with actress {{Interlanguage link|Mona Andersson|sv|Mona Andersson}}, whom he got to know in connection with a radio play.<ref name="ALLSVNG">{{Cite magazine|magazine=Allas Veckotidning|trans-magazine=All Weekly|publisher=Allers förlag|location=Stockholm|date=1967|page=11|language=sv|issue=46}}</ref> He was the father of actor Svante Thunberg<ref name="SVDB1">{{cite news|title=Svenska Dagbladet: "Svensk" Shakespeare i parkerna|trans-title=Swedish Daily News: "Swedish" Shakespeare in the parks|url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1983-06-08/11|first=Gaby|last=Wigardt|newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet|location=Stockholm|date=8 June 1983|page=11|language=sv|access-date=6 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006214936/https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1983-06-08/11|archive-date=6 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ALLSVNG1">{{cite news|title=Expressen: 4 × Thunberg = Shakespeare|trans-title=The Express: 4 × Thunberg = Shakespeare|first=Stefan|last=Sjöström|newspaper=Expressen|location=Stockholm|date=11 July 1983|page=24|language=sv}}</ref> and father-in-law of opera singer Malena Ernman, from whom his granddaughter is the climate activist Greta Thunberg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/olof-thunberg-ar-dod-gjorde-rosten-till-bamse/|title=Olof Thunberg är död – gjorde rösten till Bamse|website=www.expressen.se|date=25 February 2020 |access-date=25 February 2020}}</ref>
In 1959, Thunberg became engaged to actress Lena Granhagen, whom he had met while directing a play in which she acted in at Intiman. They lived together into the 1960s, and they acted together as a couple in the television series ''Villervalle i Söderhavet'' in 1963.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dt.se/artikel/skadespelaren-olof-thunberg-ar-dod-gav-rost-at-bamse-och-blev-farfar-at-greta-thunberg-1|title=Skådespelaren Olof Thunberg är död – gav röst åt Bamse och blev farfar åt Greta Thunberg|date=25 February 2020|website=dt.se|access-date=25 February 2020|archive-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225214305/https://www.dt.se/artikel/skadespelaren-olof-thunberg-ar-dod-gav-rost-at-bamse-och-blev-farfar-at-greta-thunberg-1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Thunberg died on 24 February 2020, at the age of 94.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.svt.se/kultur/skadespelaren-olof-thunberg-ar-dod|title=Skådespelaren Olof Thunberg är död|date=25 February 2020|website=SVT Nyheter|access-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225224702/https://www.svt.se/kultur/skadespelaren-olof-thunberg-ar-dod|archive-date=25 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/greta-thunbergs-grandfather-veteran-swedish-actor-olof-thunberg-dies/a-52534367|title=Greta Thunberg's grandfather, veteran Swedish actor Olof Thunberg, dies|date=25 February 2020|publisher=dw.com|access-date=2 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227001809/https://www.dw.com/en/greta-thunbergs-grandfather-veteran-swedish-actor-olof-thunberg-dies/a-52534367|archive-date=27 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Selected filmography == *1948 – ''De kämpade sig till frihet'' *1953 – ''I dur och skur'' *1953 – ''The Beat of Wings in the Night'' *1954 – ''Laugh Bomb'' *1955 – ''Lady and the Tramp'' Trusty (Swedish voice; also in 1989 re-dub); Boris (in original 1955 dub only) *1955 – ''Wild Birds'' *1955 – ''People of the Finnish Forests'' *1956 – ''7 vackra flickor'' *1957 – ''A Dreamer's Journey'' *1957 – ''The Halo Is Slipping'' *1957 – ''The Minister of Uddarbo'' *1957 – ''Vägen genom Skå'' *1958 – ''Fridolf Stands Up!'' *1959 – ''Fröken Chic'' (uncredited) *1959 – ''A Lion in Town'' *1960 – ''The Die Is Cast'' *1960 – ''Summer and Sinners'' *1961 – ''One Hundred and One Dalmatians'': Colonel (Swedish voice, original 1961 dub only) *1961 – ''Pärlemor'' *1963 – ''Det är hos mig han har varit'' *1963 – ''Winter Light'' *1963 – ''Adam och Eva'' *1963 – ''Prins Hatt under jorden'' *1964 – ''Äktenskapsbrottaren'' *1967 – ''The Jungle Book'': Shere Khan (Swedish voice) *1968 – ''Villervalle i Söderhavet'' *1976 – ''Smurfarna och den förtrollade flöjten'': narrator, Fräckelin (voice) *1977 – ''The Rescuers'': Rufus (Swedish voice) *1980 – ''Sverige åt svenskarna'' *1981 – ''The Fox and the Hound'': Grumpy Badger (Swedish voice) *1982 – ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'': Grumpy (Swedish voice) *1986 – ''Amorosa'' *1988 – ''The Land Before Time'': narrator (Swedish voice) *1996 – ''Monopol'' *1996 – ''Lilla Jönssonligan och cornflakeskuppen'' *1997 – ''Lilla Jönssonligan på styva linan'' *2001 – ''Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure'': Trusty (Swedish voice) *2001 – ''Monsters, Inc.'': C.E.O. Henry J. Waternoose III (Swedish voice) *2003 – ''The Jungle Book 2'': Shere Khan (Swedish voice) *''Source'':<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/sv/item/?type=person&itemid=64238|title=Olof Thunberg – SFdb|date=21 May 1925 |access-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216052155/http://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/sv/item/?type=person&itemid=64238|archive-date=16 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Selected television appearances == *1963 – ''Villervalle i Söderhavet'' (series) *1965 – ''En historia till fredag'' (series) *1965 – ''Niklasons'' (series) *1966 – ''Mästerdetektiven Blomkvist på nya äventyr'' *1968 – ''Lärda fruntimmer'' *1968 – ''Pygmalion'' *1968 – ''Markurells i Wadköping'' (series) *1969 – ''Biprodukten'' *1969 – ''Håll polisen utanför'' (series) *1970 – ''Röda rummet'' (series) *1970 – ''Regnbågslandet'' (series) *1970 – ''Ett dockhem'' *1972–1974 – ''Bröderna Malm'' (series) *1972–1973 – ''Bamse'' (series): narrator, voices *1973 – ''Ett köpmanshus i skärgården'' (TV-serie) *1981 – ''Bamse och den lilla åsnan'': narrator, voices *1982 – ''Dubbelsvindlarna'' (series) *1991 – ''Bamse i Trollskogen'': narrator, voices *1991 – ''Storstad'' (series) *1991 – ''Sunes jul'' (series) *1993 – ''Allis med is'' (series) *1994 – ''Tre Kronor'' (series) *1995 – ''Sjukan'' (series) *1995 – ''Jeppe på berget'' (series) *2001 – ''Återkomsten'' (series) *2003 – ''Solbacken: Avd. E'' (series) *''Sources'':<ref name="auto1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tv.nu/medverkande/olof-thunberg|title=Filmer och serier med Olof Thunberg|website=tv.nu|access-date=25 February 2020}}</ref>
== Selected directions == *1972 – ''Söndagspromenaden'' (TV)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oppetarkiv.se/video/1208447/sondagspromenaden|title=Söndagspromenaden|access-date=25 February 2020|via=www.oppetarkiv.se|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126121648/http://www.oppetarkiv.se/video/1208447/sondagspromenaden|archive-date=26 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> *1969 – ''Galgmannen'' (TV)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://skrackfilm.ifokus.se/discussions/511a386888f472579f000610-svenska-skrackfilmer|title=Svenska Skräckfilmer|website=iFokus|access-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223200423/http://skrackfilm.ifokus.se/discussions/511a386888f472579f000610-svenska-skrackfilmer|archive-date=23 February 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Olof Thunberg}} *[http://www.ne.se/olof-thunberg "Olof Thunberg"] at ''Nationalencyklopedin'' {{in lang|sv}} (registration required) *{{IMDb name|0862071}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thunberg, Olof}} Category:1925 births Category:2020 deaths Olof Category:Actors from Västerås Category:Swedish film directors Category:Swedish male film actors Category:Swedish male stage actors Category:Swedish male television actors Category:Swedish male voice actors Category:Swedish television directors Category:20th-century Swedish male actors Category:21st-century Swedish male actors