Sven-Ole Thorsen(born 24 September 1944) is a Danish former actor,stuntman,bodybuilderandstrongmancompetitor. Thorsen wonDenmark's Strongest Manin 1983.[1]
Sven-Ole Thorsen | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation(s) | Actor,bodybuilder,stuntman,strongman |
Years active | 1977–2011 |
Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
Spouses |
|
Children | 5 |
Competition record | ||
---|---|---|
Strongman | ||
RepresentingDenmark | ||
Denmark's Strongest Man | ||
1st | 1983 | |
Europe's Strongest Man | ||
10th | 1982 |
Using his stature he often plays imposing giants and villains in his films who are somehow beaten by smaller opponents in aDavid and Goliathmanner, but he has also played heroic characters such as Gunnar the legendary warrior inThe Viking Sagas.His autobiographyStærk mand i Hollywood(Strong Man in Hollywood) was published on 26 October 2007, and was very well reviewed. The first printing of the book reportedly sold out in 24 hours.[2][3]
Career
editHe is known for his frequent appearances in movies featuring close friendArnold Schwarzenegger,likeConan the Barbarian,as the hammer-wielding Thorgrim;The Running Man,as the ultimately-sympathetic bodyguard Sven; and inPredatoras a Soviet advisor that executes a hostage. His other characters have included theboater-wearing security guard La Fours inMallrats,the fighter Tigris of Gaul inGladiator,Lt. Michael 'Tank' Ellis inCaptain Power,and the alien villain Secundus inAbraxas, Guardian of the Universe.
Thorsen has been credited in fifteen Arnold Schwarzenegger movies (as of 2006[update]) (twelve as actor, three as stuntman or trainer), making him Schwarzenegger's most frequent collaborator. It began withConan the Barbarian,when Schwarzenegger brought Thorsen and other of his bodybuilder friends (likeFranco Columbu) with him to shoot the movie. Later, when Thorsen moved to the United States, he met Schwarzenegger again while he was acting in the movieCommando.Thorsen helped with some of the stuntwork in that movie, and quickly found work in many of the subsequent Schwarzenegger films.
In spite of Thorsen's thick Danish accent, his voice is almost never dubbed (an exception beingHard Target). Thorsen pursued his role as Tigris (of Gaul) inGladiatorfor over a year, beatingLou Ferrignofor the part.[citation needed]The part won him twoTAURUS World Stunt Awards[4]in the ceremony's inaugural year.
Thorsen has founded various federations, including The Danish Bodybuilding Federation in 1979 andCigar Night at SchatziinSanta Monica,Californiaalong with Schwarzenegger. He has a black belt inShotokankarate and holds championship titles.[citation needed]
Personal life
editThorsen is 193 centimetres (6 feet, 4 inches) tall and while appearing inConan the Barbarian(1982) he weighed 138 kilograms (304 lbs), according to his autobiography (page 24 & 110).[5]
Thorsen lives inSanta Monica, Californiaand had two dogs, aJack Russell Terriernamed Jake and an AmericanBull Terriernamed Cleo (now deceased). He won the Danish "Show of Winners" Award of the Year 2006, honouring people who have a special affiliation with dogs.[6]
Filmography
editYear | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1977 | Pas på ryggen, professor(Mind Your Back, Professor) | Russisk Håndlanger (Russian Henchman) | |
1982 | Conan the Barbarian | Thorgrim | (as Sven Ole Thorsen)[1] |
1984 | Conan the Destroyer | Togra | (as Sven Ole Thorsen)[1] |
1985 | Red Sonja | Stuntman | Stunts (uncredited)[1] |
1986 | Raw Deala.k.a.Triple Identity | Patrovita's Bearded Bodyguard (uncredited) | Stunts[1] |
1987 | Lethal Weapon | Mercenary | (as Sven Thorsen) |
Predator | Russian Officer (uncredited) | [1] | |
The Running Man | Sven | (as Sven Thorsen)[1] | |
Overboard | Olaf, Stayton Flunky (uncredited) | ||
1988 | Red Heat | Nikolai, Georgian Mafia | [1] |
Twins | Sam Klane | [1] | |
1989 | Pink Cadillac | Birthright Thug | |
Ghostbusters II | Stuntman | Stunts | |
1990 | The Hunt for Red October | Russian Chief of The Red October | |
Total Recall | Trainer | Trainer[1] | |
1991 | Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe | Secundus | (as Sven Ole-Thorsen) |
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man | David | ||
Terminator 2: Judgment Day | Galleria Security Guard | [1] | |
1992 | Death Becomes Her | Stuntman | Stunts (uncredited) |
Dead On: Relentless IIa.k.a.Relentless II: Dead On | Patrick Vergano, Mechanic | Stunts | |
Lethal Weapon 3 | Henchman #2 | ||
Bram Stoker's Dracula | Stuntman | Stunts (as Sven Thorsen) | |
1993 | Cyborg 2 | Doorman | (as Sven Thorsen) |
Nowhere to Run | Prisoner | ||
Nemesis | Cyborg Interrogating Old Woman (uncredited) | Stunts | |
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story | The Demon | ||
Last Action Hero | Gunman | [1] | |
Hard Target | Stephan | ||
1994 | A Little Tailor's Christmas Story | Schultz | |
The Dangerous | Sven | ||
On Deadly Ground | Otto | (as Swen-Ole Thorsen) | |
A Low Down Dirty Shamea.k.a.Mister Cool | Mob Boss' Bodyguard (uncredited) | Stunts (as Sven Thorsen) | |
1995 | The Viking Sagasa.k.a.The Icelandic Sagas | Gunnar | |
No Exita.k.a.Fatal Combat | Darcona | ||
The Quick and the Dead | "Swede" Gutzon | ||
Mallrats | La Fours | Stunts (as Sven Thorsen) | |
Heat | Stuntman | Stunts (uncredited) | |
1996 | The Undercover Kida.k.a.How I Saved the President | Terrorist #1 | |
Fox Hunt | Huge Man | ||
Eraser | Russian Gunman (uncredited) | Stunts[1] | |
Bulletproof | Gunman At Motel (uncredited) | Stunts | |
Jingle All the Way | Stuntman | Stunts (as Sven Thorsen)[1] | |
1997 | Breakdown | Stuntman | Stunts Only |
Back in Businessa.k.a.Heart of Stone | Stuntman | Stunts Only | |
Batman & Robin | Stuntman | Stunts Only[1] | |
George of the Jungle | Mercenary | (as Sven-Ole-Thorsen) | |
Kull the Conqueror | King Borna | ||
1998 | The Bad Pack | Sven | |
Best of the Best 4: Without Warning | Boris | ||
Soldier | Stuntman | Stunts Only | |
Winchell | German Man | ||
1999 | Foolish | Paris | |
The 13th Warrior | Would-Be King | ||
End of Days | Thug (uncredited) | also Utility Stunts[1] | |
2000 | Ready to Rumble | Stuntman | Stunts Only |
Façadea.k.a.Death Valley | General Schweinkopf | (as Sven Ole-Thorsen) | |
Gladiator | Tigris of Gaul (Tiger) | Won Stunt Award | |
The Alternatea.k.a.Agent of Death | Secret Service Agent (uncredited) | ||
2001 | The Gristle | Butcher Boy | |
Bandits (2001 film) | Oregon State Prison Guard On Watchtower (uncredited) | ||
Route 666 | Sergei, Russian Hitman | ||
Extreme Honora.k.a.Last Line of Defence 2 | Baker's Bodyguard | ||
2002 | Hollywood Next 8 Exits | The Landlord | |
Collateral Damage | Bomb Victim (uncredited) | [1] | |
The Sum of All Fears | Haft | ||
2003 | Masked and Anonymous | Stuntman | Stunts (as Sven Thorsen) |
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle | Machine Gun Mongol (uncredited) | ||
The Rundowna.k.a.Welcome to the Jungle | Goon (uncredited) | [1] | |
Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision | SS Bodyguard | (as Sven Ole Thorson) | |
2004 | In Enemy Handsa.k.a.U-Boat | U-429: Hans | |
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story | Lumberjack Hit By Ball (uncredited) | Stunts (uncredited) | |
Collateral | Stuntman | Stunt Driver Only | |
Hidalgo | The Laughing Raider (uncredited) | ||
2005 | Hostage | Hooded Thug Guarding Hostages (uncredited) | |
2011 | Ronal Barbaren(Ronald the Barbarian) | The General (voice only) | Animated feature |
Notes
- 1^Arnold Schwarzeneggeralso appeared in this movie.
Television
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
17 October 1986 | The A-Team | Rolf | "Quarterback Sneak" (episode # 5.4) |
1987 | Captain Powerand the Soldiers of the Future | Lieutenant Michael 'Tank' Ellis | Entire series |
11 May 1991 | The Flash | Cyborg Omega | "Alpha" (episode # 1.19) |
13 May 1996 | Nowhere Man | Phone Repairman/Assassin | "Marathon" (episode # 1.24) |
8 February 1997 | Baywatch Nights | Viking | "Frozen Out of Time" (episode # 2.13) |
18 March 1997 | The Guardian | Baiya | "Pilot" (episode # 1.1) |
1 February 1998 | Mike Hammer, Private Eye | Rolf (as Sven Ole Thorsen) | "The Art of Murder" (episode # 2.3) |
21 September 1998 | Baywatch | Hans Ulpan | "Crash: Part 1" (episode # 9.1) |
28 September 1998 | Baywatch | Hans Ulpan | "Crash: Part 2" (episode # 9.2) |
1999 | Biker-Jensi USA | as himself | episode "Hos Sven-Ole Thorsen" |
1 December 2000 | Helle for Høgsbro | as himself | "Dovenskab" (episode # 1.13) |
27 December 2005 | Go'morgen Danmark | as himself | |
3 February 2006 | Showtime | as Himself | Episode #2.1 |
17 February 2006 | 2 Kaffe, Tak | as himself | [1] |
6 February 2006 | Go' Aften Danmark | as himself | |
15 March 2007 | Andy Barker, P.I. | Thug #1 | Pilot(episode # 1.1) |
October 2009 | Vild med dans (Strictly Come Dancing) | first two programs as himself | |
14 December 2009 | Kristian | as Sven Ole | "Sekten" (episode # 1.5) |
13 December 2010 | Go' Aften Danmark | as himself |
References
edit- ^David Horne's World of Grip
- ^En bomstærk mand taler ud - Bøger
- ^Fyens Stiftstidende - NU - Bøger og tegneserier - Stærke sager
- ^TAURUS World Stunt Awards
- ^from which most of the following information is taken
- ^Show Of Winners