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Gösta Ekman (senior)

January 02, 2023

This article is about the Swedish actor born in 1890. For his grandson born in 1939, see Gösta Ekman.

Frans Gösta Viktor Ekman (28 December 1890 – 12 January 1938) was a Swedish actor, director and singer. Generally spoken of as Swedish theatre's most legendary stage actor, Gösta Ekman enjoyed a prolific stage career during his short life, becoming the first real star of Swedish theatre. His boyish good looks attracted both sexes, helping to create a massive cult following and elevating him to the status of a living legend. Combined with a beautiful voice and a powerful stage presence, Ekman was able to captivate his audiences.

Gösta Ekman
Ekman in 1936
Born
Frans Gösta Viktor Ekman

(1890-12-28)28 December 1890
Stockholm, Sweden
Died12 January 1938(1938-01-12) (aged 47)
Stockholm, Sweden
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • singer
Years active1911–1937
Spouse
Greta Sundström
​
(m. 1914)​
Children2 (including Hasse)
RelativesGösta Ekman (grandson)

Biography

Career

He was known as a self-taught master of disguise with theatre make-up and costumes, Gösta Ekman was equally convincing as a farmer's son, an 18th-century middle-aged aristocrat, or an 80-year-old lunatic. His talent allowed him to act in comedies, tragedies, dramas, and operettas. He was convincing in all genres and as all types of characters. At different times, he also ran and supervised several private theatres in Stockholm, including the Oscarsteatern, the Vasateatern, and the Konserthusteatern. He was also head of the Gothenburg City Theatre in the 1930s. At the Vasateatern, which he ran from 1931 to 1935, he both directed and played the lead in several plays, while also producing a large number of productions. As a result, his time at the Vasateatern is considered to be the peak of his stage career. He first entered the stage as an extra in an operetta in 1907, but made his professional stage debut in the renowned Selander Company in 1911. The ghost of Gösta Ekman is still said to haunt his former dressing room at the theatre.

Ekman started in films at the dawn of the Swedish film industry and played an important role in its development. One of his first film roles was in Victor Sjöström's experimental film Trädgårdsmästaren (1912). Later, he played the lead in the first Swedish talkie, For Her Sake (1930). Ekman also acted in two films that would gain international recognition: F. W. Murnau's silent film classic Faust, where he played the title character, and in the original 1936 version of Intermezzo, where he played a world-famous violinist opposite Ingrid Bergman in her breakout role. But they had in fact already acted opposite each other in the Swedish 1935 movie Swedenhielms where they share a couple of wonderful scenes alone together as their characters have a heart-to-heart conversation on life and love; among the most memorable moments in the film.

His best on-screen credit is often said to be his King Charles XV/Leonard Pettersson in film comedy Kungen kommer (1936), where Ekman masterfully plays a double-role in the film; first the king and then also the king's lookalike; an actor who is hired by members of the Royal Court to impersonate His Majesty at a private party. Naturally the real king later arrives at the party causing a number of confusions and comic mix-ups.

Ekman also made a number of successful song recordings from his revue numbers, including songs "En herre i frack" (1935) – perhaps his most popular recording – and "Kvinnor och champagne" (Women and Champagne) in 1929.

Personal life

 
Ekman in the play Bödeln (The Hangman) by Pär Lagerkvist at Vasateatern, Stockholm, in 1934

Early on, Gösta Ekman was labeled as a workaholic, sacrificing himself for his art and for his love of the theatre. Later, as his fame increased, his workload also increased. During the day, he would rehearse and direct plays. In the evening, he played leading roles in stage plays. Later at night, he would film. This busy schedule left him with relatively little free time. Furthermore, the free time he did have was spent carrying out his duties as the administrative director of the theatres he ran.

In 1926, while filming Faust in Berlin, he was introduced to cocaine by two Scandinavians, who told him that cocaine would help him cope with his work schedule better. Sadly, this began a long-term drug addiction for the actor that slowly deteriorated his health and eventually caused his death 12 years later at the age of 47.

In 1914, Gösta Ekman married Greta Sundström. Later, Greta gave birth to Hasse Ekman, who came to be one of Sweden's most successful film directors in the 1940s and 1950s. Gösta Ekman's grandson, Gösta Ekman Jr., also became well-known through his career as an actor and was considered to be one of Sweden's very finest actors. One of Hasse Ekman's movies, Kungliga patrasket from 1945 about a famous acting family, was partly based on his own upbringing in an acting family.

Selected filmography

Selected stage work

 
As HE/The Clown in play Han som får örfilarna (He Who Gets Slapped) by Leonid Andreyev at Oscarsteatern, Stockholm, 1926

Photographs

 
As Danilo in The merry Widow, 1931
 
In play Dahlin och drottningen, 1925
 
In the play Män i vitt, 1934
 
In the film Ett revolutionsbröllop
 
Photographed in private, 1930s
 
With his dog Kay, private portrait

Sources

  • Från Gösta Ekman till Gösta Ekman - En bok om Hasse, far och son (From Gösta Ekman to Gösta Ekman - A Book on Hasse, Father and Son) by Bengt Forslund; Bengt Forslund och Askild & Kärnekull Förlag AB, Malmö 1982 (Sweden).
  • Det var en gång (Den tänkande August Vol. 1 & 2) by Gösta Ekman, Albert Bonnier, Stockholm, 1935 (photos).

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gösta Ekman (1890–1938).

January 02, 2023
gösta, ekman, senior, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, february, 2013, learn,. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article is about the Swedish actor born in 1890 For his grandson born in 1939 see Gosta Ekman Frans Gosta Viktor Ekman 28 December 1890 12 January 1938 was a Swedish actor director and singer Generally spoken of as Swedish theatre s most legendary stage actor Gosta Ekman enjoyed a prolific stage career during his short life becoming the first real star of Swedish theatre His boyish good looks attracted both sexes helping to create a massive cult following and elevating him to the status of a living legend Combined with a beautiful voice and a powerful stage presence Ekman was able to captivate his audiences Gosta EkmanEkman in 1936BornFrans Gosta Viktor Ekman 1890 12 28 28 December 1890Stockholm SwedenDied12 January 1938 1938 01 12 aged 47 Stockholm SwedenOccupationsActor director singerYears active1911 1937SpouseGreta Sundstrom m 1914 wbr Children2 including Hasse RelativesGosta Ekman grandson Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Career 1 2 Personal life 2 Selected filmography 3 Selected stage work 4 Photographs 5 Sources 6 External linksBiography EditCareer Edit He was known as a self taught master of disguise with theatre make up and costumes Gosta Ekman was equally convincing as a farmer s son an 18th century middle aged aristocrat or an 80 year old lunatic His talent allowed him to act in comedies tragedies dramas and operettas He was convincing in all genres and as all types of characters At different times he also ran and supervised several private theatres in Stockholm including the Oscarsteatern the Vasateatern and the Konserthusteatern He was also head of the Gothenburg City Theatre in the 1930s At the Vasateatern which he ran from 1931 to 1935 he both directed and played the lead in several plays while also producing a large number of productions As a result his time at the Vasateatern is considered to be the peak of his stage career He first entered the stage as an extra in an operetta in 1907 but made his professional stage debut in the renowned Selander Company in 1911 The ghost of Gosta Ekman is still said to haunt his former dressing room at the theatre Ekman started in films at the dawn of the Swedish film industry and played an important role in its development One of his first film roles was in Victor Sjostrom s experimental film Tradgardsmastaren 1912 Later he played the lead in the first Swedish talkie For Her Sake 1930 Ekman also acted in two films that would gain international recognition F W Murnau s silent film classic Faust where he played the title character and in the original 1936 version of Intermezzo where he played a world famous violinist opposite Ingrid Bergman in her breakout role But they had in fact already acted opposite each other in the Swedish 1935 movie Swedenhielms where they share a couple of wonderful scenes alone together as their characters have a heart to heart conversation on life and love among the most memorable moments in the film His best on screen credit is often said to be his King Charles XV Leonard Pettersson in film comedy Kungen kommer 1936 where Ekman masterfully plays a double role in the film first the king and then also the king s lookalike an actor who is hired by members of the Royal Court to impersonate His Majesty at a private party Naturally the real king later arrives at the party causing a number of confusions and comic mix ups Ekman also made a number of successful song recordings from his revue numbers including songs En herre i frack 1935 perhaps his most popular recording and Kvinnor och champagne Women and Champagne in 1929 Personal life Edit Ekman in the play Bodeln The Hangman by Par Lagerkvist at Vasateatern Stockholm in 1934 Early on Gosta Ekman was labeled as a workaholic sacrificing himself for his art and for his love of the theatre Later as his fame increased his workload also increased During the day he would rehearse and direct plays In the evening he played leading roles in stage plays Later at night he would film This busy schedule left him with relatively little free time Furthermore the free time he did have was spent carrying out his duties as the administrative director of the theatres he ran In 1926 while filming Faust in Berlin he was introduced to cocaine by two Scandinavians who told him that cocaine would help him cope with his work schedule better Sadly this began a long term drug addiction for the actor that slowly deteriorated his health and eventually caused his death 12 years later at the age of 47 In 1914 Gosta Ekman married Greta Sundstrom Later Greta gave birth to Hasse Ekman who came to be one of Sweden s most successful film directors in the 1940s and 1950s Gosta Ekman s grandson Gosta Ekman Jr also became well known through his career as an actor and was considered to be one of Sweden s very finest actors One of Hasse Ekman s movies Kungliga patrasket from 1945 about a famous acting family was partly based on his own upbringing in an acting family Selected filmography EditThe Gardener 1912 Masterkatten i stovlar 1918 Thora van Deken 1920 Gyurkovicsarna 1920 A Fortune Hunter 1921 Vem domer 1922 The Eyes of Love 1922 Charles XII s Courier 1924 Unge greven ta r flickan och priset 1924 Charles XII 1925 Faust 1926 The Clown 1926 A Perfect Gentleman 1927 His English Wife 1927 The Last Night 1928 Gustaf Wasa 1928 For Her Sake 1930 Mach mir die Welt zum Paradies 1930 Colourful Pages 1931 Dear Relatives 1933 Two Men and a Widow 1933 Perhaps a Poet 1933 Kobenhavn Kalundborg og 1934 Swedenhielms 1935 Kungen kommer 1936 Intermezzo 1936 Johan Ulfstjerna 1936 Witches Night 1937 An en gang Gosta Ekman 1940 edited and premiered after his death Selected stage work Edit As HE The Clown in play Han som far orfilarna He Who Gets Slapped by Leonid Andreyev at Oscarsteatern Stockholm 1926 1936 The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen part Hjalmar Ekdahl 1935 En fortjusande froken by Ralph Benatzky 1935 Kopmannen i Venedig The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare part Shylock 1934 Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen title role 1934 Bodeln The Hangman by Par Lagerkvist title role 1934 Hamlet by William Shakespeare title role 1931 Glada ankan The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar part Count Danilo operetta 1928 Broadway by George Abbott part Roy Lane 1927 Sa tuktas en argbigga The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare part Petruchio 1927 Candida by George Bernard Shaw part Marchbanks 1926 Han som far orfilarna He Who Gets Slapped by Leonid Andreyev leading role HE 1925 Gosta Berlings saga The Saga of Gosta Berling by Selma Lagerlof reprise run title role 1924 Graven The Grave by Paul Raynal 1923 Gosta Berlings saga by Selma Lagerlof title role 1923 En herre i frack by Andre Picard fr L homme en habit 1922 Gustav Vasa by August Strindberg part Erik XIV 192 Kameliadamen The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas 1919 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare part Romeo 1916 Gamla Heidelberg Old Heidelberg by W Meyer Forster 1915 Lycko Pers resa by August Strindberg 1914 Svanevit by August Strindberg part The Prince 1911 Brollopet pa Ulfasa The Wedding at Ulfasa by Frans Hedberg professional stage debut part Bengt Lagman Photographs Edit As Danilo in The merry Widow 1931 In play Dahlin och drottningen 1925 In the play Man i vitt 1934 In the film Ett revolutionsbrollop Photographed in private 1930s With his dog Kay private portraitSources EditFran Gosta Ekman till Gosta Ekman En bok om Hasse far och son From Gosta Ekman to Gosta Ekman A Book on Hasse Father and Son by Bengt Forslund Bengt Forslund och Askild amp Karnekull Forlag AB Malmo 1982 Sweden Det var en gang Den tankande August Vol 1 amp 2 by Gosta Ekman Albert Bonnier Stockholm 1935 photos External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gosta Ekman 1890 1938 Ekman society website Archived 2020 10 22 at the Wayback Machine Gosta Ekman at IMDb Photographs of Gosta Ekman Gosta Ekman at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gosta Ekman senior amp oldid 1129003735, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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