If all you know about showbiz families are the Kardashians, the Smiths, and the Cyruses, then you’re missing out on one of the most captivating acting coteries ever. Although not domiciled in the United States, The Skarsgards family remain one of the most sensational acting clan in our present pop culture. Originally Swedish, the family of ten has produced five-star actors including its patriarch, Stellan Skarsgård. Realize it or not, you have seen them in several movies. And if you have an eye for details, you may have sensed the semblances, waiting for the right clue to call them family. That picture up there is the clue you’ve been waiting for. This piece unravels the busy lives of the Skarsgards Family and what they are best known for in the Scandinavian and Hollywood space. Let’s dive in.
Who are The Skarsgård’s Family Members?
We begin with the parents. When Stellan and My Skarsgård got married in April 1975, little did they know they will raise a dynasty of actors, models ad show biz-inclined folks. Being just 24 at the time, Skarsgård’s three-year experience on the acting scene coupled with incredible talent have locked him on a steady rise in the Swedish film and TV space. Most of his early roles were in Swedish television such as Bombi Bitt and films such as Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg. Since that time, the veteran has gone on to appear in at least 136 films and TV series.
Plus, he has been nominated for fourteen awards; winning eight. Of all his roles on the foreign scene, Stellan Skarsgård is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Bootstrap Bill Turner in the 2006 film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – a role he reprised in its sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007). Also popular among his films are Thor (2011), The Avengers (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Nymphomaniac (2013). Not showing any signs of retiring, Skarsgård is set to appear as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen in the 2020 movie, Dune.
Before their divorce in 2007, Stellan and his wife My Skarsgård, a physician, have raised six children together. They include; Alexander (b. 1976), Gustaf (b. 1980), Sam (b. 1982), Bill (b. 1990), Eija (b. 1992), and Valter (b. 1995). Except for Sam who went the way of medicine, and Eija who strolled into modelling, the rest of the Skarsgård kids (Alexander, Gustaf, Bill, and Valter) are big in acting. Let’s see their full line up quickly.
Alexander Skarsgård
We begin with the Alexander Skarsgård popularly referred to as the Most Famous of the Skarsgård kids. He is no doubt the first to catch the acting buzz from a pretty young age; setting a path for the rest of his siblings to follow. Born in 1976, Alexander is best known as Eric Northman in the movie True Blood and as Perry in Big Little Lies. He has appeared in the Battleship (2012), where he starred alongside Rihanna. Next is, Gustaf Skarsgård.
Gustaf Skarsgård
Born in 1980, Gustaf can be best recognized as the guy made up in black eyeliner chewing away at shrooms as the character, Floki, in Vikings. He also starred as Voss in The Way Back. Although not so popular in Hollywood compared to his father and brother, Gustaf surely has a huge crowd in his native land, Sweden.
Bill Skarsgård
Bill Skarsgård can be dubbed the Skarsgård On-The-Rise due to his burgeoning acting career. But make no mistake, the newbie doesn’t equate to novice. Okay? If you’ll recall the character Pennywise, the petrifying clown from the movie IT. He’s also famous for his role as Makhotin in Anna Karenina and juggles his acting career with a modeling gig for H&M.
Sam Skarsgård
Sam goes by the full name, Samuel Kristoffer Ymer Skarsgård. Born in 1982, Sam seems to be the nerd of the house. How else would you describe a medical doctor in a family of actors and models? Although he chose to go the way of his mother who is also a physician, that didn’t save him from the spotlight after all. His father and brothers’ reputation as seasoned actors surely made fans dig him out of hiding. He also has a younger sister, Eija.
Eija Skarsgård
Eija Skarsgård is a model. Her Instagram handle has a following of over 7k where she posts family pictures and that of her partner, Zeke Tastas. Perhaps the youngest of the first generation Skarsgårds is the 1995-born BB Valter, who is already an actor with 10 IMDb credits and has mostly appeared in local Swedish productions.
What Are They Known For?
Asides from their popularity with the Swedish and American film and TV space, the Skarsgårds are known to be the “Royal Family” of acting in Sweden. While you may be hearing about the Skarsgårds for the first time, you risk being sneered at if you’re based in Sweden and know nothing about the family. Their status and popularity have not flinched over the years as they continue to take on lead roles in films and TV shows in their homeland.
It also seems like the Skarsgårds love it back home. Except for Alex and Bill, who primarily live in the U.S, the rest of the children have found a way of staying in and around their home country for the most part of their year. Their father, Stellan Skarsgård, owns a home where he hosts his entire family. After getting divorced from his first wife, the patriarch have since remarried and had two other children (Ossian and Kolbjörn) with his second wife, Megan Everett, whom he married in January 2009. This brings it to eight children in all.
