Within the art of filmmaking, there are plenty of family names that can be traced back to historic eras of film. Whether the families consist entirely of actors or share a mix of talent working both in front of and behind the camera, names like the Coppolas, Stillers, Wayans, Smiths, Arquetttes, Sutherlands, and Baldwins, all come to mind.
There are plenty of names that have begun to establish solid rapport, continuing a line of credible filmmaking. In the midst of names like those previously mentioned, the Skarsgård family deserves to be included in the same company. As individuals and as a cohesive group, the Skarsgårds have proven their versatility in front of the camera.
The patriarch of the Skarsgård family is Stellan Skarsgård, who has fathered eight children: Alexander, Gustaf, Sam, Bill, Eija, Valter, Ossian, and Kolbjörn. Half of those children have followed in Stellan's footsteps in the film industry, tackling various acting projects over the years. Others have tested their artistic passions in other forms including modeling.
Stellan Skarsgård
Stellan Skarsgård has an acting career spanning over 50 years. He has been featured in roles on both film and television, often finding himself in the company of some of Hollywood's biggest stars. He has acted in both English and Swedish projects and has found success in both. His extensive resume includes Good Will Hunting, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mamma Mia!, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Chernobyl. In 2021, Stellan appeared in Denis Villeneuve's Dune as the frightening Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. He has also made several appearances throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe including Thor, The Avengers, Thor: Dark World, and Avengers: Age of Ultron as Erik Selvig.
Stellan has received countless nominations and wins for some of his performances, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Television Film for Chernobyl.
Alexander Skarsgård
Like his father, Alexander Skarsgård has proven himself to be a talented actor in both English and Swedish projects. Early in his career, he appeared in Zoolander, starring Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, and Ben Stiller. In 2011, Alexander starred alongside Kirsten Dunst and his father Stellan in Melancholia, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Alexander is perhaps best associated with his role in True Blood as Eric Northman, which opened the door for Alexander to take on countless other roles. In 2017, he joined the cast of Big Little Lies to play the husband of Nicole Kidman. He has also recently starred in Passing alongside Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson.
Alexander has taken home a number of awards including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film for his role as Perry Wright in HBO's Big Little Lies.
Gustaf Skarsgård
The second eldest son in the Skarsgård family has also found success throughout his acting career. From 2013-2020, Gustaf scored a main role in the television historical drama series, Vikings, as Floki. Gustaf has also appeared in Westworld as Karl Strand. Like his father and older brother, Gustaf has also starred in countless Swedish projects including the 2003 drama Evil. He has most recently starred in the Netflix series Cursed as Merlin and will next be seen in the Swedish drama The Emigrants.
Bill Skarsgård
Bill Skarsgård has made a name for himself over the last few years. Bill has appeared in a range of genres including action, drama, comedy, and horror. His appearances include the likes of Divergent, Atomic Blonde,Villains, and the Netflix film The Devil All the Time. Bill is perhaps best known for the work he has done on countless horror projects, where he has been credited with scaring both children and adults.
He starred in the Netflix horror series Hemlock Grove as Roman Godfrey and the psychological thriller series Castle Rock. Bill has become most infamous for his performance as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's It along with its 2019 sequel. While the sequel was subject to mixed reviews, Bill's performance was still a highly positive note amongst viewers.
Bill has also appeared in a few superhero films including Deadpool 2 as Zeitgeist. In 2021, he became the second Skarsgård to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Bill is the voice behind the sinister Deviant Kro in Marvel's Eternals. He will also appear in the upcoming action-packed John Wick film.
Valter is Stellan's youngest son with his first wife and is also an actor. The bulk of his roles are primarily Swedish roles including the short film To Kill a Child. The short film was narrated by his father Stellan and directed by his older brother Alexander.
Amongst the members of the Skarsgård family involved in the film industry, the five men cover a lot of ground. Starring in roles focused in the United States and across various European countries makes them a versatile group to watch. As individuals, the range that each of them is capable of tacking in the roles they select makes each performance something special to behold. While they do most of their work in front of the camera, some of them have proven that they also have what it takes to direct and write projects of their own. Their skills are what make the Skarsgårds one of the most flexible families involved in filmmaking today.
