Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (born 3 March 1973)[1] is an Icelandic-American actor, producer, and screenwriter.[2] He is known for Children, Trapped, The Deep, Lady Dynamite, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson | |
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Born | Connecticut, U.S. | 3 March 1973
Citizenship |
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Occupations |
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Years active | 1998–present |
Known for | Children Fangavaktin Trapped The Minister |
Partner | Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir |
Children | 2 |
Early life
Ólafur was born to Icelandic parents in Connecticut, United States, where his father studied medicine. His family returned to Iceland when he was around four years old.[3][4][5]
Career
Ólafur graduated from The Icelandic Drama School in 1998. Afterward, he became involved in numerous productions with the National Theatre of Iceland and Reykjavík City Theatre, also working with various independent theatre groups. He is one of the founders of Vesturport Theatre in Reykjavík.[6]
Ólafur is best known internationally for his role as Andri, the chief of police in the small town of Seyðisfjörður in the east of Iceland, in the series Trapped. Baltasar Kormákur, who devised the series, has said that the actor was chosen because he was not a typical leading man. In the UK, the Guardian TV critic called his performance "as remarkable as the landscape". Ólafsson himself has said that he based the character on his own father.[4]
In June 2016, Ólafur lip synced in the music video for Winter Sound by the Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men.[7]
In 2019, the actor was cast in AMC's series adaptation of Joe Hill's NOS4A2 as Bing Partridge.[8]
Personal life
Ólafur is in a relationship with Icelandic dancer Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir. They have two daughters, born in 2010 and 2014.[9]
Selected filmography
Film
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | The Eagle | Computer thief | 1 episode |
2009 | 1066 The Battle for Middle Earth | Gyrd | 1 episode |
Fangavaktin | Loðfíllinn | 7 episodes | |
2014 | Banshee | Jonah Lambrecht | 2 episodes |
True Detective | Dewall | 1 episode | |
Banshee Origins | Jonah Lambrecht | 1 episode | |
2015–2021 | Trapped | Andri Ólafsson | 21 episodes |
2016 | The Missing | Stefan Andersen | 4 episodes |
Quarry | Credence Mason | 4 episodes | |
2016–17 | Lady Dynamite | Scott Marvel Cassidy | 13 episodes |
2017 | Emerald City | Ojo[11] | 7 episodes |
2018 | Hilda | 13 episodes | |
2019 | The Widow | Ariel Helgason | 8 episodes |
New Amsterdam | Burl | 1 episode | |
NOS4A2 | Bing Partridge | 20 episodes | |
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance | The Archer (voice) | 6 episodes | |
2020 | Cursed | Rugen the Leper King | 1 episode |
The Minister | Benedikt Ríkharðsson | 8 episodes | |
2021 | Vegferð | Ólafur Darri | 6 episodes |
The Tourist | Billy Nixon | 6 episodes | |
2022 | The Amazing Race 34 | Himself | 1 episode |
TBA | Severance | Season 2 |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | For Honor | Highlander[12] | Voice role |
2023 | The Last Worker | Kurt[13] | Voice role |
Awards and nominations
References
- Friðrika Benónýsdóttir (18 December 2015). "Mömmustrákur með hjarta úr gulli". Fréttatíminn. p. 14. Retrieved 24 April 2023 – via Tímarit.is.
- Fleming, Mike (27 September 2012). "APA Signs 'The Deep' Star Olafur Darri Olafsson". Deadline. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- Indíana Ása Hreinsdóttir (28 September 2012). "Ólafur Darri fílar ekki frægðina". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). pp. 34–35. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- Seymour, Tom (24 February 2016). "He's huge, he's hairy – and he's the hottest man in Iceland". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- Gunnar Leó Pálsson (16 December 2013). "Súrrealískt að vinna með Ben Stiller". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- "Ólafur Darri Ólafsson". Vesturport.com. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- OfMonstersAndMenVEVO (10 June 2016). "Of Monsters And Men - Winter Sound (Lyric Video)". Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- Petski, Denise (27 June 2018). "'NOS4A2': Olafur Darri Olafsson, Virginia Kull & Ebon Moss-Bachrach Cast In AMC Horror Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- Jónasdóttir, Marta María (7 August 2014). "Ólafur Darri og Lovísa eignuðust dóttur" [Ólafur Darri and Lovísa welcome a daughter]. Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Reykjavík. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- Gallagher, Brian (6 August 2014). "'Last Witch Hunter' Adds 'True Detective' Actor Olafur Darri Olafsson". MovieWeb. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- "Emerald City (2016) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- Q&A Interview with the Voice of Highlander, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, retrieved 5 November 2021
- Romano, Sal (2 March 2023). "The Last Worker launches March 30". Gematsu. Retrieved 2 March 2023.