---
name: "Gunnar Björnstrand"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/gunnar-bjornstrand"
fi1m_id: "gunnar-bjornstrand"
imdb_id: "nm0085038"
tmdb_id: 6649
wikidata_id: "Q524529"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "13 November 1909"
died: "26 May 1986"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 87
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-09-26T16:07:04.887941+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Gunnar Björnstrand

## Identity

Gunnar Björnstrand

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/gunnar-bjornstrand
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** gunnar-bjornstrand
- **IMDb ID:** nm0085038
- **TMDB ID:** 6649
- **Wikidata ID:** Q524529
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunnar_Bj%C3%B6rnstrand, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q524529, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0085038/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6649

Actor. Born 13 November 1909 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden. Died 26 May 1986.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 13 November 1909, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden
- **Died:** 26 May 1986
- **Active:** 1955–1982
- **Also known as:** Гуннар Бьёрнстранд
- **Frequently works with:** [Ingmar Bergman](https://film.one/person/ingmar-bergman.md), [Allan Ekelund](https://film.one/person/allan-ekelund.md), [Bibi Andersson](https://film.one/person/bibi-andersson.md), [Max von Sydow](https://film.one/person/max-von-sydow.md), [Harriet Andersson](https://film.one/person/harriet-andersson.md), [Ingrid Thulin](https://film.one/person/ingrid-thulin.md), [Liv Ullmann](https://film.one/person/liv-ullmann.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 87, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 87 (3), 1960s 86 (3), 1980s 92 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 89 to 86 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 4 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Fantasy 2, Comedy 1, Mystery 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $7m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunnar_Bj%C3%B6rnstrand, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q524529, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0085038/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6649

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Persona*](https://film.one/film/persona.md) (89), [*Wild Strawberries*](https://film.one/film/wild-strawberries.md) (88), [*The Seventh Seal*](https://film.one/film/the-seventh-seal.md) (88), [*Through a Glass Darkly*](https://film.one/film/through-a-glass-darkly.md) (82)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Gunnar Björnstrand

> Gunnar Björnstrand brings a welcome sardonic edge to Bergman’s serious men. We especially value his Jöns in *The Seventh Seal*, whose humour and individuality keep us interested in the people as well as their questions.

In *The Seventh Seal* (1957), Gunnar Björnstrand’s Jöns helps keep the knight’s distress from being the only thing that matters. The cynical squire belongs to a frightened world in which people still have use for a joke and one another’s company. Björnstrand gives him enough individuality that we remain interested in the man even when we can see his place in Bergman’s morality play. The broad humour is welcome, and Bergman does not need to step outside that world to find it.

His early film work was mainly in comedy. The dramatic roles with Bergman developed from 1953 onwards, while *Smiles of a Summer Night* (1955), in which he plays Fredrik Egerman, continued the lighter side of their work. *Wild Strawberries* (1957), with Björnstrand as Evald, belongs beside *The Seventh Seal* in that move towards more dramatic material. We would keep the comedies in view when considering the cynical, intellectual and authoritarian men he so often played.

In *The Seventh Seal*, his work alongside Nils Poppe’s Jof and Bibi Andersson’s Mia gives Bergman several ways to draw our attention away from the knight’s arguments. We found their companionship unexpectedly moving, because the cast makes us care about these people beyond the questions they have been written to represent. The dialogue does sometimes labour those questions; a good cast cannot make every exchange equally rewarding. Björnstrand keeps Jöns recognisable as a person, which is especially useful when the writing grows insistent.

*Winter Light* (1963) places him at the centre as Tomas Ericsson, a troubled priest: a useful counterpoint to Jöns’s cynicism. That is a natural next stop, but we would not let it obscure the comedy. His final film, *Fanny and Alexander* (1982), also belongs to the Bergman collaboration that crossed both kinds of work. Begin with Jöns, then try Fredrik Egerman in *Smiles of a Summer Night*; there is no need to make the acquaintance entirely solemn.

## Biography

Gunnar Björnstrand was a Swedish actor. Born in Stockholm, he trained at the Royal Dramatic Theatre School and began appearing in theatre, film and radio in the early 1930s.

He is best known for his long collaboration with director Ingmar Bergman, appearing in more than a dozen of the director’s films from the 1940s onwards. His roles include Jöns in *The Seventh Seal* (1957), Evald in *Wild Strawberries* (1957), Fredrik Egerman in *Smiles of a Summer Night* (1955), David in *Through a Glass Darkly* (1961), Tomas Ericsson in *Winter Light* (1963), Herr Vogler in *Persona* (1966), Paul in *Autumn Sonata* (1978) and Filip Landahl in *Fanny and Alexander* (1982). He also worked extensively in Swedish theatre and received the Ingmar Bergman Award in 1983.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Fanny and Alexander* (1982), Fi1m 92, as Filip Landahl — [page](https://film.one/film/fanny-and-alexander.md)
- *Persona* (1966), Fi1m 89, as Herr Vogler — [page](https://film.one/film/persona.md)
- *Winter Light* (1963), Fi1m 88, as Tomas Ericsson — [page](https://film.one/film/winter-light.md)
- *Through a Glass Darkly* (1961), Fi1m 82, as David — [page](https://film.one/film/through-a-glass-darkly.md)
- *The Seventh Seal* (1957), Fi1m 88, as Jöns — [page](https://film.one/film/the-seventh-seal.md)
- *Wild Strawberries* (1957), Fi1m 88, as Evald — [page](https://film.one/film/wild-strawberries.md)
- *Smiles of a Summer Night* (1955), Fi1m 84, as Fredrik Egerman — [page](https://film.one/film/smiles-of-a-summer-night.md)

## Complete filmography (135)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Stjärnbilder* (1995), as (archive footage)
- *Minns ni?* (1993), as (archive footage)
- *Fanny and Alexander* (1984), series, as Filip Landahl
- *Fanny and Alexander* (1982), as Filip Landahl — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/fanny-and-alexander.md)
- *The Farewell* (1982), as isoisä
- *Charlotte Löwensköld och Anna Svärd* (1981), series, as Forsius
- *Charlotte Löwensköld* (1979), as Rural dean Forsius
- *Skeppsredaren* (1979), series, as Göran Borg
- *Autumn Sonata* (1978), as Paul
- *Nationalmonumentet* (1977), as Svante Puke
- *Tabu* (1977), as Rådmanskan
- *Face to Face* (1976), series, as Jenny's Grandfather
- *Face to Face* (1976), as Jenny's Grandfather
- *Engeln* (1974), series, as Bäckman
- *Gustav III* (1974), as Fersen
- *Någonstans i Sverige* (1973), series, as Svärfadern
- *Pistolen* (1973), Actor
- *The Ghost Sonata* (1972), as Översten
- *Lockfågeln* (1971), as The major
- *Blow Hot, Blow Cold* (1969), as Prof. Gunnar Lindmark
- *The Rite* (1969), as Hans Winkelmann
- *The lift that went down into hell* (1969), as The husband
- *Tunneln* (1969), Actor
- *Pappa varför är du arg? Du gjorde likadant själv när du var ung* (1968), as Admiral Carl
- *Shame* (1968), as Mr. Jacobi
- *The Girls* (1968), as Hugo
- *Pygmalion* (1968), as Prof. Henry Higgins
- *Henpecked* (1967), Actor
- *Stimulantia* (1967), as Paul Hartman
- *The Red Mantle* (1967), as King Sigvor
- *Here Is Your Life* (1966), as Lundgren
- *Pälsen* (1966), as Fondmäklare Rickardt
- *Persona* (1966), as Herr Vogler — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/persona.md)
- *Sadist* (1966), as Dr. Rune Wester
- *My Sister My Love* (1966), as Count Schwartz
- *Loving Couples* (1964), as Dr. Jacob Lewin
- *The Marriage Wrestler* (1964), as Herr Fotograf Fäger
- *The Dress* (1964), as Helmer Berg
- *My Love Is Like a Rose* (1963), as Georg Ehnström
- *Lyckodrömmen* (1963), as Sebastian
- *Winter Light* (1963), as Tomas Ericsson — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/winter-light.md)
- *Handen på hjärtat* (1962), Actor
- *The Pleasure Garden* (1961), as David Franzén
- *Through a Glass Darkly* (1961), as David — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/through-a-glass-darkly.md)
- *Barna Hedenhös* (1961), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Devil's Eye* (1960), as The Actor
- *Mälarpirater* (1959), Actor
- *Heaven and Pancakes* (1959), as Ernst C:son Kruuse
- *Crime in Paradise* (1959), as Adam Palmquist
- *Swinging at the Castle* (1959), as Agne C:son Stressberg
- *The Magician* (1958), as Dr. Vergerus / Minister of Health
- *Miss April* (1958), as Marcus Arwidson
- *You Are My Adventure* (1958), as Tore Hall
- *Summer Place Wanted* (1957), as Gustaf Dahlström
- *Night Light* (1957), as Purman
- *Wild Strawberries* (1957), as Evald — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/wild-strawberries.md)
- *The Seventh Seal* (1957), as Jöns — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-seventh-seal.md)
- *Skorpan* (1956), Actor
- *Seventh Heaven* (1956), as Maj. Ernst C:son Kruuse
- *It Is Never Too Late* (1956), as Arne's father
- *Smiles of a Summer Night* (1955), as Fredrik Egerman — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/smiles-of-a-summer-night.md)
- *Dreams* (1955), as Otto Sönderby, konsul
- *Stampen* (1955), as Acke Kullerstedt
- *Gabrielle* (1954), as Robert Holmén
- *A Lesson in Love* (1954), as David Erneman
- *Seger i mörker* (1954), as Henrik Kugelström
- *Flottans glada gossar* (1954), as Ludvig "Ludde" Ekman
- *The Glass Mountain* (1953), as Dr. Dalander
- *Möte med livet* (1953), as Narrator (voice)
- *Sawdust and Tinsel* (1953), as Mr. Sjuberg
- *We Three Debutantes* (1953), as Director Brummer
- *Dance, My Doll* (1953), as Zdenko Zapatil
- *Oppåt med Gröna Hissen* (1952), as Malte Lövman
- *Flyg-Bom* (1952), as Niklas Slevbrink
- *Waiting Women* (1952), as Fredrik Lobelius
- *Klackarna i taket* (1952), Actor
- *One Fiancé at a Time* (1952), as Valentin Fredriksson-Frisk, alias ''Dynamit-Valle'', dynamitard
- *Säg det med blommor* (1952), Actor
- *Livat på luckan* (1951), Actor
- *The Nuthouse* (1951), Actor
- *Tull-Bom* (1951), as Frans Melin, aka Hamn-Casanova
- *The Quartet That Split Up* (1950), as Engineer Planertz
- *The White Cat* (1950), as Jarl Eksell
- *Kyssen på kryssen* (1950), as Lars Brenner · film director
- *Fianceé for Hire* (1950), as Julius Brumse
- *My Sister and I* (1950), as Gunnar Stenwall
- *Father Bom* (1949), as Fritjoff Krafft
- *The Girl from the Third Row* (1949), as Edvin Burelius
- *Playing Truant* (1949), as Bertil Kronberg
- *Private Bom* (1948), as Berglund
- *Little Martin Returns* (1948), as The Captain
- *En svensk tiger* (1948), as Hans Wolff
- *Each to His Own Way* (1948), as Sture Widman
- *Music in Darkness* (1948), as Klasson
- *Caged Women* (1947), as Bengt Larsson
- *Här kommer vi ...* (1947), as Skådespelare
- *One Swallow Does Not Make a Summer* (1947), as 40-talisten
- *Krigsmans erinran* (1947), Actor
- *Daddy Wanted* (1947), as Shoe-shiner Tom, 'Plutten'
- *The Bride Came Through the Ceiling* (1947), as Sune Eriksson
- *While the Door Was Locked* (1946), as Erik Sahlén
- *It Rains on Our Love* (1946), as Mr. Purman
- *Incorrigible* (1946), as Dr. Bertil Langenfeldt
- *Kristin Commands* (1946), as Dr. Westman Senior / Vilhelm Westman
- *Peggy på vift* (1946), as Harald Haraldsson
- *Midwinter Sacrifice* (1946), as Hövdingen
- *You Who Are About to Enter* (1945), as Hagman
- *Sussie* (1945), as Harry Hellberg
- *New Order at Sjogarda* (1944), as Felix Palmer
- *Torment* (1944), as Teacher
- *Mitt folk är icke ditt* (1944), Actor
- *Lev farligt* (1944), as Dr. Hahn
- *Appassionata* (1944), as Svensson · Editor of Vecko-Bilden
- *Jag dräpte* (1943), as Lindén
- *Natt i hamn* (1943), as Sven Eriksson
- *General von Döbeln* (1942), as Lieutenant Bäckström
- *En äventyrare* (1942), Actor
- *Trygghet och trivsel* (1942), Actor
- *Snapphanar* (1941), as Soldier
- *The Ghost Reporter* (1941), Actor
- *Everybody at His Station* (1940), as Military Doctor
- *Man of the Forest* (1940), as Clerk
- *Hennes melodi* (1940), Actor
- *June Night* (1940), as Journalist (uncredited)
- *Hjältar i gult och blått* (1940), as Sergeant Frisk
- *Mot nya tider* (1939), as August Palm's Associate
- *We Two* (1939), as Doctor
- *Panik* (1939), as Ryder, Banker
- *Vi som går scenvägen* (1938), Actor
- *Bergslagsfolk* (1937), Actor
- *Uppsagd* (1934), Actor
- *National match* (1932), as Young student watching competition (uncredited)
- *His Life's Match* (1932), Actor
- *Ship Ahoy!* (1931), Actor
- *My Heart and Its Millions* (1931), as Chorister (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![Gunnar Björnstrand](https://film.one/media/person/106060/gallery-3ef25116bddc.jpg) Gunnar Björnstrand — SF-fotografen Louis Huch (1896-1961), som tog stillbildsfoton., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Gunnar_Bj%C3%B6rnstrand%2C_Swedish_actor_%28B%26W%29.jpg/1280px-Gunnar_Bj%C3%B6rnstrand%2C_Swedish_actor_%28B%26W%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Aankomst Zweedse acteur Gunnar Björnstrand op Schiphol Datum : 14 juni (1965)](https://film.one/media/person/106060/gallery-d7037988e9a6.jpg) Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Aankomst Zweedse acteur Gunnar Björnstrand op Schiphol Datum : 14 juni (1965) — Joost Evers / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Aankomst_Zweedse_acteur_Gunnel_Bjornstrand_op_Schiphol%2C_Bestanddeelnr_917-8625.jpg/1280px-Aankomst_Zweedse_acteur_Gunnel_Bjornstrand_op_Schiphol%2C_Bestanddeelnr_917-8625.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Aankomst Zweedse acteur Gunnar Björnstrand op Schiphol Datum : 14 juni (1965)](https://film.one/media/person/106060/gallery-34e68e33a1dd.jpg) Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Aankomst Zweedse acteur Gunnar Björnstrand op Schiphol Datum : 14 juni (1965) — Joost Evers / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Aankomst_Zweedse_acteur_Gunnel_Bjornstrand_op_Schiphol%2C_Bestanddeelnr_917-8626.jpg/1280px-Aankomst_Zweedse_acteur_Gunnel_Bjornstrand_op_Schiphol%2C_Bestanddeelnr_917-8626.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gunnar Björnstrand, Max von Sydow och Gunnel Lindblom i "Nattvardsgästerna". (1963)](https://film.one/media/person/106060/gallery-99620e8b828f.jpg) Gunnar Björnstrand, Max von Sydow och Gunnel Lindblom i "Nattvardsgästerna". (1963) — Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Gunnar-Bjornstrand-Max-von-Sydow-and-Gunnel-Lindblom-in-the-filem-Winter-Light-142445801232.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Gunnar Björnstrand](https://film.one/media/person/106060/gallery-2e19942f6f17.jpg) Gunnar Björnstrand — Image via TMDB
- ![Gunnar Björnstrand](https://film.one/media/person/106060/gallery-befa78b5e30c.jpg) Gunnar Björnstrand — Image via TMDB
- ![Sommarnöje sökes, 1958](https://film.one/media/person/106060/gallery-f7073eec3ade.jpg) Sommarnöje sökes, 1958 — Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Gunnar-Bj%C3%B6rnstrand-and-Bibi-Andersson-in-the-film-Sommarnoje-s%C3%B6kes-352039252630.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Gunnar Björnstrand, svensk skådespelare (1909-1986)](https://film.one/media/person/106060/gallery-c8d8f375752c.jpg) Gunnar Björnstrand, svensk skådespelare (1909-1986) — SF-fotografen Louis Huch (1896-1961), som tog stillbildsfoton., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Gunnar_Bj%C3%B6rnstrand%2C_Swedish_actor.JPG/1280px-Gunnar_Bj%C3%B6rnstrand%2C_Swedish_actor.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Ingmar Bergman Award 1983: Ingmar Bergman Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/gunnar-bjornstrand