Stefan Karl Stefansson is an Icelandic film and theater actor. World fame came to him after filming in the children's project "Lazytown", where he played the role of the villain Robbie the Spiteful. The series has been broadcast worldwide since 2002.
Stefan is better known as a theater actor. After studying at the Academy of Arts, he joined the troupe of the National Theater of Iceland. He soon became one of the leading actors in the scene.
Biography facts
Stefan was born in a small village in Iceland in the summer of 1975. He was born into a family of a worker and a housewife.
Even in his school years, he was attracted by creativity and theatrical art. He dreamed of going on stage and becoming a famous actor. After completing his primary education, Stefan continued his studies at The Icelandic Academy of Arts in Reykjavik, where he studied drama and acting.
Stefan also studied music and vocals professionally. He had a great voice - baritone. Stefansson also mastered piano, percussion and accordion. In addition, he took dance lessons and learned fencing. During his student years, the actor often performed on stage as a stand-up comedian.
Immediately after graduation, he was invited to the troupe of the National Theater. The actor quickly won the love of the audience and became one of the leading actors on the stage.
Theater critics have often written about him as a unique, talented and versatile actor who can easily be given any images. He was predicted a brilliant career and was considered one of the brightest young representatives of theatrical art.
Creative way
On the theatrical stage, Stefansson has played many roles, among which were characters from classical and modern plays by famous authors. He perfectly played the main role in Rostand's comedy "Cyrano de Bergerac". Then he appeared in the musical "Singing in the Rain" and in Shakespeare's comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
In addition to working at the National Theater, Stefan performed for one season on the stage of the Reykjavik City Theater, where he played one of the main roles in the play "Little Shop of Horrors". In the same theater, Stefan played several more supporting roles during the season.
As the leading actor of the National Theater, Stefan was invited to the new project "Lazyyevo". At first, the play was performed on the theater stage, and then it was adapted for television. Both in the theater and in the cinema, Stefan played the role of the main villain Robbie the Spiteful in Lazy Town.
The series "Lazyyevo" was awarded the following prizes: EMIL Award, EDDA Award. He has also been nominated for several awards: Emmy Award, BAFTA Award.
Stefan was awarded the Thorbjorn Egner Award for his outstanding achievements in the performing arts. He was also elected President of the Leipzig Film Festival in Germany.
The actor is the founder of Rainbow Children, a non-profit organization in Iceland and a charity that helps children who have been bullied by parents and adults. The organization also operates in Canada and the United States.
In addition, Stefan ran one of the European television and film companies, participating in the development of new projects.
Personal life and fatal illness
Stefan married actress and writer Steinunn Oulin Thorsteinsdouttir in 2002. In this union, four children were born: three daughters and a son.
In the prime of his creative career, Stefan was diagnosed with oncology. He was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2016. The treatment seemed to be giving positive results, and after a few months Stefan reported that he was in remission.
In 2018, the actor's condition deteriorated again. The operation was no longer possible and he stopped chemotherapy. In August of the same year, Stefan passed away, being at home, surrounded by loved ones.
