Stellan Skarsg�rd became a star in his teens through the title role in the TV-seies "Bombi Bitt och jag" (1968) (mini). Between the years 1972-88 he was employed at The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, where he participated in "Vita rum" (1988), August Strindberg's "Ett dr�mspel" (1986) and "M�ster Olof" (1988). Simultaneously Skarsg�rd did outstanding film roles, noatably in Enfaldige m�rdaren, Den (1982) by Hans Alfredson and with Fred Ward in Noon Wine (1985) (TV). The fantastic performance gave him both a well-earned Guldbagge and Silver Berlin Bear. He portrayed the Skagen-painter S�ren Kr�yer in Hip hip hurra! (1987) and the Swedish ambassador Raoul Wallenberg in God afton, Herr Wallenberg (1990), both directed by Kjell Grede. T�cknamn Coq Rouge (1989) and Demokratiske terroristen, Den (1992) he played Jan Guillou's Swedish superagent Carl Hamilton. He also had the leading part in the Oscar nominated Oxen (1991) directed by the world-famous cinematographer Sven Nykvist. Skarsg�rd did his first (but small) role in an big American film with The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988). The role of Captain Tupolev in The Hunt for Red October (1990) was at supposed to be biggest part in a Hollywood-film, but unfortunately it was cut down. His breakthrough instead came with Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves (1996) opposite newcomer Emily Watson. After that Skarsg�rd got several supporting roles in American films, such as in My Son the Fanatic (1997), Gus Van Sant's Good Will Hunting (1997) and Steven Spielberg's Amistad (1997).