Sven-Ole Thorsen (September 24, 1944) is a Danish actor, stuntman, bodybuilder and strongman competitor.
He won the title of Denmark's Strongest Man in 1983 which opened him gates as a stuntman in Hollywood. He is best known for his roles in Conan the Barbarian, Hard Target, Gladiator and The Sum of All Fears, and generally for appearing in a number of films starring fellow bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger whenever enemies with as much muscle bulk as him were needed.
He is married to businesswoman Birgitta Sunding Thorsen and they have five children.
Filmography
Film Roles
- 1977: Pas Pa Ryggen Professor as Håndlanger ("Henchman")
- 1982: Conan the Barbarian (1982) as Thorgrim
- 1984: Conan the Destroyer as Togra
- 1985: Red Sonja as Bodyguard of Lord Brytag (Uncredited Role, also stunts)
- 1986: Raw Deal as Patrovita's Bearded Bodyguard (uncredited, also stunts)
- 1987: The Running Man as Sven
- 1987: Lethal Weapon (1987) as Mercenary
- 1987: Predator as Russian Officer (uncredited)
- 1987: Overboard (1987) as Olaf
- 1988: Red Heat as Nikolai
- 1988: Twins as Sam Klane
- 1989: Pink Cadillac as Birthright Thug
- 1990: The Hunt for Red October as Russian COB
- 1990: Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe as Secundus
- 1991: Captain Power The Beginning as Lt. Michael 'Tank' Ellis
- 1991: Terminator 2: Judgment Day as Mall Security Guard
- 1991: Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man as David
- 1992: Dead On Relentless II as Mechanic (also stunts)
- 1992: Lethal Weapon 3 as Henchman #2
- 1992: Nemesis as Cyborg Interrogating Old Woman (uncredited, also stunts)
- 1993: Nowhere to Run as Prisoner
- 1993: Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story as The Demon
- 1993: Last Action Hero as Gunman
- 1993: Hard Target as Stephan
- 1993: Cyborg 2 Glass Shadow as Doorman
- 1994: On Deadly Ground as Otto
- 1994: A Low Down Dirty Shame as Mob Boss Bodyguard (uncredited)
- 1995: The Quick and the Dead as Gutzon
- 1995: The Viking Sagas as Gunnar
- 1995: Mallrats as La Fours (also stunts)
- 1995: The Dangerous as Sven (also stunts)
- 1995: No Exit 1995 as Darcona
- 1996: Eraser as Russian Gunman (uncredited, also stunts)
- 1996: Bulletproof as Gunman at Motel (uncredited, also stunts)
- 1996: The Undercover Kid as Terrorist #1
- 1996: Fox Hunt as Huge Man
- 1997: George of the Jungle as Mercenary
- 1997: Kull the Conqueror as King Borna
- 1997: The Bad Pack as Sven
- 1997: The Guardian 1997 as Baiya
- 1998: Best Of The Best 4 Without Warning as Boris
- 1998: Winchell as German Man
- 1999: Foolish as Paris
- 1999: Facade as Gen. Schweinkopf
- 1999: The 13th Warrior as Would Be King
- 1999: End of Days as Thug (uncredited, also stunts)
- 2000: The Alternate as Secret Service Agent (uncredited)
- 2000: Gladiator as Tigris
- 2001: Bandits as Oregon State Prison Guard on Watchtower
- 2001: Route 666 as Russian Hitman
- 2001: Extreme Honor as Baker's Bodyguard #1
- 2002: Collateral Damage as Bomb Victim (uncredited)
- 2002: The Sum of All Fears as Haft
- 2003: Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle as Machine Gun Mongol (uncredited)
- 2003: The Rundown as Goon (uncredited)
- 2003: Timecop The Berlin Decision as SS Body Guard
- 2004: In Enemy Hands as Hans
- 2005: Hostage 2005 as Hooded Thug Guarding Hostages (uncredited, also stunts)
- 2011: Ronal the Barbarian as Generalen
Television Roles
- 1986: The A-Team as Rolf
- 1987-1988: Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future as Lt. Michael 'Tank' Ellis
- 1990-1991: The Flash (1990) as Omega/Swede/Tanner Transformed
- 1993: Quantum Leap as Guy at the Door
- 1993: Walker, Texas Ranger as Gym Fighter
- 1995: Aaahh!!! Real Monsters as Lars Halverson
- 1996: Nowhere Man as Assassin
- 1997: Baywatch Nights as Viking
- 1998: Mike Hammer Private Eye as Rolf
- 1998: Baywatch as Hans Ulpan
- 2007: Andy Barker PI as Thug #1
- 2009: Kristian as Sven Ole
Producer
Stunts
- 1989: Ghostbusters II
- 1992: Bram Stoker's Dracula
- 1994: A Low Down Dirty Shame
- 1996: Jingle All the Way
- 1997: Back In Business
- 1997: Breakdown
- 1997: Batman & Robin
- 1998: Soldier
- 2000: Ready to Rumble
- 2001: Double Take
- 2003: Masked And Anonymous
- 2004: Hidalgo
- 2004: DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
- 2004: Collateral
