Leif Johan Gunnar Hedenberg (born 9 October 1954) is a Swedish actor, director, and screenwriter.
Contents
Early life and education
Leif Johan Gunnar Hedenberg was born on 9 October 1954 in Maria Magdalena parish in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of actors Ulla-Britt and Leif Hedenberg, and grew up in the suburb of Bromma. Johan was beaten regularly by his father as a child, until he fought back as a teen and gave him a beating, after which his father never touched him again. Their relationship became frosty for some time after that, before thawing somewhat.
In 1978 he began studying at the Malmö Theatre Academy in Malmö, in southern Sweden, graduating in 1981.
Career
Acting
After graduating, he started working as an actor with the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. During that time, he spent much time in the company of Thorsten Flinck and Paolo Roberto, and also others who were bad for him, including criminals. He gave up his job at the theatre in anger after a fight, which he later regretted.
He soon found work in various TV series, and at the end of the 1980s found work in the emerging business of voice acting. With the introduction of commercial television in Sweden, animated shows on TV became more common and Hedenberg found steady work as a voice actor. As a voice actor, Hedenberg became a popular choice to cast as villains because of his deep voice, including Dr. Julian Robotnik, Prolix, The Shredder, Dr. Drakken, and Dick Dastardly.
He acted in the stage premiere of Magnus Dahlström's acclaimed play Skärbrännaren (1987), which was made into a television version the following year.
In 1988, he became widely known for his role as a "baddy" in the TV drama series Varuhuset.
During the 2000s and 2010s he provided the Swedish voice for several famous cartoon villains Captain Haddock in The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011; dir: Steven Spielberg) and Django in Ratatouille (2007; dir. Brad Bird).
Screenwriting
Hedenberg wrote the screenplay for the 1990 film Tolv vill hem, which he also directed and produced, and Badhuset, released in 1989.
Other activities
Hedenberg was a member of the rock music band Rökrock, and has appeared on television as a trotting expert.
Personal life
Hedenberg was married, and has two daughters. After divorcing, he dated actress Sanna Ekman for some time.
In 2012, he survived an operation to remove a tumour from his heart which was at high risk at spreading. He later said that the incident had given him new a perspective on life. In the same year, he published an autobiography titled Lill-Tarzan å jag.
Filmography
1980 – Sverige åt svenskarna as Messenger
1984 – Två solkiga blondiner as Glenn the parashooter
1985 – Åshöjdens BK as Edward
1986 – På liv och död as Peter
1988 – Varuhuset as Jonas (a villain)
1989 – The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! as Swedish voice of Luigi
1989 – Asterix and the Big Fight as Swedish voice of Prolix
1990 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as Swedish-language voice of Donatello and General Traag in the Media Dubb version
1992 – Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines as Swedish voice of Dick Dastardly
1992 – Porco Rosso as various Swedish background voices
1993 – Morsarvet as Captain Antonsson
1993 – Sonic the Hedgehog as Swedish voice of Robotnik
1993 – Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog as Swedish voice of Dr. Robotnik
1993 – Swat Kats as Swedish voice of T-Bone
1993 – Biker Mice from Mars as Swedish voice of Throttle
1993 – Rocko's Modern Life as Swedish voice of Heffer and Mrs. Bighead
1994 – Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as Swedish voice of Bulk
