Stig Järrel

Stig Järrel (8February 1910 – 1July 1998) was a Swedish actor, film director and revue artist.

Järrel was one of the most popular actors in Sweden during his career, and also one of the most productive, participating in a total of 131 films.

He also performed as an actor at various Swedish theatres and was a frequent guest on radio and television.

Stig Järrel was born Stig Ohlson in Malmberget in northern Sweden on 8 February 1910.

In 1929, he was admitted as a drama student at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's Royal Dramatic Training Academy in Stockholm, and worked later for actor Gösta Ekman.

He made his debut in a 1936 film with actor Edvard Persson called Larsson i det andra giftet.

Järrel was notably productive with an average participation of six films per year (often appearing in large supporting roles or leading ones), making a total of 131 film roles during his career.

He is best remembered for his portrayal of the cruel Latin teacher 'Caligula' in the Alf Sjöberg film Torment (1944).

Järrel later said that his portrayal of Caligula was his only film role of which he could say he was proud.

Known as a self-imposed perfectionist among colleagues, he was otherwise in his native Sweden above all recognized as a magnificent comedian and revue artist on stage.

Most of his parts on film are comedy parts as well.

His most popular screen comedy part is probably his Little Märta in Hasse Ekman's 1945 film comedy Fram för lilla Märta, in which Järrel poses as a woman in the Swedish parliament.

He worked with the leading revue producers in Sweden, and in one show developed the much popular character Fibban Karlsson, a choleric old man who reflected on the everyday life in monologues in his own little ways.

Järrel retired in the 1980s and moved to the French Riviera.

He died in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on 1 July 1998.