BJORNSTRAND, GUNNAR

born Nov. 13, 1909, Stockholm, Swed. highly regarded Swedish stage and motion-picture actor. Though born to an acting family, Bjrnstrand attempted other careers before returning to his father's profession. After playing a bit part in Falske millionren (1931; False Millionaire), he studied acting at the Royal Dramatic Theatre School. Bjrnstrand was an accomplished film and stage actor but was most widely known for his films under the direction of Ingmar Bergman. The first Bergman film that he appeared in was Det regnar p vr krlek (1946; It Rains on Our Love). He later appeared in a number of highly acclaimed roles in other Bergman films, including Kvinnors vntan (1952; Waiting Women, or Secrets of Women), Gycklarnas afton (1953; The Naked Night, or Sawdust and Tinsel), En lektion i krlek (1954; A Lesson in Love), Sommarnattens leende (1955; Smiles of a Summer Night), Smultronstllet (1957; Wild Strawberries), Ansiktet (1958; The Face, or The Magician), Ssom i en spegel (1961; Through a Glass Darkly), Nattsvardsgsterna (1961; The Communicants, or Winter Light), Persona (1966), Herbstsonate (1978; Autumn Sonata), and Fanny och Alexander (1983; Fanny and Alexander). Though internationally known and respected, his films with few exceptions were made in Sweden.