Olle Björklund

Sven Olof Björklund (28 June 1916 – 27 March 1981),[1] better known as Olle Björklund, was a Swedish actor and television host. Björklund was the first Swedish television news presenter, hosting the national news show Aktuellt from 1958. In that capacity, he quickly earned his popular nickname Mr. Aktuellt. However, in 1961, Björklund's career came to an end as he was fired from his position at Swedish Television in the midst of a controversy involving a tobacco advertisement.[2]

Olle Björklund
Olle Björklund in Aktuellt (1960)
Born
Sven Olof Björklund

(1916-06-26)26 June 1916
Botkyrka, Sweden
Died27 March 1981(1981-03-27) (aged 64)
Örkelljunga, Sweden
Other namesMr. Aktuellt
EducationDramatens elevskola (1936)
OccupationTelevision journalist
Years active1935–1981
Notable credit(s)
Aktuellt
Co-anchor (1958–1961)
Spouse(s)Ylva Dahlström (–1969) (divorce)

Biography

Björklund graduated from the Gothenburg High School of Latin in 1933. He went on to study at the Lorensbergsteatern Theater Acting School (1933–1934), The Reima School (1934–1935), and later the Dramatens elevskola (Swedish Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in 1936. In 1937, Björklund was engaged at the Svensk Filmindustri motion picture studios, and in the following year at the Vasateatern Theater in Stockholm.[3] In 1958, he was employed at Swedish Television; hosting the very first national news program, Aktuellt, where he soon became a national celebrity. Aktuellt was first aired on 2 September 1958; this particular transmission become notorious, as almost everything went wrong.[4] However, Björklund did his best - with forced patience - to keep his composure.[5]

At the height of his career in 1961, during his summer leave, Björklund toured local events at public parks on the Swedish West Coast. His appearance was in part sponsored by a local beer and tobacco wholesaler. Although Björklund had been promised that his name would not appear in any advertising, the deal was not honored by the sponsor. The national TV executive Nils Erik Bæhrendtz, who had publicly criticized Björklund for his park tour,[6] personally ordered Björklund's swift resignation from Swedish Television.[7] After his forced resignation, and despite many viewers demanding his immediate return to the evening news show, Björklund virtually disappeared from the public scene.[8] Four years later, on 20 October 1964, Björklund briefly returned to television; when he appeared as a guest in a TV show, reading a short poem by Swedish author Harry Martinson.[9]

Björklund was married to Ylva Dahlström. They were divorced in 1969. Björklund died in Örkelljunga in 1981.[10]

Selected filmography
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References
  1. Sveriges befolkning 1970, (CD-ROM version 1.04) Sveriges Släktforskarförbund 2003.
  2. TV! Nedslag i Sveriges televisions historia, Jan Gradvall, Stockholm: Sveriges Radio, 1996.
  3. Olle Björklund, Nationalencyklopedin, Höganäs, 1990.
  4. Aktuellt fick en historisk inledning Archived 2012-10-09 at the Wayback Machine, TV! Nedslag i Sveriges Televisions historia, Jan Gradvall, Stockholm: Sveriges Radio, 1996.
  5. Icelandic Fishing Dispute (Björklund appears in the end) Archived 2012-03-26 at the Wayback Machine, Aktuellt, 2 September 1958.
  6. Olle Björklund
  7. Ett folk på marsch: 1960–1977, Per-Erik Lindorm, Bonnier, Stockholm 1978.
  8. Mr. Aktuellt: Olle Björklund, interview in Expressen, 15 September 1965.
  9. Panorama 64 – en bokfilm från Bonniers Folkbibliotek, Per-Erik Lindorm ed., Albert Bonniers Förlag, Stockholm 1964, s. 20.
  10. Sveriges dödbok 1947–2003 (English: Swedish Death Index 1947–2003) (CD-ROM version 3.0), Sveriges Släktforskarförbund 2005.
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