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IMDbPro

Bo Svenson

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Bo Svenson - May 2020
Watch Bo Svenson Demo Reel - 4 Minutes
Play demo reel3:58
Bo Svenson Demo Reel - 4 Minutes
19 Videos
99+ Photos
A multi-award-winning writer and actor, Bo was born in Sweden but emigrated by himself to the US when he was 17. After serving six years as a US Marine, he was pursuing a Ph.D. in MetaPhysics and paying the rent with odd acting gigs when he was hired to replace Paul Newman as Robert Redford's co-star in "The Great Waldo Pepper". This led to a starring role in the CBS TV pilot "The Freebooters" - and his being cast as "Big Swede" on the TV series "Here Come the Brides".

His role as "The Creature" in the 3-hour TV movie "Mary Shelley's Original Frankenstein" brought him great acclaim - and was soon followed by other major starring film roles, including, but most notably, as: Sheriff Buford Pusser in "Walking Tall Part II", "Final Chapter: Walking Tall" and the "Walking Tall" TV series, as the fun-loving offensive lineman Joe Bob Priddy in "North Dallas Forty", as the heroic airline pilot in "The Delta Force", and as Clint Eastwood's rival in "Heartbreak Ridge".

During his fifty years in Hollywood, he has worked with over 100 Academy Award winners/nominees. Since appearing in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" and "Inglourious Basterds" (the latter being Tarantino's version of one of his favorite films of all time, "The Inglorious Bastards" in which Bo starred), Bo has focused on his first love - writing. His screenplays have won and/or been selected more than thirty times by major film festivals.

An accomplished athlete, he has competed in world championships in judo and in Olympic selections in yachting. A 5th degree black belt in judo and a black belt holder in karate as well as aikido, he is past Chairman of USA Judo Masters and has been inducted into the Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame. He is active in community service causes and was Sports Commissioner at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games at his Alma Mater UCLA.

Since 1975, he has been President/CEO of MagicQuest Entertainment, a California motion picture development and production company that also provides consulting services to actors and script advice to writers.

He is also owner and CEO of the British Columbia film and television production company, CanAm Film Corp., and the Norwegian corporation, Den Norske Arv A/S. He was Chairman of the Board/CEO of Motion Picture Group of America (1984-2004).
BornFebruary 13, 1941
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornFebruary 13, 1941
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 47 wins & 68 nominations

Photos176

w. Quentin on the KILL BILL set
as Sheriff Buford Pusser in Walking Tall
As Axel Olsson in "The Great Waldo Pepper"
Directing Dennis Hopper in MADE FOR EACH OTHER
Directing OUTLAW at LAX
Bo Svenson in Frankenstein: Part 2 (1973)
Bo Svenson in McCloud (1970)
Bo Svenson in McCloud (1970)
Bo Svenson in McCloud (1970)
Bo Svenson and Val Avery in McCloud (1970)
Bo Svenson and Stefanie Powers in McCloud (1970)
Bo Svenson in McCloud (1970)

Known for

Brad Pitt, Til Schweiger, Mélanie Laurent, Eli Roth, Christoph Waltz, and Diane Kruger in Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Inglourious Basterds
8.3
  • American Colonel
  • 2009
Uma Thurman in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
8.0
  • Reverend Harmony
  • 2004
Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977)
Final Chapter: Walking Tall
5.7
  • Buford
  • 1977
North Dallas Forty (1979)
North Dallas Forty
6.9
  • Jo Bob Priddy
  • 1979

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • The End Is Here
    • Mr. Milton
    • In Production
    • TV Mini Series
  • He Returns
    • The Man
    • Pre-production
    • TV Series
  • Vail of Justice
    • Gustav
    • In Production
  • Diddleville, USA (2022)
    Diddleville, USA
    • Jebediah Judd
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • A Champion for All (2022)
    A Champion for All
    • Jebidiah Judd
    • 2022
  • Finding Grace (2019)
    Finding Grace
    • Dr. Nelson
    • 2019
  • Made for Each Other
    • Purse Snatcher
    • Short
    • 2015
  • Min søsters børn og guldgraverne (2015)
    Min søsters børn og guldgraverne
    • John
    • 2015
  • Jersey Justice (2014)
    Jersey Justice
    • W.W. Tolliver
    • 2014
  • Pride of Lions (2014)
    Pride of Lions
    • Mick Skinner
    • 2014
  • Non-Stop (2013)
    Non-Stop
    • Dr. Halperin
    • TV Movie
    • 2013
  • The Di Palma Forum at UNLV
    • Bo Svenson (co-host)
    • TV Series
    • 2012
  • The Inspector and the Sea (2007)
    The Inspector and the Sea
    • Janne Brolin
    • TV Series
    • 2012
  • Arne Dahl: Bad Blood (2012)
    Arne Dahl: Bad Blood
    • Daniel Brink
    • Wayne Jennings
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2012
  • Angry (2010)
    Angry
    • Bill
    • 2010
  • The 7 Adventures of Sinbad (2010)
    The 7 Adventures of Sinbad
    • Simon Magnusson
    • Video
    • 2010
  • Icarus (2010)
    Icarus
    • Vadim
    • 2010
  • Inglorious Basterds: Stolz der Nation (2009)
    Inglorious Basterds: Stolz der Nation
    • Der Amerikanische Schlächter (as Benjamin Palme)
    • Video
    • 2009

Writer

  • He Returns
    • written by
    • Pre-production
    • TV Series
  • The Dream of America
    • Writer
    • Pre-production
  • Six Days in America
    • writer
    • Pre-production
  • Fate, Two Kids and an E.T.
    • writer
    • Pre-production
  • Last Chance: Lonely Hearts Square
    • Writer
    • Pre-production
    • TV Series
  • The Red Cloth
    • writer
    • Pre-production
  • Diddleville, USA (2022)
    Diddleville, USA
    • Writer
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Made for Each Other
    • Writer
    • Short
    • 2015
  • Legacy
    • Writer
    • 2004
  • Michael Madsen in Outlaw (2001)
    Outlaw
    • Writer
    • 2001

Producer

  • He Returns
    • producer
    • Pre-production
    • TV Series
  • The Dream of America
    • producer
    • Pre-production
  • The Red Cloth
    • Lead Producer
    • Pre-production
  • Diddleville, USA (2022)
    Diddleville, USA
    • producer
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Made for Each Other
    • producer
    • Short
    • 2015
  • Raising Jeffrey Dahmer (2006)
    Raising Jeffrey Dahmer
    • co-producer
    • 2006
  • Legacy
    • producer
    • 2004
  • Yukie (1998)
    Yukie
    • co-producer
    • 1998
  • Brothers in Blood (1987)
    Brothers in Blood
    • producer
    • 1987
  • Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977)
    Final Chapter: Walking Tall
    • producer
    • 1977
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos21

Bo Svenson Demo Reel - 7 Minutes
Demo Reel 7:48
Bo Svenson Demo Reel - 7 Minutes
Bo Svenson Demo Reel - 4 Minutes
Demo Reel 3:58
Bo Svenson Demo Reel - 4 Minutes
Choke Canyon
Clip 0:49
Choke Canyon
I Am Somebody: No Chance in Hell
Clip 1:00
I Am Somebody: No Chance in Hell
I Am Somebody: No Chance in Hell
Clip 1:08
I Am Somebody: No Chance in Hell
Trailer
Trailer 1:17
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:21
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:48
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:47
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 3:13
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:30
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 3:42
Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Cameo
    • Facebook
  • Alternative names
    • Benjamin Palme
  • Height
    • 6′ 5½″ (1.97 m)
  • Born
    • February 13, 1941
    • Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden
  • Spouse
    • Lise Hartmann-BergDecember 30, 1966 - present (3 children)
  • Children
      Pia Svenson
  • Parents
      Lola Svensson
  • Publicity listings
    • 3 Interviews
    • 13 Articles
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Self-verified on IMDbPro

  • Gender / Gender identity
    • Male

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    He was television's highest-paid actor for his reprisal of Buford Pusser in the television series Walking Tall (1981). Only Johnny Carson was making more than he was at the time.
  • Quotes
    You know, I never paid much attention to who was the lead, who was the second banana, where was I -- was I the fifth banana? -- whatever. I had a zest for life. And I was rather impractical about my career. I was never career oriented. I was more life oriented. So I didn't really care about billing and stuff.
  • Trademark
      Towering height and strong frame.

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