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IMDbPro

Stefán Karl Stefánsson(1975-2018)

  • Actor
  • Additional Crew
  • Director
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Stefán Karl Stefánsson
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:00
LazyTown (2002–2014)
1 Video
9 Photos
Stefan Karl Stefansson was an Icelandic film and stage actor/comedian, best known for playing the villain Robbie Rotten of Nickjr's popular TV program Lazy Town, that currently airs worldwide in over 103 countries, in all five continents, on [such distinguished] networks as BBC, CBBC, CBS, Discovery Kids, Disney, RUV-Icelandic TV, and Nick Jr.

Stefan Karl was born 1975 into a non-biz working class family in the village of Hafnarfjordur in Iceland. Shortly after graduation from drama school [or: from The Icelandic Academy of Arts in Reykjavík] he signed up with the National Theatre of Iceland, soon to be praised by critics and audiences alike as one of the most individual and versatile actor of the younger generation, introduced at the beginning of a new millennium.

As a lead comedic actor with the NT he was invited to play the leading role in the original theatre production of Lazy Town, in which he created the character of Robbie Rotten and when the play was eventually turned into a Television series, he was the obvious choice for the same part, in recognition of his contribution to its extraordinary success. As the villain Stefan Karl has been instrumental to the series and the success it has achieved, which includes number of prestigious awards and honors, including an EMIL Award, EDDA Award, Emmy Award nominations, and most notably two BAFTA Award nomination in the United Kingdom as well as having won the 2006 BAFTA Award, when LazyTown was specifically awarded for the episode titled "Robbie's Greatest Misses." He has also received the "Thorbjorn Egner Award" for an Outstanding Stage Performance as well as having his one man show, Thousand Island Dressing, selected by the President of the Leipzig Film Festival in Germany, as a showcase of Icelandic theatre, and performed at the festival's 10 year anniversary.

As a star player on repertoire at the National Theatre Stefan Karl also excelled in a variety of classical and contemporary starring- and character parts, such as the title role in Rostand's romantic tragedy Cyrano De Bergerac, as the song and dance man Cosmo Brown in Singin' in the Rain, the sufferable (middle age) stage director Lloyd Douglas in Noises Off and Puck in Midsummer Night's Dream. For one season Stefan Karl was borrowed by the NT's competitor The Reykjavík City Theatre, to star in Little Shop of Horrors as the formidable Dentist (plus playing ten different supporting roles).

In his relatively short career Stefán Karl built up a unique range of hilariously funny and eccentric characters, like the singing gay sheep farmer in the popular Icelandic feature comedy Stella Runs for Office, and a huge gallery of diverse comedic characters for the annual New Years Eve Comedy Hour-Variety Show on RUV-TV in Iceland, although it would be quite appropriate to say these had all rolled together into one, in his definitive interpretation of Robbie Rotten.

Stefan Karl was a founder of the reputable nonprofit organisation Rainbow Children in Iceland, a driving force and efficient charity fund raiser for rallying against child bullying, an organization which has now spread to Canada and is currently being introduced to the American public.

Stefan Karl ran his own TV and film production company in Europe, currently developing projects. He was a keen aviation enthusiast with a solo permit as a pilot, a licensed skipper for fishing boats of 30 tons, and during photography of the latest series of Lazy Town, he spent his entire spare time off set as a featured singer, vocal impressionist and youngest member of the popular rock'n roll band Studmenn, a group of celebrated musicians, all over fifty, who's catchphrase is "Lets embrace the oldest teenage rock band in Scandinavia." In his later years, Stefán Karl resided in San Diego with his wife Steinunn Olína, a renowned actress and novelist, and their three daughters and one son.

In October of 2016 Stefan Karl announced that he had developed Bile Duct Cancer. A GoFundMe campaign to cover his medical costs became popular when a few of the songs from "LazyTown" began receiving parodies and Internet memes. Stefan Karl said in August of 2017 that he was in remission but his condition became inoperable in March 2018. He discontinued chemotherapy in June 2018 and died on August 21, 2018.
BornJuly 10, 1975
DiedAugust 21, 2018(43)
BornJuly 10, 1975
DiedAugust 21, 2018(43)
IMDbProStarmeter
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  • Awards

Photos9

Stefán Karl Stefánsson and Julianna Rose Mauriello
Stefán Karl Stefánsson
Actress Agusta Eva Erlendsdottir and leading actor Stefan Karl Stefansson rehearse
Leading actor Stefan Karl Stefansson in his role as Larus
actress Agusta Eva Erlendsdottir (as Margret) and actor Stefan Karl Stefansson (as leading role Larus)
actor Eggert Thorleifsson (as Markell) and actor Stefan Karl Stefansson (as leading role Larus)
Stefán Karl Stefánsson, Magnús Scheving, and Julianna Rose Mauriello in LazyTown (2002)
Stefán Karl Stefánsson, Magnús Scheving, and Julianna Rose Mauriello in LazyTown (2002)

Known for

LazyTown (2002)
LazyTown
5.9
TV Series
  • Robbie Rotten
Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Hemsworth, and Josh Dallas in Thor (2011)
Thor
7.0
  • Additional Crew
  • 2011
Robin Williams, Ben Stiller, Patrick Gallagher, Mizuo Peck, Rami Malek, and Crystal the Monkey in Night at the Museum (2006)
Night at the Museum
6.4
  • Additional Crew(as Stefan Karl Stefansson)
  • 2006
Kurteist fólk (2011)
Kurteist fólk
5.6
  • Lárus Skjaldarson
  • 2011

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • For Honor (2017)
    For Honor
    • (voice)
  • LazyTown (2002)
    LazyTown
  • Harry Og Heimir (2014)
    Harry Og Heimir
  • Candybar (2012)
    Candybar
  • Kurteist fólk (2011)
    Kurteist fólk
  • True Jackson, VP (2008)
    True Jackson, VP
    • (as Stefan Karl)
  • Jóhannes (2009)
    Jóhannes
  • LazyTown Extra (2008)
    LazyTown Extra
    • (as Stefan Karl)
  • Anna and the Moods (2006)
    Anna and the Moods
    • (voice)
  • Áramótaskaup 2002
  • Stella í framboði (2002)
    Stella í framboði
  • Litla lirfan ljóta (2002)
    Litla lirfan ljóta
  • Áramótaskaup (1966)
    Áramótaskaup
  • Regína (2001)
    Regína
  • Eilífðin

Additional Crew

  • Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Hemsworth, and Josh Dallas in Thor (2011)
    Thor
  • Robin Williams, Ben Stiller, Patrick Gallagher, Mizuo Peck, Rami Malek, and Crystal the Monkey in Night at the Museum (2006)
    Night at the Museum
    • (as Stefan Karl Stefansson)

Director

  • Stefán Karl Stefánsson in We Are Number One Live But It's the Live Version with an Interview 12.11.16 (2016)
    We Are Number One Live But It's the Live Version with an Interview 12.11.16
    • (as Stefan Karl)

Videos1

LazyTown: New Super Hero/Suprise Santa
Trailer 1:00
LazyTown: New Super Hero/Suprise Santa

Personal details

Edit
    • boston.com - Interview
    • July 10, 1975
    • Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
    • August 21, 2018
    • Iceland(bile duct cancer)
    • Steinunn Ólína ÞorsteinsdóttirDecember 29, 2002 - August 21, 2018 (his death, 4 children)
  • Other works
    How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Grinch 2008 (The Running Subway Productions)
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Interviews

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Was known as the "Icelandic Jim Carrey".
  • Quotes
    Robbie [Rotten] was a product of many years of thinking and doing. What you see in the TV show is different from his first personality. One of the big challenges playing a part like Robbie is bringing the right kind of energy. You don't want to scare the littlest viewers but you have to bring a certain villain personality with humor.
    • LazyTown
      (2002)
      $280,000

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