Stellan Skarsgård has seven sons and a daughter
NEED TO KNOW
His oldest son, Alexander Skarsgård, has had roles in True Blood, Big Little Lies and Succession
Stellan's other children have careers in modeling, film producing and medicine
Talent runs inStellan Skarsgård's family, which includes his eight children:Alexander,Gustaf, Sam,Bill, Eija, Valter, Ossian and Kolbjörn.
Stellan has been in the spotlight for decades, appearing in over 100 movie, in both his native Sweden and in the U.S. He has starred in blockbusters and musicals, earning his first Oscar nomination for his performance inSentimental Valueat the 2026 Academy Awards.
But he isn't the only Skarsgård to work in Hollywood: The Swedish star has passed along his acting chops to his kids. Having seven Skarsgårds working as actors (Stellan's youngest boys are child stars) seems like it would lead to natural competition among the large family — but the opposite is true, according to Gustaf, who is best known for his roles inVikingsandWestworld.
"Luckily, we are different in type and age, so there hasn't been a lot of competition for specific parts," hetold Sweden'sSchön!magazinein 2018. "At the end of the day, we're in this industry to have fun. ... We're a very close family, and we've always been supportive of one another."
Acting isn't the only career the Skarsgårds have experience with; the family also includes models, film producers, and doctors.
Stellan insists, however, that there is no secret to raising such a gifted brood. "I have never had ambitions for them, other than that they should be decent people," he toldThe Guardianin 2015.
Here's everything to know about the Skarsgård family.
Stellan Skarsgård
Stellan, the patriarch of the Skarsgård family, was born June 13, 1951, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
He started his acting career early, first appearing in school productions and later landing his first major role in 1968, when he starred in the hit Swedish television showBombi Bitt.The show made Stellan a teen idol in his native Sweden.
"It was like being a pop star," Stellan recalled toThe Independentin 2020. "Screaming girls and all that s---."
The television series was only the beginning of what would become a five-decade-long (and counting) acting career for Stellan, ranging from notable Swedish films to major Hollywood blockbusters. He's particularly well known for his collaborations with Danish director Lars von Trier, appearing in six of his projects includingMelancholiaandNymphomaniac.
"We've grown to be friends, and we did that pretty quickly, actually, because I liked him so much as a person," StellantoldSlantmagazineabout von Trier in 2014. "He's one of the most technically skillful directors in the world."
Stateside, Stellan has appeared in everything fromPirates of the CaribbeanandThortoMamma Mia!andGood Will Hunting.And even in his 70s, Stellan's career shows no signs of slowing down: Hepicked up a Golden Globein 2020 for his role in the HBO miniseriesChernobyl, starred oppositeTimothée ChalametandZendayainDuneandDune: Part Two, and appeared in both seasons of theStar Warsprequel seriesAndoron Disney+.
In January 2026, Stellanwonthe Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for his role inSentimental Value.Later that month, he received an Oscar nomination for his performance, making history by becoming the first person to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor for an international film.
"For being a Swede with an accent, I have been extremely successful internationally, so I can't complain," Stellan toldThe Daily Beastin 2021. "I'm a solid f------ actor, and I'd rather be an actor than a star."
Stellan's family tree is almost as extensive as his acting resumé. He has been married twice: First to My Skarsgård from 1975 until their divorce in 2007 and then to film producer Megan Everett in 2009. Stellan and My share six children together (Alexander, Gustaf, Sam, Bill, Eija and Valter), while he and Megan have two sons (Ossian and Kolbjörn).
"I've had two beautiful wives — and very smart wives — and that's helped a lot. I'm not going to take much credit for anything," Stellan told The Daily Beast about his kids.
Alexander Skarsgård
The eldest Skarsgård sibling, Alexander, was born on Aug. 25, 1976, in Stockholm. Alexander nabbed his first film role at 7 years old, starring opposite Stellan in 1984'sÅke och hans värld, according to theLos Angeles Times.
He followed that up with the lead role in the 1989 Swedish hitHunden Som Log, but the fame and attention ultimately led him to quit acting. Instead, he joined the Swedish Armed Forces at the age of 19.
"It was my way of going off into the unknown," AlexandertoldGQin 2011 about his time in the military. "I didn't want to just be somebody's son."
But after completing 18 months of military service, it was a visit to see his father in Los Angeles that reignited his acting career.
"I obviously didn't have representation out there but [my father's] agent asked, 'You're in town, would it be fun to go to an audition? Do you think that'd be interesting?' I was like, 'Yeah, it'd be a great story to tell my friends back home.' " Alexander recalled toGood Morning Americain 2018. That audition resulted inhis first American acting gig, the 2001 comedyZoolander.
It was HBO, however, that would truly launch Alexander's acting career. He earned critical acclaim when he landed a lead role in the 2008 HBO miniseriesGeneration Killand became a household name appearing on the HBO hit seriesTrue Bloodfor seven years.
Then, in 2017, he starred oppositeNicole Kidmanin HBO's miniseriesBig Little Lies— a role that earned him an Emmy, aSAG Awardanda Golden Globein 2018.
Since hisBig Little Liessuccess, Alexander has also appeared in the CBS miniseriesThe Stand, returned to HBO forseason three ofSuccessionand reunited with Kidman in the 2022 epic Viking thrillerThe Northman. But despite his acting achievements, Alexander still has difficulty fully enjoying his success.
"I sometimes have a hard time allowing myself to enjoy a moment. I'm not good at sitting and feeling that I've achieved something," heshared withGQin 2022. "I'm trying to allow myself, with humility, to take more joy in my accomplishments."
In March 2023, the actor confirmed toEntertainment Tonightthat he hadwelcomed his first babywith girlfriendTuva Novotny.
Gustaf Skarsgård
Born on Nov. 12, 1980, in Stockholm, Gustaf took the earliest interest in acting out of all of his siblings. By the age of 6, he knew he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and was already attending drama school in Sweden.
"To any child, the first occupations that are presented to you are your parents'," he toldInterviewmagazinein 2017. "I was appealed to my dad's occupation from the get-go."
As a teen, Gustaf turned down roles in soaps and instead attended the Swedish National Academy of Mime and Acting for college. "I was really pretentious in a sense and was like, 'I'm going to drama school, to learn the craft,' " he said to the outlet.
His early career was in theater, performing with the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm until his first major film role came in the 2003 Swedish horror filmEvil.
Gustaf's stateside big break came with the 2010 filmThe Way Back. The second eldest Skarsgård sibling is perhaps best known, however, for his television work: He played Floki on the History Channel seriesVikingsfrom 2013 to 2020, nabbed his "dream role" on the second season of HBO'sWestworldin 2018 and starred in the 2020 Netflix seriesCursed.
"I expected to be doing basement theater in the suburbs of Stockholm," Gustaf toldInterviewabout his career. "But here I am."
In a November 2021Instagrampost, Gustaf revealed that he has another important role.
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"Eternal gratitude to the most high for bestowing upon me the greatest gift of my life: her life. One year ago tomorrow she came and brought a dimensional shift to my universe," he wrote alongside a picture of himself and his baby daughter. "Love is too futile a word."
Sam Skarsgård
Sam Skarsgård, who was born on June 5, 1982, in Sweden, also followed his parent's footsteps when it came to his career — but instead of pursuing acting like his father and older brothers, he went into medicine like his mother My.
"We're either actors or doctors," Alexander toldThe Inquirerabout his family in 2013. "Mom went through medical school while raising six kids and taking care of the household."
Alexander and his younger brother Bill spoke more about Sam's medical career in a conversation withInterviewmagazinein 2017.
"He works at an ICU so he, on a daily basis, saves lives," Alexander said.
Bill continued, emphasizing that their mother and brother's careers in medicine trumped the rest of the family's in Hollywood.
"There's definitely a sense of embarrassment about what it is artists really do, at least for me in terms of acting. We have a mom and a brother who literally save lives."
Bill Skarsgård
The fourth boy born to Stellan and My was son Bill, who arrived on Aug. 9, 1990. Bill was also enamored by his father's career as a child — but questioned his acting ambitions as a teen.
"Iwanted to be an actorever since I was a little kid," he told PEOPLE in 2016. "But as I got into my teenage years I thought, is it really me wanting this or because I want to follow in my dad's footsteps?"
After studying science in high school, Bill realized his true passion was acting and set out to establish his own career. However, he wanted to do so without the help of his already famous father and big brothers.
"I've always felt a very strong need to do it myself," he said to PEOPLE. "The association with my brothers and my father is already so big, I didn't want them to have anything to do with what I did. I needed them to feel that I am completely responsible for what I do."
After some initial success in Sweden, Bill landed a role on the Netflix seriesHemlock Grovein 2013. From there, he appeared inAllegiantin 2016,Deadpool 2in 2018 and was a series regular on Hulu'sCastle Rockthe same year.
But his most recognizable role was that of Pennywise the Clown inthe 2017 horror filmItandthe 2019 sequelIt Chapter Two. He returned to play the terrifying creature in the 2025 HBO series,IT: Welcome to Derry.
"I was really excited to do a full character transformation into something that's so far away from who I am in every way," Billtold PEOPLE about playing Pennywise.
Bill plays another villainous role oppositeKeanu Reevesin 2023'sJohn Wick: Chapter 4. In 2024, he starred in the reboot of the action thrillerThe Crow, and the horror filmNosferatu.
In his personal life, Bill has been linked to Swedish actressAlida Morbergsince 2016, and the pairwelcomed a daughterin October 2018. In the years since, the couple have had a second child. During a 2023 interview withChicago Today, Bill confirmed he is a father of two.
Eija Skarsgård
The lone daughter in the Skarsgård crew is Eija, who was born on Feb. 27, 1992, in Sweden. According to Stellan, Eija enjoys being the only girl in the large family.
"During each of my wives' subsequent pregnancies, my daughter would say, 'I hope it's not a girl,' " he toldThe Guardianabout Eija in 2015. "She's very strong, stronger in many ways than the boys, and relishes her position."
Eija is one of the few Skarsgård siblings who is not an actor, but she did spend time in front of the camera as a model.
She met her husband, Zeke Tastas, in a nightclub in December 2011 and they were married on Aug. 24, 2019. The pair have since welcomed a son, perEija's Instagram.
Valter Skarsgård
Born on Oct. 25, 1995, in Sweden, Valter is the youngest child of Stellan and My. He, too, has embarked on a career in acting, just like his elder siblings and father.
"I thought I was going to be the youngest one," older brother Bill said in an appearance onJimmy Kimmel Live!about his fellow siblings who act. "And then my little brother, who is five years younger and better looking, started."
Valter's acting resumé includes primarily Swedish productions, but in recent years, he appeared in the BBC seriesBlack Lakefrom 2016 to 2018 and the 2021 Netflix seriesKatla.
More recently, Valter starred in the title role inBörje — The Journey of a Legend, a six-part series that tells the story of Swedish hockey player Börje Salming, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and became the first European inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Salming died in 2022 after a battle with ALS.
In an interview withThe Canadian Press,Valter opened up about how important it was to him to get the role right.
"I was looking forward so much to sharing this whole ride. Even though I got his seal of approval, the pressure was on. I wanted him to hold my hand. I wanted him to lead me through this. When he wasn't able to, it was terrifying," he said. "I felt even more pressure. This has to be good. I have to nail it."
Off-camera, he appears to enjoy a close relationship with his older sister Eija, according to his Instagram. "Dynamic Duo - From childhood to tombstone!," hecaptioned a series of photosof the two. Inanother post, he joked that Eija taught him "everything I know! Even the way to dress!"
Ossian Skarsgård
Stellan welcomed his seventh child — and first with wife Megan Everett — Ossian Skarsgård in 2009.
Although Ossian is only a teenager, he has already entered the family business of acting. He starred alongside older brother Bill in the 2022 Swedish filmBränn Alla Mina Brev, which translates toBurn All My Letters.
Ossian has also joined his famous family on the red carpet over the years, attending the Stockholm premieres ofIt Chapter Twoin 2019 and Netflix'sClarkin 2022, both of which starred Bill.
Kolbjörn Skarsgård
Kolbjörn is the youngest sibling of the Skarsgård clan. He was born in 2012.
Like his father and majority of his older brothers, Kolbjörn is a child actor. He held his first role alongside brother Bill in the 2022 Netflix seriesClark.
He also played Mio in the Swedish television seriesKenny Starfighter, according to his mother'sInstagram.
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