Bio
Alexander Skarsgård is a Swedish actor and director best known for his television roles as Sgt. Brad 'Iceman' Colbert in the mini-series Generation Kill (2008) and as vampire leader Eric Northman in True Blood, from 2008-2014.
He began his acting career at the age of eight and worked steadily in films and on Swedish television. Skarsgård went on to study theatre at the Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK and at Marymount Manhattan College in New York.
He returned to Sweden immediately following and appeared in a number of productions making him a star in his native country. A visit to Los Angeles landed him a part in the hit comedy Zoolander (2001) where he starred alongside Ben Stiller and Will Ferrell.
Skarsgård returned home to Sweden to continue honing his acting skills with roles in film and theatrical productions including Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Bloody Wedding.
He also co-wrote and co-directed an award winning short, Att döda ett barn (To Kill a Child) in 2003, which was shown at the Tribeca and Cannes Film Festivals.
His first big break in the US was with the HBO miniseries Generation Kill (2008). His portrayal of Marine Sgt. Brad 'Iceman' Colbert astonished critics and audiences alike.
Immediately following, Skarsgård was cast in the role of Eric Northman, a 1,000-year-old Viking vampire, on HBO's hit series True Blood'(2008), where he currently stars alongside Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.
Skarsgård has worked on a number of film projects including Rod Lurie's remake of Straw Dogs (2011) starring opposite James Marsden and Kate Bosworth; Gela Babluani's 13 Tzameti starring opposite Sam Riley, Mickey Rourke and 50 Cent; the independent film Metropia which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival; and a voice role in the animated film The Moomins with his father, actor Stellan Skarsgård.
Skarsgård currently resides in Stockholm and Los Angeles.