Olaf Poulsen

Olaf Poulsen
Olaf Poulsen

Olaf Poulsen (26 April 1849 – 26 March 1923) was perhaps the best-known Danish comedic stage actor of his time. He was famous for playing such roles as Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Falstaff, among others[1] for the Royal Danish Theatre. His performance as Old Ekdal in an 1885 production of Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck was particularly acclaimed.[2] Olaf was by accounts an outsize personality, unafraid to insult wealthy or noble men even when insulting a man in public was a crime in Denmark.[3] Five minutes of his improvisation on a 1913 film reel were described at the time as "the best film ever to leave a Danish factory."[4]

Poulsen's brother Emil staged Royal Danish Theatre plays in addition to being an acclaimed dramatic actor.

References

  1. ^ Poulsen, Emil; and Poulsen, Olaf, Encyclopedia Britannica. URL
  2. ^ William Bloch's "The Wild Duck," Carla Waal. Educational Theatre Journal, Vol. 30, No. 4. (Dec., 1978), pp. 510. URL
  3. ^ "Life story of Rasmus B. Anderson, written by himself, with the assistance of Albert O. Barton," Library of Congress. URL
  4. ^ "About the First Danish Film Archive," Esben Krohn. URL

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