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The arrangement continues as of 2024.

This upbringing, with its proximity to the sea and limited access to cultural institutions, fostered a grounded perspective that later informed his approach to character development in acting.^[8]His initial artistic awakenings came through exposure to theatre via television broadcasts during childhood in the countryside, where live performances were rare and such programs ignited a fascination with the stage.^[11] As a teenager, Henriksson and his peers from the gymnasium frequently attended local theatre outings during free time, experiences that deepened his appreciation for dramatic arts and highlighted the transformative power of performance in an otherwise insular coastal setting.^[10] These encounters, rather than formal amateur productions, represented his early involvement in the cultural sphere, bridging everyday life in Grisslehamn to a burgeoning interest in acting without immediate familial or community expectations to pursue it professionally.^[12]Following his studentexamen, Henriksson enrolled in Sweden's prestigious Statens scenskola in Malmö from 1968 to 1971.^[13][14]

Career

Theatre work

Krister Henriksson began his professional theatre career in 1971 upon graduating from the Malmö Theatre Academy, making his debut at Norrköping City Theatre where he performed in various ensemble roles that demonstrated his versatility early on.^[15] By 1972, he had joined the Stockholm City Theatre, an institution with which he maintained a long association, appearing in multiple productions throughout the decade.^[16] His breakthrough came in 1973 with the lead role of Peer Gynt in Henrik Ibsen's classic at the Stockholm City Theatre, a performance that established him as a prominent figure in Swedish theatre and highlighted his ability to embody complex, transformative characters.^[16]Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Henriksson continued to build his stage repertoire at the Stockholm City Theatre, taking on roles such as Pierrot in a 1974 production of Don Juan and Måns in Gösta Berlings saga that same year, roles that showcased his range from comedic to dramatic elements.^[17] In 1993, he joined the Royal Dramatic Theatre (Dramaten) in Stockholm, debuting as Lenny in Harold Pinter's The Homecoming, marking the start of another enduring affiliation with one of Sweden's leading institutions.^[18] His work at Dramaten included collaborations with directors like Ingmar Bergman, who helmed a production of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale featuring Henriksson.^[19]A highlight of his career was the one-man show Doktor Glas, adapted from Hjalmar Söderberg's 1905 novel, which premiered in 2006 at Vasateatern in Stockholm and became a critical and commercial success.^[20] In this introspective role as the tormented physician Tyko Gabriel Glas, Henriksson delivered a 90-minute soliloquy that delved into moral dilemmas and unrequited love, earning acclaim for its intensity and psychological depth.^[21] The production toured extensively across Scandinavia and internationally, including a 2013 run at London's West End's Wyndham's Theatre, where it ran for several weeks to sold-out audiences despite being performed in Swedish with surtitles.^[21] Henriksson co-directed Doktor Glas with Peder Bjurman, contributing to its minimalist staging and atmospheric design that enhanced the narrative's noir-like tension.^[22]Henriksson's long-term ties to Swedish theatre extended to his entrepreneurial role as co-owner and artistic director of Vasateatern from 2004 until its closure in 2009 due to renovations, during which the venue specialized in classic farces and comedies, hosting productions like the premiere of Doktor Glas.^[23] This period underscored his commitment to preserving and revitalizing traditional Swedishstage works, blending his acting prowess with administrative leadership to foster intimate, audience-focused performances.^[24] In 2025, he starred in a new play directed by Henrik Schyffert alongside Marie Göranzon.^[25]

Film and television roles

Henriksson's transition to screen acting began in the late 1970s, but he established a presence in Swedishcinema during the 1980s with supporting roles in films like Nionde kompaniet (1987), a military comedy-drama, and Täcknamn Coq Rouge (1989), a spy thriller where he portrayed a key operative.^[26] In the 1990s, he continued building his film resume with performances in 1939 (1989) as a family patriarch amid wartime tensions, The Rabbit Man (1990) in a dramatic thriller, and Pelle Moves to Komfusenbo (1990), showcasing his versatility in character-driven narratives.^[26]A significant milestone came in the mid-2000s with his lead role as Bertil, a charismatic television host reigniting an old romance, in the romantic drama Sex, hopp & kärlek (2005), directed by Lisa Ohlin; for this performance, Henriksson received the Guldbagge Award for Best Actor, marking a breakthrough in his film career and highlighting his ability to blend humor with emotional depth.^[27][28]Henriksson's most iconic screen role was as the brooding police inspector Kurt Wallander in a series of 32 Swedishtelevision films produced by Yellow Bird for SVT from 2005 to 2013, adapted from Henning Mankell's bestselling novels.^[29] The production, filmed primarily in the coastal town of Ystad, emphasized Wallander's personal struggles alongside intricate crime investigations, with Henriksson initially hesitant to accept the part until Mankell personally encouraged him, noting parallels to the actor's own life experiences.^[2] His portrayal captured the character's melancholic introspection and moral complexity, earning widespread acclaim for elevating the series beyond procedural drama and contributing to its international success, including broadcasts on BBC Four in the UK.^[2][29] The final films depicted Wallander grappling with early-onset Alzheimer's, providing a poignant arc that Henriksson cited as a fitting conclusion after nearly a decade in the role.^[2]Amid his Wallander commitments, Henriksson appeared in the acclaimed drama Kiss Me (2011), directed by Alexandra-Therese Keining, where he played Lasse, the father of the protagonist Mia, navigating family tensions and unexpected romance in a story exploring love across societal boundaries.^[30][31]Following the conclusion of Wallander, Henriksson took on diverse screen projects, including the role of psychologist Erik Lindgren in the thriller series Modus (2015–2017) on SVT, a performance that delved into psychological suspense.

2024-05-25 . More recently, in 2023, he received the Hederspris (Honorary Prize) from the VästeråsFilm Festival (Nordic Star Festival), where the jury praised his long career for creating "many different genuine roles" that demonstrate a "contrast and breadth from the deeply dramatic to the lighter humorous," positioning him as "a great example for the industry, media, and audience."^[14]Beyond nominations, Henriksson has played ceremonial roles in major industry events, underscoring his stature in Swedish cinema.

2019-04-11 . He is best known for playing Kurt Wallander in the television films based on the novels by Henning Mankell.^[3]

Early life

Henriksson was born in Grisslehamn, Norrtälje Municipality, Sweden and is the son of the fishmonger Allan Henriksson and Gunvor (née Sjöblom).^[4] He passed his studentexamen in 1967 and attended Statens scenskola in Malmö from 1968 to 1971.

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