Peter Stormare: Career And Facts About The Prison Break Star

Whenever Peter Rolf Peter Ingvar Storm, better known as Peter Stormare name is mentioned, his role in TV series “Prison Break” comes to mind. But the actor has appeared in more lead roles in other projects. Stormare is an actor, theatrical director, voice actor, playwright, and singer.  Peter has enjoyed success in the entertainment industry for more than four decades. Here are details about his background, career, marriage, and rumors about his Russsian heritage.

Peter Stormare: Background

Peter Stormare, was born in Arbrå, Gävleborg County, Sweden, on August 27, 1953, to Karl Ingvar Storm and his wife Gunhild Storm.

His interest in acting started when he was a little boy, so he enrolled in an acting academy to brush up his talent. When Storm discovered that he shared the same surname with a student in the acting academy where he enrolled, he opted to change his surname to Stormare which is his native word for “Stormer”.

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Peter Stormare’s mother Gunhild is the daughter of a seer who acted as a medium between God and men and Peter claimed to have had contact with God.

Peter Stormare: Career and movies

Peter Stormare was first discovered by Ingmar Bergman, the famous Swedish director, writer, and producer. Reports have it that the last thing Bergman said to Stormare was “Time and space separate us, but our souls are connected.” After this statement, a star emerged.

Peter Stormare created his own niche and exclusively flourished –playing extremely quiet, intense and dangerous roles in any project he appeared.

Peter Stormare first acting gig was as a stage director before he joined the Royal Dramatic Theatre where he stayed for eleven years. He then joined the Tokyo Globe Theatre as an associate artistic director and became part of several Shakespeare performances.

Peter Stormare moved to the United States in 1990 and started featuring in films and television shows. He appeared in the 1996 black comedy-crime drama film “Fargo” as Gaear Grimsrud where he portrayed the character of a kidnapper.

The film was directed by, Joel and Ethan Coen. “Fargo” became a major turning point in his career after it received seven Academy Award nominations and the Coen brothers received the Best Original Screenplay award.  The film was also named among the 100 greatest American films in history by the American Film Institute in 1998.

Peter Stormare went on to feature in the 1998 action film “Commander Hamilton” as Carl Hamilton. He also portrayed the character of “Dieter Stark” in Steven Spielberg’s film “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.”

His other films include:  “Unknown”, “Premonition”, “Witless Protection”, “The Killing Room’”, “Lockout”, “Pain & Gain”, and “22 Jump Street”.

Peter Stormare made Television appearances in series like ‘Träpatronerna.’

He also portrayed the character of ‘John Abruzzi’ in the American crime thriller television show ‘Prison Break’. He played the role between 2005 and 2007, in a total of 20 episodes.

Peter Stormare’s Personal Life: Marriage

He was married to the American stage and film actress Karen Sillas from 1989 to 2006, with the relationship ending in divorce.

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Then in the year 2008, he found love again or love found him and Toshimi Stormare, a native of Japan, and was the lucky bride. The duo tied the knots and currently have a daughter Kaiya Bella Luna Stormare, born on May 9, 2009.

Stormare also has a daughter named Kelly, born in March 1989, through his former relationship.

Is Peter Stormare Russian?

Peter Stormare acted as the Russian cosmonaut Lev Andropov in the blockbuster “Armageddon” and he nailed it, he nailed it so much that viewers just assumed he was Russian. To add to this Russian baggages when he acted Russian in successful movies. He was the Russian mob boss Alexes in “Bad Boys II” and opposed Martin Lawrence (Detective Marcus Burnett) and Will Smith (Detective Mike Lowrey) in the 2013 movie directed by Michael Bay.

If Peter stopped here he would have still have been taught a Russian by many but he didn’t, he went on to play excellent Russian characters in “The 11th Hour” and “John Wick: Chapter 2”. Peter Stormare is no Russian. He is a Swedish actor whose excellent acting skills made many think Russian of him.

Bonus: He is the founder of the musical band named “Blonde From Fargo,” and reportedly named the band as a homage to his breakthrough American role, in the 1996 movie “Fargo.”

Image Source: Local Sweden