| Danish film and television actor Date of Birth: 06.05.1964 Country: Denmark |
Lars Mikkelsen, a Danish actor of both film and television, has gained prominence through his roles in the television series "The Killing" as politician Troels Hartmann, "Sherlock" as antagonist Charles Augustus Magnussen, and "House of Cards" as Russian President Viktor Petrov.
Born in Gladsaxe, near Copenhagen, Mikkelsen completed high school before serving in the Royal Danish Army. He briefly pursued biology at the University of Copenhagen but abandoned it to earn a living as a street performer in European cities, juggling and engaging in pantomime.
At the age of 27, Mikkelsen enrolled at the National Theatre School of Denmark, graduating in 1995. Aside from his portrayal in the crime drama series "The Killing," he has also appeared in the Danish television series "Those Who Kill" and "Borgen."
In the British TV series "Sherlock," Mikkelsen played the cunning and calculating villain Charles Augustus Magnussen, who blackmails his victims and despises Sherlock Holmes. He also portrayed President Viktor Petrov in "House of Cards," a character modeled after Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Beyond his native Danish, Mikkelsen is fluent in Swedish, German, and English, and he is proficient in various accents. He attributes his English language skills to listening to Monty Python recordings and practicing their comedy sketches with his brother, Mads Mikkelsen.
Mikkelsen has been married to actress Anette Støvlebæk since 1989, having started dating in 1986. They have two sons, Lou and Thor.