Tage Danielsson.

Tage Ivar Roland Danielsson

Born 5 Feb 1928 Linköping, Sweden

Died 13 Oct 1985 Stockholm, Sweden

Citizenship Sweden

Would Be 98 yr If Living

6 min read

Reading time

1,100

Words

Sep 29, 2026

Published

Awards

TL;DR

Tage Danielsson created Svenska Ord AB with Hans Alfredson in 1964, earning the Guldbagge Award for Best Director and an honorary doctorate from Linköping University. Born in 1928 in Linköping, Sweden, he died of skin cancer in 1985 at age 57.

Identity & family.

KIN · 3

Names, aliases, and relatives of Tage Danielsson — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Tage Ivar Roland Danielsson

Aliases AB Svenska Ord

Spouses: Märta Stina Köhler
Children: Jesper Danielsson
Siblings: Karl Danielsson

At a glance.

STATS

Tage Danielsson by the numbers — life, work, and family.

57 Years lived

8 Awards

1 Marriage

1 Child

Who was Tage Danielsson?

BIOGRAPHY

Tage Danielsson — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

In Linköping, Sweden, Tage Ivar Roland Danielsson grew up in a working-class home and attended Katedralskolan. He then studied English, French, and history of literature at Uppsala University, earning a Master of Arts. His sharp intellect showed early, and in 1956 he met Hans Alfredson at the Swedish Radio company, starting a collaboration that defined Swedish comedy.

Career

In 1964, Tage Danielsson and Hans Alfredson founded the company Svenska Ord AB, producing variety shows, films, and television productions. He acted in and directed films like The Apple War 1971 and Docking the Boat 1965, often playing characters that balanced folksy charm with a sharp tongue. He won the Guldbagge Award for Best Director. His performances in Julkalendern 1960 as Olle Jonsson and Christopher’s Christmas Mission 1975 as the narrator made him a fixture in Swedish culture.

Personal life

He married Märta Stina Köhler and had two sons, Patrik and Jesper. Tall and red-headed, he had a kind demeanor but a malicious tongue on stage. He died of skin cancer on October 13, 1985, in Stockholm, at age 57.

Legacy

The partnership between Tage Danielsson and Hans Alfredson produced some of Sweden’s most enduring comedy. Danielsson received the Litteris et Artibus award and an honorary doctorate from Linköping University. The 2019 documentary Hasse & Tage – En Kärlekshistoria celebrated his life and work. A sharp satirist, his humor carried serious messages, inspiring generations of Swedish comedians.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 8

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Tage Danielsson — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Litteris et Artibus
Honorary award of the municipality of Linköping
Lisebergsapplåden
Karl Gerhards Hederspris
Gustaf Fröding scholarship
Guldbagge Award for Best Director
Evert Taube scholarship
honorary doctor of Linköping University

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 2

A wall of memorable lines from Tage Danielsson — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

One Thing You Must Appreciate with Small Children Is That They Don’t Walk Around Showing Pictures of Their Parents.
On Encouraging People to Read: I Want to Wake up the Dormant Interest in the Square-shaped Sheaf of Paper with Covers, That for the Last Ten Years Has Been Placed Under the Shortest Leg of Your TV-table.

Did you know?

FACTS · 2

Little-known facts about Tage Danielsson — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

He and his co-worker Hans Alfredson founded the company Svenska Ord AB in 1964.
He had two sons named Patrik and Jesper.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 31

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Tage Danielsson.

When was Tage Danielsson born?

Tage Danielsson was born on February 5, 1928. He grew up in Linköping, Sweden.
Where was Tage Danielsson born?

He was born in Linköping, Östergötlands län, Sweden. This is in the southern part of the country.
When did Tage Danielsson die?

He died on October 13, 1985. He was 57 years old at the time.
How old was Tage Danielsson when he died?

Tage Danielsson was 57 years old when he passed away in 1985. He was born in 1928.
Where did Tage Danielsson die?

He died in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden. The city was his home at the time.
What caused Tage Danielsson's death?

He died from skin cancer. The illness took his life in Stockholm in 1985.
What is Tage Danielsson's full birth name?

His full birth name is Tage Ivar Roland Danielsson. He was named Tage after his grandfather.
What was Tage Danielsson's occupation?

He was a writer, actor, and director. He worked primarily in comedy and satire.
What nationality was Tage Danielsson?

He was Swedish. He lived and worked in Sweden his entire life.
Who was Tage Danielsson married to?

He was married to Märta Stina Köhler. They had two sons together.
Did Tage Danielsson have children?

Yes, he had two sons: Patrik and Jesper Danielsson. His family life was kept private.
Did Tage Danielsson have any siblings?

Yes, he had a brother named Karl Danielsson. Not much else is known about his siblings.
Where did Tage Danielsson go to school?

He attended Katedralskolan in Linköping and later Uppsala University, where he earned a Master of Arts.
What awards did Tage Danielsson win?

He won many awards, including the Guldbagge Award for Best Director, Litteris et Artibus, and an honorary doctorate from Linköping University.
How many awards did Tage Danielsson receive?

He received eight major awards during his career, including scholarships and honorary prizes.
What is Tage Danielsson best known for?

He is best known for his comedy partnership with Hans Alfredson, co-founding Svenska Ord AB in 1964, and films like The Apple War 1971.
What was the name of Tage Danielsson's company?

He co-founded Svenska Ord AB with Hans Alfredson in 1964. The company produced many successful comedy shows and films.
Who was Tage Danielsson's comedy partner?

His long-time comedy partner was Hans Alfredson. They worked together for nearly 30 years, starting in 1956 at Swedish Radio.
What was Tage Danielsson's role in Julkalendern?

He played the character Olle Jonsson in the 1960 series Julkalendern. This was one of his early television roles.
What film did Tage Danielsson direct that won a Guldbagge?

He won the Guldbagge Award for Best Director for an unspecified film. The award is a prestigious Swedish film prize.
How did Tage Danielsson and Hans Alfredson meet?

They met in 1956 at the Swedish Radio Company. This chance encounter led to a decades-long collaboration.
What was Tage Danielsson's education background?

He studied English, French, and history of literature at Uppsala University, earning a Master of Arts. He also attended Katedralskolan in Linköping.
Did Tage Danielsson appear in any documentaries?

Yes, he appeared as himself in the 2019 documentary Hasse & Tage – En Kärlekshistoria and in the 2012 film Palme via archive footage.
What was Tage Danielsson's nickname?

He was sometimes called a nice viper by critic Uno Myggan Ericson, reflecting his kind demeanor and sharp tongue.
What is the meaning of 'Svenska Ord AB'?

The name translates to Swedish Words Ltd. It was the production company he co-founded with Hans Alfredson.
Was Tage Danielsson a comedian?

While he was a comedian, his work always carried a serious message. He used humor to critique society.
What was Tage Danielsson's physical description?

He was described as a tall, red-headed man with a folksy yet sharp intellect. His stage presence was notable.
What honorary title did Tage Danielsson receive from Linköping University?

He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Linköping University, recognizing his contributions to Swedish culture.
What was the first film Tage Danielsson acted in?

One of his earliest film roles was in Stimulantia 1967. He also acted in Docking the Boat 1965.
Did Tage Danielsson do voice-over work?

Yes, he provided the voice of the narrator in the 1975 film Christopher’s Christmas Mission.
What was Tage Danielsson's last film appearance?

His last film role was an uncredited cameo as a Party Guest in False as Water 1985, released after his death.

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Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on September 29, 2026

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